Meeting God in the Murky
Sep 19
/
Lacy Finn Borgo
Today I invite you to engage with poetry.
Before you begin here are somethings to consider:
- Read it aloud and notice when your voice changes.
- Take notice of the emotions that stir within you as you read.
- Circle or write down the words that have the most “heat” for you.
Meeting God in the Murky
Not far from home
on Log Hill Mesa
is the Uncompahgre River
Flowing from the San Juan peaks
through the tiny town of Ridgway
Winding its way through
sandstone and salt grass
into the Ridgway Reservoir
While it’s start and finish
might seem fixed
The Uncompahgre
has a life all its own
In seasons
when snow melts
slowly
adding trickle
to what already is
The water is clever clear
fish can be seen
as can rocks
which line the little bed
A slight dance
small additions
gently raising the water level
The movement calm
In seasons
when the melt is
rapid
change coming fast
unearthing
disturbing
what is light and shallow
The water is murky
what is living, the fish,
nor what is stable, the rocks,
can be seen
Debris from upstream
comes tumbling down,
reshaping the riverbed
I sought counsel
and maybe comfort
during a season
which felt
murky
To haul my body
down the mesa,
to the river
listening
watching
The melt came
more quickly
than I was used to
The water rose
and felt
dangerous
The shallow ripped
not much to see
The past and present
converged
reshaping
the flow of Living Water
Still the River was running
life was happening
out of my sight
out of my knowing
Living Water
absorbed tears
in what could not be seen or known
Reshaping seems
to be the way
of all living things
including the spiritual
Reflection:
What memories come to mind?
Is there an image that draws or repels?
Bring these responses into conversation with God, with yourself, or with another.
Lacy invites spiritual directors who would like to learn the ministry of spiritual direction with children by applying to be a part of her Spiritual Direction with Children Cohort in January 2023 or if you are an International spiritual director apply to be a part of her Spiritual Direction with Children International Cohort in January 2023.
Lacy invites parents, grandparents, teachers, pastors or anyone who would like to learn about a child’s inner life with God and how to encourage children to recognize and respond to their God encounters to join her in her course, Children's Spirituality: Listening to God Together.
Lacy Finn Borgo
Lacy Finn Borgo teaches and provides spiritual direction for various organizations in spiritual formation and spiritual direction including, Renovaré, The Companioning Center and Mercy Center, Burlingame. Lacy has a spiritual direction and supervision of spiritual directors ministry for adults, and provides spiritual direction for children at Haven House, a transitional facility for families without homes in Olathe, Colorado. Her book Spiritual Conversations with Children: Listening to God Together was released March 2020. Her children’s book All Will Be Well was released October 2022. Lacy lives on the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains and worships with a local Quaker Meeting.
