As I wait for the "real" computer to become available I am tapping out this update on my Dell Axim. Verrrry slow but we’ll call it a spiritual discipline.

The day started with our speaker delivering a great talk on the spiritual discipline of examen. Very powerful call to self-awareness and awareness of God in our day-to-day existence. The afternoon started with rest followed by a good 45-minute prayer walk by myself in the woods. A little more reading was followed by dinner where I met Pastor Choi of the Korean Alliance Church in Regina. We had a good chat. After dinner there was a great presentation on church planting followed by a mission presentation. The end of the formal evening was a very creative celebration of the Lord’s Supper led by Dr. Gerrard.

The preparation time before consisted of a time of silent worship where we were encouraged to creatively express our worship through writing and drawing. I squeezed out four poems for the occasion. I titled the series: Four-course meal and will post them here.

LATER: Ok, here I am on the world’s slowest computer which is just modestly faster than tapping out my blog on the Axim (whine, whine, whine). I know – at least I have a computer to use. Anyhow here are the poems I wrote in preparation for the Lord’s Supper…beyond the time I wrote them in and an umbrella title I’m not sure what else they have in common.

A Four-Course Meal: First Course

This word
would leap
move, move, move
this word
would climb
separate itself
from this
            white world
soar and arc
to heaven
if it could
or maybe –
being bound
it would welcome
a new word
               The Word
then the paper’s edge
would disappear
stretch away
word in Word
unfettered
             and
full of promise

A Four-Course Meal: Second Course

Shhhhh…
this is a quiet place;
no room for you
leave yourself behind
and come in
shhhhh…

A Four-Course Meal: Third Course

I call –
"Lord, Lord"
echoes and turned heads
I cry –
"I will never leave you"
to a wandering shadow
I reach –
to a passing garment
"bind my wounds!"
I hear –
"sleeper awaken!"
and eyes open
stone rolls back
blind light-flood
carrying life
in a laughing voice –
"Lazarus come forth!"
and I walk

A Four-Course Meal: Fourth Course

Someone left
bread & wine
on my table
someone left
Body & Blood
on my table

evidence
of a coming before
             and
a coming again

what else could I do?
I ate mystery