'If the door shuts, do not go away'

Reflective material for personal use

‘After immense activity one passes into a phase where passivity is the only way. I pray that you may be finding this passivity as the way in which the soul serves God, not by doing this or that but by passively receiving the great stream of His love and compassion.’

Michael Ramsey

Butcher and Sheep
Rumi

Do not despair when the beloved sends you away.
Today’s rejection may turn
tomorrow to an invitation.

If the door shuts, do not go away.
Be patient, even if every possibility seems closed.

The friend has secret ways known to no one else.

Is it not the case
that when a butcher kills a sheep,
he does not leave the carcass?

Rather, he bends down and works more closely.
The sheep’s life becomes the butcher’s life.

The meaning with this is: There is
a great generosity in being killed by the beloved.
Solomon’s kingdom goes into a single ant.

Both worlds combine in one heart.
I have traveled everywhere
and found no likeness for the friend
Have you found one?

This silence gives a taste.
Whatever wine the friend serves
comes when language ends.

Trans by Coleman Barks, ‘Rumi, Bridge to the Soul, Journeys into the music and silence of the heart’ 2007.

Read the poem and spend some time in silence

Reflective Questions

In what ways does the Christian faith talk about death in relation to the spiritual life?

How do you respond to the ideas in this poem?

What stands out most for you?

How has rejection or a definite ‘no’ to something you wanted, eventually brought new life to you?

How do you feel about things dying, about closing doors, about saying ‘no’?

You may like to spend some time in prayer with this verse:

‘I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who lives; but it is Christ who lives in me’. Gal 2:19-20

Activity – go outside and find something rough, hold it in your hand. What do the rough things of the world teach us?

Comments

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