In the Courtyard with Margaret McGee

New liturgy, engagement with scripture, and careful attention to everyday life

Lectio + Haiku
 

These verses are excerpted from Ecclesiastes: Annoted and Explained, translation and annotation by Rabbi Rami Shapiro, SkyLight Paths Publishing. I chose this translation for its simple, direct language and Buddhist flavor.

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25; 3:1-8

To eat simply, and drink moderately,
and do work that satisfies the soul.
This is what reality offers us.
For who should eat and find satisfaction if not you?

Everything in this world has its moment,
a season of ripening and falling away:

Moments of birthing and moments of dying;
moments of planting and moments of reaping.

Moments of killing and moments of healing;
moments of demolition and moments of building.

Moments of weeping and moments of laughing;
moments of mourning and moments of dancing.

Moments of scattering stones and moments of gathering stones;
moments of embracing and moments of distance.

Moments of seeking and moments of losing;
moments of clinging and moments of releasing.

Moments of tearing and moments of mending;
moments of silence and moments of talking.

Moments of loving and moments of hating;
moments of warring and moments of peacemaking.

Steps for responding

--  Take a moment for silence, becoming aware of God’s presence.

--  Slowly read the scripture passage, then read it again, listening with both heart and mind.

--  Jot down a few words or phrases from the text that “rise up” and carry energy for you at this moment.

--  Now put the passage aside and turn to the scriptural words you jotted down.

     Spend time with the memories, feelings, and associations they carry to you.

--  Write a haiku that includes at least one of those words. (It’s okay to use a different form of the word

     if it works better in your haiku. For example, if the word “sowing” is on your list, it’s okay to use “sow.”)

--  Return to the scripture passage, read it one more time, then read your haiku response.

--  Take another moment for silence in God’s presence.

Share your response

To join your haiku with others in the courtyard, fill in the form available on the website.

I review each haiku for appropriate language before posting it. That doesn’t mean I’m looking for a particular tone

or message. Your haiku response can be joyful, sideways, hot, cool, contrary, or whatever feels true to you now.

Scripture is filled with people who grapple with God, crying out in anger and loss. A haiku that rails

against the message can be as prayerful as one that embraces it.

It may take a few days for your haiku to appear. During the month, the group poem will keep changing

and growing as others join the conversation. If your conversation with God in Lectio + Haiku continues,

feel free to send more haiku for posting.

www.inthecourtyard.com