Celtic style poems
Each year JUC holds an annual retreat day for parishioners. At Anna's suggestion, the facilitator for the 2009 retreat was John Hunt, Minister of St Giles church Papanui in Christchurch. John has a passion for celtic spirituality and he led a wonderful day of reflection and sharing on this stream of the Christian faith which sees in the scripture, in the world and people around us and in our own hearts, the love and goodness of God.
The penultimate closing act of the day was for each of the 15 participants in the retreat to write a poem with the first line being either "In this candle flame I see..." or "In these flowers I see". We're sharing these poems on this page. Readers may wish to contribute further poems and can do so by sending them to juc@paradise.net.nz
"In this candle flame I see
The glow of warmth and fellowship shared
leaping with joy on a cold spring day
A flame that never fades
Hope for a greener peaceful world"
"In these flowers I see
the colours of the rainbow
clean and brightly glowing
The wonder of God's creative power
The beauty of the earth.
The serenity of all embodied in each petal and leaf"
"In this candle flame I see
the light of ages past
the promise of days and nights to come
the warmth of human relationships
and the endurance of God's creation
forever changing
with endings and new beginnings."
"In this candle flame
I see the image of my God
for me."
"In this candle flame I see
your spirit flow
Showing me your guiding light
Showing me the way
to inner strength and peace."
"In these flowers I see
your colour, your beauty
Inspiring me.
Displaying."
"In this candle flame I see
The heart of God all watching me
The love of God bringing peace to me
Compassion of God encircling me
Humility of God sensing me
Strength of God bringing hope to me
In this candle flame I see
God's fire that burns in the heart of me
In this candle flame I see
The path I walk bringing God to thee"
"In this candle flame I see
pure, refined simplicity
it's light reveals while I reflect
the truth that I in busyness forget.
God may I seek more frequently
this simple light to sit with me.
"In this candle flame I see
A fire that burns and leaves its mark on me
A spark that shines and lights a path for me
A hearth that warms and breathes new life in me
Oh Christ, that I may be the one who bears the torch for thee."
"In this candle flame I see
some things that were meant to be.
Help me God to wisely choose
many things that you can use.
Guide me daily in the way
when my feed from you will stray.
Let me know the rightful path
back to where I know thou art."
"In this candle flame I see
the fragility of life buffeted by
the slightest breeze and so easily subued.
the strength of life as the flame draws its power from the air
and reaches tall and proud
the beauty of life in the richness of yellow and orange
the warmth of life that can be felt
by those who are close or who hold the flame
Oh God, fan the flame of life that burns in each human heart
the flame of love and hope and faith
the flame of all that is good."
"In this candle flame I see,
a vision of the peace to be,
bright of light, for all is might
a beacon of hope to see."
"In these flowers I see,
bright colours looking back at me,
straight and true,
as they grew, giving glory back to you."
"In this candle flame I see
a sign of hope, tranquillity
withstanding breeze, even a sneeze
stability denying fragility."
"In this candle flame I see
The light of hope that is to be
For us to carry strongly ahead
From today as celtic bread."
"In these flowers I see
bright coloured faces looking out
your hand has given
flowers standing tall together
strong in the water you have provided.
Three different types of flower - not all the same
Your presence is showing us we can be different
but dance together in your beauty.
Some are tall and straight
others are bending out.
All beautiful, all your creation."