Kneeling
by RS Thomas
Moments of great calm,
Kneeling before an altar
Of wood in a stone church
In summer, waiting for the God
To speak; the air a staircase
For silence; the sun’s light
Ringing me, as though I acted
A great role.
And the audiences
Still; all that close throng
Of spirits waiting, as I,
For the message.
Prompt me, God;
But not yet.
When I speak,
Though it be you who speak
Through me, something is lost.
The meaning is in the waiting.
R.S Thomas creates the atmosphere of Advent for us in this poem. “Prompt me, God, but not yet” he says, knowing that there is some treasure that can be uncovered if we can learn to live in the sweet tension of the waiting.
Have you ever had that sense of the meaning being in the waiting? How might you explore the idea this Advent season, that waiting upon God is really finding God?
Grace and peace,
Sue +