A new direction
While driving you said
To me, “Our friendship could use
A new direction.”
Although left unexplained then
Your words deserve pondering.
The phrase penetrated
Into a wondering mind
Attentive to you--
Listening and receptive,
Awaiting a word of life.
We’d mentioned God’s will,
And if there may be some task
To achieve on earth
In time remaining to us
Before life’s death intervenes.
A “new direction”
May emerge gradually
If we but attend
And faithfully do God’s will,
Performing our daily tasks.
This “new direction”
Also serves as a challenge
To examine ourselves,
Changing what needs to be changed,
Cultivating what is best.
Excess must be checked,
Desires must be disciplined;
The mind turned to God
Reverently in prayer,
Open to the silent Word.
My expectations
Of you have been excessive;
I’ve taxed your patience
As we so vastly differ,
Making friendship a challenge.
I must respect you,
Valuing your peace of mind
Above my desire
To know whoever you are;
In truth you owe me nothing.
I must not ask you
What you’re feeling or thinking;
But wait patiently
For the times you choose to speak,
Sharing only what you wish.
I wonder but won’t ask,
“Who are you?” For that questions
Your inmost spirit,
Which is yours to discover
In your hidden life with God.
All that is received
Is through the receiver’s ways;
I’ve not observed well,
Failing to respect your ways
Of receiving what I’ve shared.
I do not insist
That our friendship be preserved;
We differ so much
That only strong love for Christ
Could bridge this vast Grand Canyon.
Feel free to depart
Or choose a “new direction”
If that pleases you.
I will respect your freedom:
Not my will, but yours be done.
Do I want friendship?
Do I want purgatory?
Nothing in my life
Requires so much soul-searching
As learning to love in truth.
—06-08 February 2020 St. Paul Miki
To me, “Our friendship could use
A new direction.”
Although left unexplained then
Your words deserve pondering.
The phrase penetrated
Into a wondering mind
Attentive to you--
Listening and receptive,
Awaiting a word of life.
We’d mentioned God’s will,
And if there may be some task
To achieve on earth
In time remaining to us
Before life’s death intervenes.
A “new direction”
May emerge gradually
If we but attend
And faithfully do God’s will,
Performing our daily tasks.
This “new direction”
Also serves as a challenge
To examine ourselves,
Changing what needs to be changed,
Cultivating what is best.
Excess must be checked,
Desires must be disciplined;
The mind turned to God
Reverently in prayer,
Open to the silent Word.
My expectations
Of you have been excessive;
I’ve taxed your patience
As we so vastly differ,
Making friendship a challenge.
I must respect you,
Valuing your peace of mind
Above my desire
To know whoever you are;
In truth you owe me nothing.
I must not ask you
What you’re feeling or thinking;
But wait patiently
For the times you choose to speak,
Sharing only what you wish.
I wonder but won’t ask,
“Who are you?” For that questions
Your inmost spirit,
Which is yours to discover
In your hidden life with God.
All that is received
Is through the receiver’s ways;
I’ve not observed well,
Failing to respect your ways
Of receiving what I’ve shared.
I do not insist
That our friendship be preserved;
We differ so much
That only strong love for Christ
Could bridge this vast Grand Canyon.
Feel free to depart
Or choose a “new direction”
If that pleases you.
I will respect your freedom:
Not my will, but yours be done.
Do I want friendship?
Do I want purgatory?
Nothing in my life
Requires so much soul-searching
As learning to love in truth.
—06-08 February 2020 St. Paul Miki