January Reflections from Nita
Gregory of Nyssa wrote “Imagine a sheer, steep crag, of reddish appearance below, extending into eternity; on top there is
01/23/2023
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January Reflections from Nita
Gregory of Nyssa wrote
“Imagine a sheer, steep crag, of reddish appearance below, extending into eternity; on top there is this ridge which looks down over a projecting rim into a bottomless chasm. Now imagine what a person would probably experience if he put his foot on the edge of this ridge which overlooks the chasm and found no solid footing nor anything to hold on to. This is what I think the soul experiences when it goes beyond its footing in material things, in its quest for that which has no dimension and which exists for all eternity.”
Commentary on Ecclesiastes, sermon 7
Praying with Rilke
Nita Andrews
Imagine that you are looking into the abyss or canyon that Rilke mentions. Now imagine that each member of our Heartwise group is locking arms with you- to be sure that your feet do not slip. With this image in mind listen to the audio link and write about one of Rilke’s ways of naming his need and way of seeing God.
I love you, gentlest of Ways,
Who ripened us as we wrestled with you.
You, the great homesickness we could never shake off,
You, the forest that always surrounded us,
You, the song we sang in every silence,
You, dark net threading through us.
On the day you made us you created yourself
and we grew sturdy in your sunlight . . .
Let your hand rest on the rim of Heaven now
and mutely bear the darkness we bring over you.” –
Rilke
From Rilke’s Book of Hours p.89
