Untamed

Holy One,
untamed
by the names
I give you,
in the silence
name me,
that I may know
who I am,
hear the truth
you have put into me,
trust the love
you have for me,
which you call me to live out
with my sisters and brothers
in your human family.

from Guerrillas of Grace, Ted Loder

Jan read this poem to open our Abbey Way - New Year's Eve retreat of silence (which I could have easily enjoyed until midnight!!) I was struck by the word untamed. How often do I try to tame God by naming him? How often do I want to put a name, a label on something, so that I can categorized it and file it away? Often, naming has been helpful for me - I am a compassionate person whose gift is my tears, I have faced many walls and dark nights of the soul. But where does my knowledge lead me? As a librarian, I treasure knowledge - but to what end?

I pray my names, my knowledge, lead me deeper into the heart of God.