Gethsemane

The grass never sleeps.

Or the roses.

Nor does the lily have a secret eye that shuts until morning.

Jesus said, wait with me. But the disciples slept.

The cricket has such splendid fringe on its feet,

and it sings, have you noticed, with its whole body,

and heaven knows it if ever sleeps.

Jesus said, wait with me. And maybe the stars did, maybe

the wind wound itself into a silver tree, and didn't move,

maybe

the lake far away, where once he walked as on a

blue pavement,

lay still and waited, wild awake.

Oh the dear bodies, slumped and eye-shut that could not

keep that vigil, how they must have wept,

so utterly human, knowing this too

must be a part of the story.

Mary Oliver published Thirst in 2006 with this poem Gethsemane in it. This is the Mary Oliver book that I return to the most.

I read this poem in a new way when I went through my Shanti training. I understood it in a new way. The call to sit, to keep watch and pray. Not fix "it" - whatever "it" is, not to give advice, not to say "I know just how you feel" or "That happened to me one time."

And non-religion specific Multifaith Works sent me to my bible. Did Jesus really say that? Did he really ask for someone to wait with him?

Yes, he did.

Mark 14:32-34: They went to a place called Gethsemane and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James, and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay her and keep watch."

No exegesis needed here. What a surprise this was, what a relief. And what a sadness. Like that Taize song goes Stay here with me, Remain here with me, Watch and Pray, Watch and Pray. And they couldn't do it. We couldn't do it. It's something I'm still struggling with, something our society struggles with I believe.

Worthy of practice, worthy of cultivation.

Thinking of communion, the Last Supper, feet washing, Liberation, the trees, the lake, the crickets, the garden of Gethsemane, the disciples, us, and Jesus - afraid, left alone, and undeterred.

I'll be breaking bread with some girlfriends tonight. I pray you'll be with someone too wherever you are. Wherever two or more are gathered...

Do this in remembrance of me.

Bread for your journey,

Cup of healing

Amen.

P.S. I'm not steeped in the bible. I'm learning more in my 30s, but it's not my strong suit. I gotta lot a Love in me, but not a lot of memorized or familiarized scripture. I'm not worried about it. I'm enjoying sticking a toe in and learning more. I'm constantly surprised when I tell R, "Suzanne and I used this text today for Lectio Divina." And he says "O ya, that one in (blank) where (fill in the blank) happens." He's steeped in the scripture and he doesn't wear it on his sleeve. I love this guy. He's full of it.