Thursday, August 17, 2006

God the Verb
By Don Iannone

God without form
only as motion
creating reality
every moment
with cessation.
No beginning.
No end.
Only the perpetual process
of being to become.
The old kabbalist said:
"Imitate your Creator
and the mystery
shall be revealed to you."
Who is he any way?
Why is he speaking to me?
He then said: "One who understands

will understand."
I'm beginning to understand.
At least I understand there is a mystery
and that it passes through us
and there is no containing it
and there are signs all over
but some I can't read.
The old man disappears
but his words linger:
"Imitate your Creator
and eventually
you will come to understanding
and understanding will come to you."

13 comments:

serenity said...

Magnificent Don. "Only the perpetual process of being to become." THAT is stunning.

Jim said...

Great writting Don, the more you are with the Kabbalah studies, the more your eyes will open to the words and thier understandings will dawn like a new day. That has been my experience for 20 years, it is full yet, everyday.

dumbdodi said...

"At least I understand there is a mystery
and that it passes through us
and there is no containing it
and there are signs all over" - Thats exactly where I am.

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Thanks Serenity...yes being to become...we are process.

Jim...it's a nice start to the adventure. Daniel Matt is terrific. Do you know Ron Feldman's book Jewish Mysticism and Kabbalah? It's an easy primer for a novice such as myself.

Dumbdodi..thanks. Recognizing there is a mystery is a perfect starting point for each of us.

Let me switch gears to a Rumi poem that says this in a slightly different way. Of course the Sufis were also mystics who wanted to "mainline" God.

Hear from the heart wordless mysteries!
Understand what cannot be understood!
In man's stone-dark heart there burns a fire
That burns all veils to their root and foundation.
When the veils are burned away, the heart will understand completely...
Ancient Love will unfold ever-fresh forms
In the heart of the Spirit, in the core of the heart.

gP said...

immitate the creator...deep thoughts. had the feel of a SF poem.

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Thanks Ghost Particle. Just part of the experience along the way.

Margie said...

wonderful poem Don!

Dan said...

There you go...

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Thanks Margie and Dan.

Kathleen said...

The Mystery is us....

Beautiful Don... where understanding meets itself!

Your poems are great... have I said that before...? :)

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Yes Kathleen...the mystery is us, or at least that which comes before what we call us.

Nabeel said...

yes .. no beginning .. and no end .. He has been forever and will be forever .. God is 'noor' (light)

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Nabeel...thank you for stopping by and sharing your insights. They are much appreciated. Blessings

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