Can there be the Child without the Mother?
Can heaven be grasped and pulled to earth?
Can heaven enter a heart without the heart’s consent?
Mystery of Love.
Ever present,
Ever growing.
Wholly Other,
Immanent and dear,
God made manifest
Fruit on the tree,
Following on winter’s death.
Sweet Mystery of Love.
© 2016 Joann Nelander
Pillar of Fire,
Pillar of Cloud
Pillar of protection.
You advance,
Always onward,
No retreat.
Faith leads.
Obedient, we follow,
Abandoned to Your Will.
Holy Light,
Though dark the night,
Secure respite.
Heavenward,
Hallowed rest,
Safely home.
© 2016 Joann Nelander
I will sit here,
Speaking my heart to You.
Look on me as in a garden
Tending these flowers of love.
I water them,
Sometimes with tears,
Sometimes with sweat,
And always with the water
That flows from my Baptism.
Water my garden from above.
Make my flowers grow,
And as I tend them,
Please send your angels to plant seeds
For our eternal tomorrows,
Far off, My Love,
But soon, eternally, Now.
(C)2016 Joann Nelander
Your Face
You sought solitude and prayer.
In silence, I seek You.
You sought communion with Your Father
I long to see His Face.
You, my Jesus, are that Holy Face.
I set You before the eyes of my heart.
Copyright 2015 Joann Nelander
The Lord’s joy
Is my strength.
He persuades my heart
By gentleness.
His mercy is a fountain
Of inner mirth,
Springing up in all seasons,
To temper my sorrow,
To pour oil into my wounds,
To salt my friendships
And to delight the Father,
Who sees me
Running after His Son,
And dancing with David’s abandonment.
May I be the dimple
In Your smile,
Appealing as the uplifted arms
Of a child,
And the innocent sleep
Of a baby.
Gladness be my swaddling,
That You may
Impart to me
The power the weak
Have to touch
The Heart of God,
Accepting always
His Loving will.
Copyright 2012 Joann Nelander
In flight
Into Egypt
Hungry,
Hurried,
Yet at peace.
You pass my way.
Because you are holy
We are worlds apart.
Yet you touch me
By your plight.
You must eat.
You must drink.
Rest a moment
Under my tent.
Holy visitors,
Let me wash your feet.
Your smiles
Enter my heart
As a symphony
Stay the night.
Bring the star
From heaven
To light my adobe.
Dwell forever
Here in Spirit
Though you must hurry
On your way.
Journey on,O, Protector,
O Mother, O Child.
With me,
In your hearts,
Now, I wait
For you forever.
I tucked a little rattle
Under His blanket.
Perhaps, He’ll hear me
In the sounds,
A remembrance,
Like a prayer,
In the rattling of beads.
©2013 Joann Nelander
Be Holy! 