The Navajos and Saint Patrick
Spring is in the sunlight and the bird song—if not quite in the still winter air—and Spring is my favorite season with all of its tender, yet raucous beauty. With the wonders of the created world in mind, and with St. Patrick’s Day approaching, I’m sharing again this reflection on two meditations/invocations from two very different cultures across time. Or are they very different? Note how beauty is in the same places as Christ, and Christ the same as beauty.
Read it here: The Navajos and Saint Patrick
(St. Patrick, pray for us!)
Christina Chase View All
Although crippled by disease, I'm fully alive in love. I write about the terrible beauty and sacred wonder of life, while living with physical disability and severe dependency. A revert to the Catholic faith through atheism, I'm not afraid to ask life's big questions. I explore what it means to be fully human through my weekly blog and have written a book: It's Good to Be Here, published by Sophia Institute Press.
Christina Chase 
Its late, and I haven’t checked the link yet. Waiting for the weekend. But what an interesting combo, Christina.. Makes me think of the two-word exhortation that E.M.Forster chose as an epigraph for his novel Howard’s End: “Only connect!” Though he was referring to relationships, I like to expand the meaning to objects, experiences, events. Seeing links between and among things is a gift and a blessing.
P.S. I’m sending your poem back as a reminder that it works on its own. The occasion for a poem often leads to larger applications. Links. I think many readers could connect with this one. What’s left out, the backstory, adds to the poem’s appeal. In fact the “you” could be anyone. . . is everyone, and troubles are everywhere. Besides, the speaker is seeing through God’s eyes. You can tell because of the lovely second stanza and the last two lines of the poem.
Maybe you didn’t smile.
Maybe you wrote a poem.
Maybe it happened
while you were dreaming, the call
that you received from God,
and you don’t remember answering.
But obviously you did.
Maybe you didn’t smile. Maybe
you wrote a poem.
And maybe
in the midst of the clowns,
fears, lies, pain,
distractions,
you are sublimely beautiful.
I see that you are.
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Hunh. Look at that. It IS a poem! Look at what you can make happen when love is put into your hands, Albert. Thank you!!!
I really needed some encouragement this morning, and here you are to greet me. Peace and blessings to you, my friend.
Pax Christi
Christina
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Yes, and I meant to add, but had already switched off the light,: the you could also be you, the speaker musing, wondering, then recognizing a truth about herself.
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Christina:
Once again thank you for sharing an enlightening message. You have such a sweet soul. And I am again moved by your well thought out words. I am always humbled by the love of our awesome Savior and Lord. Many Blessings.
Patty Ann
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Thank you, Patty Ann! I feel blessed to be able to connect with you this way, both of us humbled by the love of God.
We also both owe much to the work of Saint Patrick in Ireland. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, my Irish cousin!
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