Over ten years ago this verse was written to mark the Christian Feast of the Epiphany – Christ the night to all the nations! Although we face different challenges this year to ten years ago, we can substitute our own, as we look to “a beacon of hope.”

FLAME

A passing over

Of a peaceful flame

Illuminated our nation

In 2000.

Bearers of the flame

Gathered our nation

With many nations

On an Olympic scale.

2001 was dazzled

By flames

On the New York skyline.

Towers of unity

Uniting nations in commerce

Were rent asunder.

As the year passed on

Flames of destruction

Of ill intent

Ravaged our land

Driving away

The people from their homes.

As Epiphany dawns

Another light shines

A light to all nations

Aglow in an infant

A simple splendour for all.

As the flame burns within us

May our light be:

a warm glow

a touch of love

an embrace in peace

a beacon of hope.

Simon Falk, New Year’s Day of 2002.

That Worthy Wordsmith is our Anam Cara

In memory of John O’Donohue (1956 – 2008)

John O’Donohue

had a way

with words

and sounds

and souls

and images.

His words

can land upon us,

like a soft, gentle rain.

And

as time unfolds

we become sodden

from its falling.

It washes our dryness

of soul.

Yet

it does not dampen our spirit.

It irrigates our vocabulary

and grows our minds.

John’s sharing of our inner light

awakens our longing,

to know

someone understands

the gurgling gestation

of life within

our very selves.

To read or hear him,

stating those words,

provides a company for us

when we feel

that our thoughts and musings

may have consigned us to isolation.

This solace

makes him

like our Anam Cara

from afar.

Though afar

his words

convey his presence to us

with great immediacy.

In that thin place

between memory and the beyond,

John is present to us still.

That worthy wordsmith,

is helping at the forge

of our delicate souls.

Simon C.J. Falk 2 December 2013.

For some of us John O’Donohue has been a great inspiration. He was probably best known for his books ‘Anam Cara’ and ‘Eternal Echoes’. Irishman, Poet, philosophical-theologian, former priest, he had a way with words that continues to enchant his readers and hearers. The words above scarcely scratch the surface of describing him. But they attempt to at least point to his influence. More information about John and his writings can be found at http://www.johnodonohue.com and his talks at Britain’s ‘Green Belt Festival’ can be found at http://www.audible.com .