December 18, 2012      Martin Mallon  (Ireland)      Martin's previous articles

                                           All My Life

I came across this beautiful poem by theologian Mary T. Malone while recently browsing the May/June 2006 volume of Spirituality, a publication of the Irish Dominicans. There are so many elements to this poem, that I felt obliged to print it for readers to reflect on. Comments would be appreciated, particularly because each time I read this poem something new strikes me and I am sure I am missing many insights.  

The first line resonated with me immediately “All my life,… I have had clear sight of God”. Yes, clear sight, but of something which my mind cannot fully comprehend or retain.  

Next, I am struck by;  

 “As my physical eyes fail

   My inner eyes open to wonder.”  

This wonder never ceases, this fear of the Lord, who is always here:
“She, your God, is here.”  

One of the problems with this life comes to the fore “my spirit races ahead

Come on, come on, there is so much more.” We can never get to know all we want to about God in this life, there is always “so much more.”  

In a wonderful paragraph Malone writes:  

I used to worry about sin

Now I have no time for this.

When I pick up the Scriptures

The light streams out at me

The words tremble with life,

And shout: ‘Abundant Life.’  

At seventy she no longer has time to worry about sin, but why should any of us spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about sin when Jesus has redeemed us. Yes, we need to be on our guard, but it is love Jesus wants more than anything, for God and mankind. We receive so much love from Jesus, as can be read in the scriptures, and we know he wants us to share in his divinity, his ‘Abundant Life.’  

These are only a few thoughts on this marvelous work of Mary Malone’s and as I have mentioned above your thoughts would be welcome.

                                     
 Praying at Seventy  

All my life, it now seems to me, I have had clear sight of God

Like currents of air. Spirits gliding upward,

I have been in flight.

The clouds form and reform

They race across the sky and swell in stillness, still aglowing,

And they say: Remember God!

As my physical eyes fail

My inner eyes open to wonder.

As my bodily ears strain

My God-antennae are instantly alert

And announce: She, your God, is here.

As my brain is sometimes befuddled

My heart leaps in elation at the Robin’s antics;

As my feet stumble, my spirit races ahead

Come on, come on, there is so much more.

As my hands grow numb, and sometimes sore,

My touch grows softer, sensitive, more grace-filled.

My senses may dim

But my whole being seems alive

And shouts: Live it up.

I seem now to be bathed in light

I say to myself:

‘Now I am living in the shadow of the Living Light.’

I used to worry about sin

Now I have no time for this.

When I pick up the Scriptures

The light streams out at me

The words tremble with life,

And shout: ‘Abundant Life.’

My memory is memorizing

All the strands are being drawn together

I can now say;

‘I see, I hear, I know, I smile, I love.’

I see new words, hear new music, know in deeper tones

I laugh at my dreams, I love with the trees.

I see bright flames coming from human lips.

I see rippling water flowing in endless light

No container on earth can keep this flowing.

All my life is now here in the palm of my hand

I am child, maid, woman, crone.

I live it all, now more fully.

How can I now describe my lightsome life?

I see

I yearn yet.