Jim And The Knife
Before we had The Open Gate I lived on Holy Island in a small cottage with one spare room. The first people who asked me to lead a retreat just for them were two couples, including JIm and Jane Clark. Jim has just died in Norway after bequeathing his Celtic art books to our library . His widow, Jane, found this poem while she was clearing through Jim's things. She wrote it during that retreat for two couples.
To Ray; The Butterknife.
When I see a knife
I see a sharp weapon,
A thing for cutting, for
Division, for strife.
A thing that is needful,
But one to bring harm
As well as bring life.
Then I came to an island
Saw a different thing.
I saw before me
A knife used for spreading
An innocuous knife
That can only cut butter.
Its a kinfe for uniting
The oil with the bread
To bring taste and life.
Its a powerful knife
A necessary knife,
For those who will eat
Of the Bread of Life.
A Holy knife,
A singular knife
To chase away strife, bring life.
And with this gift,
We say go on spreading
The Oil on the Bread,
Bringing taste, bringing Life.
Go on being used
To chase away strife,
Go on bringing life.
Jane Clark Sept 97
Posted at 03:57am on 11th July 2012
Blog Archive
Latest Tweets
Let the hype fall off Harry and Meghan like water off a duck's back. May the royalty of the pure in heart shine in… https://t.co/wWx6oaPQDG
Help university students with mental health problems to let go of a perfectionist mind-set and social media addicti… https://t.co/UsCzXr55PM
Move the hearts of those around Jerusalem to keep the 10 commandments: not to steal others' land; not to kill those… https://t.co/Mgkv2iT8n9
In our disappointments, lift us up. In our denials, lift us up. In our duties, lift us up. Ascended Jesus, lift us up. #Ascensiontide
Help us to realize that every one of us needs a twelve step program in order for your Holy Spirit to fill what wo… https://t.co/yYQNWkCjLq
All-Compassionate One, get Christians out of their church boxes and religious de-tox bolt holes and forge them into… https://t.co/gbyGIHceXs
May infants in the womb be raised to life in you; may scarred heroes and spurned lovers be raised to life in you #Ascensiontide
Alon Liel, former Director-General of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, said in London: ‘If Britain will recognise Palesti… https://t.co/vg1psU8cAy
All human life with Christ is raised, the weakest ones by heaven are praised; now high and low on him have gazed. A… https://t.co/wnIYKet0jf
RT @PeteGreig: The Day of #Ascension means that the resurrected Jesus who was once somewhere at one time for some is now everywhere, always…