Monday, October 15, 2007

Mountains of Meteora










This is not so much a poem as a reaction, words to the experience I had while visiting the mountains of Meteora. You can see this site in the pictures Alastair has taken above or in the Movie “For Your Eyes Only”, staring Roger Moore.


This was one of the places on our educational tour in Greece where Apostle Paul did not go. However…007 did!



The Rocks cry out

Mountains
Rising up like fingers
Like ships run aground
Rocks crying out
How awesome is our God!

Monasteries precariously
Clinging to the cliffs edge
Men seeking a higher place
Seeking God
Who formed the very rocks
they balance on

Each rock formation
Standing on its own.
Isolated
like the monks
Who live in their caves
Yet, standing together
like a great wall.

A wide expanse of mountains
Contrasted with a small
dark rooms of incense.
Incense too think to breathe freely

saints painted on walls
speaking loudly
voices
voices
voices
of the past
no rest for my spirit
simplicity lost.

Icons with closed lips
Their lives have testified
all has been said
“asleep but not dead”

Wake up!
Wake up and step outside
See the Rock on which you
Have built your shelter.
The rock from which you were cut

Breath in the
Fresh mountain air
Hear creation testifying
He Lives
He lives
He Lives!

Leave the small dark rooms
Leave your caves
See the Light of day
See the Glory of the Lord
It’s outside your window
For the whosoever
For you
For me
For the whole world to see.

I’ve heard the rocks cry out!
How awesome is our God!

cjb

6 comments:

The Wittenbergs in Rovaniemi Finland said...

Now I need to go rent a 007 movie!! Great pictures! Phil

The Wittenbergs in Rovaniemi Finland said...

How awesome indeed Carole. "Icons with closed lip", Monks who live in caves Yet, standing together like a great wall"...wow well said.

Larry said...

Thanks for this...it brings back memories...one picture that stands out in my memory is the sign on this monastery saying "respect the holiness of this place." although the imagery in the monastery and icons were a holy reminder of the saints on whose shoulders we stand and the awesome power of God, i keep asking, shouldn't all ground be holy ground? what have i done to help make it so?

you are so gifted with words. i especially like your rendition of "Knowing You Jesus." Sorry, this will go on forever now!

praying for you and Alastair.

Larry

Evie said...

This was one of my favorite spots on the tour. Thanks for the reminder of God, the Creator!

WalksInTheWoods said...

"Men seeking a higher place
Seeking God
Who formed the very rocks
they balance on"

How obvious,
hidden in plain sight,
is the fact that the very ground upon which we stand, is the mighty work of a Holy God....

It is right we should stand in awe of the towering mountains, sensing in them the power of our God......... you are even more right that we need to step, energized ... out of the incense laden closets of prayer and shout along with the majesty of creation, the mighty power of God.

The words we speak ought to be laden with the fresh breath of new life He has exhaled into us; .....

The work of our hands, ought to be signed in His name... with His passionate flair, to bring glory to Him through His Sons and Daughters.

Thanks for sharing some of the blessings of Presence, found in the journeys of your spirit.

jsi said...

Such beautiful mountains, rocks and caves. Your words are poignant and focused and powerful.