Kitchen Table Wisdom

I.

I remember You, O Lord;
I remember the signs of Your presence.

You spoke light into darkness,
and morning was born from the night.

You stretched the heavens above us;
You filled the earth with signs of Your goodness.

You gave the earth its seasons;
You appointed darkness and morning.

You sent rain upon the earth,
and light waited beyond the clouds.

Once, rain fell upon the road before me,
and clouds covered the way ahead.

From beneath a darkened sky
a simple prayer rose to You:

Lord, let me see a rainbow.

And You answered with color.

Light touched rain,
and Your promise arched across the heavens.

One rainbow appeared,
and then another, and yet another.

You gave more than was asked;
You knew the hunger of the heart.

For You have always given signs to Your children.

You wet the fleece with morning dew.
You answered Your servant with fire.

You led Your people by cloud and flame.
You scattered bread upon the wilderness.

And once, in an ordinary place,
You let a feather fall.

Something small enough to hold
became large enough to carry a promise.

I remember these things, O Lord;
I remember the signs of Your presence.

The heavens declared Your goodness;
the earth whispered Your name.

And I knew You were near.

II.

But where are You now, O Lord?

I remember Your signs,
but I cannot see them.

I remember Your nearness,
but I cannot feel You.

The road stretches before me,
and rain hides what lies ahead.

The body grows frail;
tomorrow becomes uncertain.

The one I love slips slowly beyond my reach;
I cannot follow where he goes.

Questions rise in the darkness,
questions I am afraid to speak.

What will become of those I love?
Who will hold them if I cannot?

Where are You, O Lord?

Where is the color
that once filled the rain?

Where is the light
beyond these clouds?

I know what I believe, O God,
but my heart is weary within me.

My faith has not left me;
but I am tired.

I have not forgotten You;
I remember You too well.

I remember what it was
to see Your colors in the rain.

I remember what it was
to know that You were near.

Because I remember,
I ache for You all the more.

Come near again, O Lord.
Awaken my first love.

Do not remain only a thought in my mind
or a word upon my lips.

I long for You with my eyes;
I long for You with my hands.

I long for You in my breathing,
in my hearing,
in every trembling part of me.

Give me something I can see.
Give me something I can touch.

Let me smell the rain upon the earth.
Let me feel the dampness of morning.

Let me watch for light
beyond the clouds.

O Lord,
let me see a rainbow.

III.

Yet it is not the rainbow I seek.
It is You, my God.

Send me a feather, O Lord;
be the sign that I need.

Hold me through the darkness
until darkness gives birth to light.

Hold me through the rain
until light touches every falling drop.

For the darkness is not empty of You;
the night is held within Your embrace.

The rain still falls within Your keeping;
the morning still rises at Your word.

The darkness cannot hide me from You;
the rain cannot carry me beyond Your reach.

You are here beneath the clouds;
You are here upon the road.

You are here when the body grows frail
and tomorrow is unknown.

You are here beside the one who forgets;
You remember when we cannot.

You are here in every trembling breath
that calls upon Your name.

You have not abandoned Your children;
You have not withdrawn Your wings.

The sign is not the promise;
You are, O my God.
You know this heart of mine.

You know that sometimes faith needs to see
what the soul has chosen to believe.

So let the rain fall.
Let morning rise.
Let light be birthed in darkness.

And when light touches rain, O Lord,
let me see Your rainbow.

Cathy D.