Archive for the ‘Personal’ Category

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Trying to Connect

February 10, 2014

—∞—

Where do they go
When they are gone?
That place
That gives them space
 
No compass pointing
No path suggesting
Stars to guide – growing dim
Silence, emptiness, yet filled – with loss
 
I call out lovingly
Listen hopefully
No appeal goes forth
No response returns
 
For it is only my heart
Trying to connect
Forgetting, actually,
Prayer
 

© 2014 Thomas W. Cummins

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Posted in Faith, Family, Personal, Poetry, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

A half smile and a nod

January 30, 2014

—∞—

If I am not for myself, then who will be for me?
And if I am only for myself, then what am I?
And if not now, when? – Hillel

Last evening, at the offender’s request, I was a ministerial witness to his execution. There were only two witnesses for him, and I was the only one who actually knew him. During the past 13 years, we had conversed countless times as I visited the prison where he lived. My role there is as an assistant chaplain.

From what I could tell, my eyes were the only ones he made contact with as he was lying on the gurney. He gave a half smile and a nod in response to my nod.

The above quote bubbled up as I reflect on this morning after.

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Posted in Criminal Justice, Ministry, Personal, Prison Ministry, Social Justice, Spirituality | 4 Comments »

A Beautiful Child

November 17, 2013

—∞—

He calls out
Her voice heard
Down the hall from his room
 
Severely disabled,
He lies there
Waiting
 
We enter his room
Looking at him lying there
In the quiet children’s home
 
Others create a din
But they are in school
Now, nothing – stillness
 
I ask if I may touch
If he might be alarmed
“No, he likes being touched.”
 
I place my hand gently
Alongside his face
He presses in, steadily, lovingly

© 2013 Thomas W. Cummins

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Posted in Personal, Poetry | 8 Comments »

Memories

November 6, 2013
—∞—
 
Remembering the past
People, places
Events, feelings
From what vantage point?
I wasn’t there …really.
Oh, the person
I used to be
Back when
Most assuredly was there,
But, perhaps, not present
 
Who has ever been
“There” enough
Enough to see, feel
Enough to be present
Really present?
Was there an awareness
Then as now?
Am I remembering concerns,
Worries, hopes, fears
That weren’t even present then?
 
Who we are now
Seems so well-defined
Yet all of our past is colored,
Distorted, magnified
By today’s presence
Today’s presence
Erasing yesterday’s being
Yesterday’s being
Evaporating
Amidst today’s remembrances.

 © 2013 Thomas W. Cummins

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Posted in Personal, Poetry | 1 Comment »

Thoughts swirling high above politics

September 30, 2013

—∞—

 

My T-shirt for today put me in a reflective mood.

image

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Posted in Nature, Personal, Solitude | Leave a Comment »

And simply lovely

September 28, 2013
—∞—
 
Musical
Lyrical
Nearly magical
Little voices in cheerful banter
Like children on the far shore
Or puppies romping at play
 
But it’s a gathering of loons
Far out on the lake
Quietly talking with each other
About their summer
Or their long, solo flights south
Perhaps about wintering in the Gulf
 
Musical
Lyrical
Nearly magical
And simply lovely

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Posted in Nature, Personal, Poetry | 2 Comments »

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