God Speaks

Behind the silent stillness,
and within commanding storms,
God speaks an exclusive language
beyond our mortal words.

How to listen?
How to embrace
the grace of our days?

Simply carry these gifts
as grateful people,
and lay them at his altar
as worship.

© 2019 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Grand Haven Lighthouses - Michigan

2. Sunset Beach - North Carolina

3. Glacier National Park - Montana

Approaching the Altar

From deep within the temple
of this elusive bird's breast,

these liquid notes spill forth
under the canopy of woods.

Shaping a melody memory.
Sounding like a holy hymn.

The song of the Wood Thrush
fills a chalice of praise.

How do I approach
the altar of worship?

With humble gratitude
for His awesome creation.

© 2019 Richard Havenga

You may also enjoy my other Wood Thrush poem: 

"Song of Grace" ~ May 21, 2014

Play the Wood Thrush song here: Cornell Labs of Ornithology 

Photo Location: Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan 

Seeds of Worship

The life inserted
into these trees
began as small seeds:

acorns, samaras,
nuts of all kinds;

created in spring or autumn,
taken down by gravity,
twirling on a breeze,
stashed by animals,
fruit from the trees,

recreated each spring,
seedlings become saplings,
as seasons shift,
as years pass,

within their
seeds of worship
these trees
plant perpetual praise
into fertile soil.

© 2019 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. The Havenga Farm - Grand Rapids Township - Kent County - Michigan

2. Wabasis Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan 

3. & 4. Findlay Cemetery - Ada Township - Kent County - Michigan

5. Boulder Creek Golf Club - Kent County - Michigan

Destination

The evening grows quiet.
The quiet melts into silence.

A suitable time for
a prayer of praise.

Words of worship
penetrating the clouds,
ascending the atmosphere;

already accepted
along the way
to their final
destination.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Ohio Creek Rd. - Gunnison, Colorado 

"The Steps of St. Patrick's"

Climbing up the steps
of St. Patrick's Church,
the people of the parish
bring their fine families;
they are stepping up
into a sacred space,
lifting themselves up
with hopeful expectation,
eager for encouragement
from their passionate pastor:
"We can do more."

The things they carry
in their hearts may be
devotion and dedication,
reflection or remorse,
may be gratitude and grace,
or the burden of shame
upon their shoulders,
may be fertile fields
to grow and spread 
His love.

The things they carry
in their souls may be
words of worship,
prayers of praise,
may be meditation and mercy,
admiration and adoration,
perhaps poverty of the soul.

The things they expect 
to receive inside
may be healing and holiness,
sanctity and salvation,
or faith and forgiveness,
may be acceptance and attachment,
by receiving the body and the blood.

The things they share
with the congregation may be
compassion and communion,
blessings and the Bible,
The Word, and reasons for worship,
or sympathy and empathy for others.

Climbing down the steps
of St. Patrick's Church,
after receiving 
the bread and the wine,
after a meaningful mass,
the people of the parish
may carry the message 
to others who are
thirsting for truth
hungering for hope.

© 2017 Richard Havenga

You may also enjoy: The Bells of St. Patrick's 


Photo Location:

The steps of St. Patrick's Church ~ Parnell, Michigan

Intentions

Does God recognize
my intentions;
when I praise him 
in a poem?

When I ponder
his performance
in the theater
of nature?

When I give him
the glory
by sharing the composition
of his creation?

What secret syllables,
what worshiping words
do I need to convert
this fragmented poem
into a personal prayer
of praise?

© 2015 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

Butchart Gardens - Victoria,  British Columbia 

Cathedral

When daylight diminishes
in the slot canyons,
conical sandstone peaks
gather late light.
Offer a warm glow 
before dusk arrives.

Sage, Juniper, and Pinyon Pine
combine their fragrances
into a high-desert incense:
inhaled, absorbed, remembered— 
resembling worship 
in this quiet cathedral. 

A perfect place
to point prayers of praise
toward heaven, 
and to listen
among the silent steeples
for God's voice.

©  2014  Richard Havenga

CLICK on photos to enlarge.

Photo Location:  

Pocket Mesa, Kolob Terrace, Zion National Park, (Zion) Utah (Utah)

Gates of Heaven

(Dance of the Sun Dogs)

As this brilliant winter morning unfolds,

a veil, woven with infinite, intricate ice crystals

hangs suspended in the glare of white sun,

shimmering, appearing like an angel.
 

Sharp shadows accent

the purity of snow

filling this frigid field.

Sun Dogs dance in transforming light.

Parentheses rise, curved on the horizon

to frame this fleeting moment,

to carry my worship offering.

Luminous warmth within,

enhances the glow

of this radiant gesture.

The Spirit penetrates my  soul.

A prayer of gratitude ascending;

bursting with astonished praise,

approaching the gates of Heaven.

© 2014  Richard Havenga

 



Photo Location:

Parnell,  (St. Patrick's - Parnell) Kent County,  Michigan