 |
| Photo credit: freerepublic.com |
AT THE WATER BROOKS
Israel Pilgrimage--2006
We stop briefly
at a verdant oasis
in the wilderness—
the Springs of Engedi
where long ago in a cave nearby
David spared the life of Saul
A crystalline waterfall descends
from high above our heads
into a sparkling pool at our feet
Our rabbi tells us
deer and ibex
hyrax and rock badgers
roam these hills
and that in the shade
of the caves
psalmists of old
likely scrawled
timeless verses
My mind’s eye
envisions a son of Korah
sitting upon a rock
at the mouth of a cave
ministering unto the Lord
on a hot day—
Suddenly a thirsty deer
appears and begins
lapping cool, refreshing water
from the stream—
hence, Psalm 42
As the deer pants
for the water brooks,
So my soul pants
for You, O God…
We begin to sing the psalm—
our own souls thirsting
for the Living God
of the ages
as our eyes dart about
searching for deer or ibex
or a snippet
of Saul’s garment
shorn by the blade
of David’s swift sword
Maude Carolan Pych
No comments:
Post a Comment