Friday, June 01, 2007

Your Presence An Absence

In Your presence there is an absence
silencing my greatest fear.
It is with You that I know the essence
of what is life, now that You’re near.

It is in the absence of Your presence
that I rekindle my desire;
and it is when I am without You
that I burn, an inextinguishable fire.

In Your presence there is an absence
of all that preys upon my mind;
for my heart’s desire before me,
and I leave all else behind.

It is in the absence of Your presence
that I have learned to be apart.
It is without You that I am with You;
for You are Joy within my heart.

Janet Rimmer

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4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am quite interested in the topic of spiritual formation. But I imagine that it is something one learns better through contemplation and action over time. And time is something I don't have much of during this season of my life. But I hope to glean from your knowledge and personal experience in bits and pieces when I can. Thanks for sharing your educational history with me.

11:36 AM  
Blogger Alex Tang said...

hi jb,

I find spiritual formation fascinating. It is a misconception that we learn spiritual formation through 'contemplation'. Actually spiritual formation is living a life in Christ till we are fully formed.

Please check out some of my writings on spiritual formation
here

Shalom

12:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

yet how would we 'know' we are fully formed? how do we monitor/measure our 'progress' in the spiritual life? or is that even the right questionn?

i take the 'simple' route: "By its fruit shall you know the tree"...

9:01 PM  
Blogger Alex Tang said...

hi alwyn,

May I suggest some markers of spiritual maturity here

Blessings

4:24 PM  

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