Poetry and Praise

By Rev. Dr Katherine Rainger, Senior Chaplain

The Jewish concept tikkun olam means to heal, improve and repair the world. Within the Jewish faith tradition, tikkun olam also has a specific meaning about partnering with God while working to redeem a hurting and broken world.

Daily life for many people in Ukraine, Sudan, South Sudan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Pakistan and other places is full of much suffering and uncertainty. Closer to home we can all think of people who are facing difficulty and struggles.

Through prayer, through giving what we can where we can, through care and advocacy we can each participate in healing and repairing the world. A life of faith recognises the healing and creative power of God at work in our world and the invitation to join in.

Mary Oliver’s poem offers a poignant invitation to receive all of life as a gift. In receiving this gift there is also the invitation to turn towards, rather than away from, each other.

As we celebrate the gift of spring, Mary Oliver’s words have a particular resonance.

The Sun

Have you ever seen
anything
in your life
more wonderful

than the way the sun,
every evening,
relaxed and easy,
floats toward the horizon

and into the clouds or the hills,
or the rumpled sea,
and is gone–
and how it slides again

out of the blackness,
every morning,
on the other side of the world,
like a red flower

streaming upward on its heavenly oils,
say, on a morning in early summer,
at its perfect imperial distance –
and have you ever felt for anything
such wild love –
do you think there is anywhere, in any language,
a word billowing enough
for the pleasure

that fills you,
as the sun
reaches out,
as it warms you

as you stand there,
empty-handed –
or have you too
turned from this world –

or have you too
gone crazy
for power,
for things?