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Journey Through Lent         2018

​

Lent: Day Thirty-Nine

3/24/2018

13 Comments

 

​“The whole world is at rest, and is quiet: and they break forth into singing.” Isaiah 14:7

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The American poet Wendell Berry wrote a very small, very subtle untitled poem in 1997.  In just four lines and seventeen words, the poet helped me to understand something I have been wrestling with this year in my Lenten journey. 
 
          Best of any song
         is bird song
         in the quiet, but first
         you must have the quiet

The poem caught my eye for two reasons. First it reminds me of the engagement ring I bought for my wife Kathleen. Hers was not your traditional diamond ring that all her relatives were expecting. Instead we decided together on one that had been designed by an artist known for etching little poems into her jewelry.
 
This particular ring spoke to both Kathleen and I for reasons I can only assume had something to do with God’s divine hand that led us to one another. Etched on top of the ring were the words of the 18th Century Jewish mystical rabbi Dov Baer or Mezritch:
 
         Before the first light, light.
         Before the first word, silence.
 

Berry’s poem, like the words engraved on top of her ring, remind us of the importance of silence. For it’s there, since the very beginning, that the truth and meaning life are housed. Most of nature understands this. They often use the silence to their advantage. 
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Yet for some reason silence makes us human beings uncomfortable.  Even thought God tells us to, “Be still and know that I am your God” we still squirm and squeal just to let the world know that we exist.  But we might benefit from sitting still in the silence; to use it for our advantage, or at least our deeper understanding of life.

The second reason I like this poem is that it suggests there’s a musical quality to quietness. Think about that for a moment. The rhythm of life, the heartbeat of all creation is not noisy but quiet. This does not imply that quiet is noiseless. A well-trained ear can hear the beat of electrical impulses that dance in the air and move through the silent atmosphere. It’s as if the invisible spirit of God is trying to be noticed.  Silence is a noise that gets our attention – it screams out to us that there is no escaping God’s presence.
Solitude, silence, and prayer are often the best ways to self-knowledge. Not because they offer solutions for the complexity of our lives but because they bring us in touch with our sacred center, where God dwells. That sacred center may not be analysed. It is the place of adoration, thanksgiving, and praise.

         ~ Henri Nouwen, Bread for the. Journey 
God etches little messages within us, and within all of creation. We need to look carefully to find them. Sometimes, we have to listen carefully too in order to hear them speak out to us.  Just as a sunset makes no noise, or the starlight heavens say not a word, they both speak volumes about God’s vast greatness, and both sing praises to God’s great works without uttering a word.
 
As you try to find your quiet place during your final days of this Lent journey, I hope you will take the time to meditate on the words of the great mystic and theologian, St. Francis of Assisi who said, “Go and preach the gospel always; use words only if necessary.”

Prayer: Mysterious and wonderful Lord God, be with me today to quiet the noises that are inside me. For you alone have the power to silence the world that screams and distracts me from being with you. More importantly God, help me to sit peacefully in your Presence as I seek to find a deeper relationship with you and your marvelous creation. Amen.
​

 
Berry, Wendell. A Timbered Choir: The Sabbath Poems 1979-1997. (Counterpoint: 1998) p. 207.
Nouwen, Henri, Bread For The Journey. (Harper-Collins: 1996).
13 Comments
Leslea Newman
8/9/2022 05:27:24 pm

Hello,
I have the same ring! Do you know anything more about it? Who is the artist? (I can't read the name on the back, though I believe the date says '98. I am wondering if you have any further information about the quote. The ring belonged to a dear friend of mine who recently died and I treasure it. Thank you.

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Ian link
8/9/2022 08:19:11 pm

We purchased the ring in 1998 at a small jewelry boutique store in West Hollywood, off Melrose. We looked through our wedding notes but unfortunately, we do not have any more information.

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Leslea Newman
8/10/2022 03:54:57 am

Thank you for your response. It will remain one of life's little mysteries!

Leslea Newman
8/10/2022 08:31:15 am

One last question: are you able to read the name of the artist etched on the back of the little square? It looks like it begins with the letter "P". Maybe Payer or s Payn or something like that?

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Ian Macdonald
8/10/2022 11:53:24 am

It is very hard to read. But like yours, I can make out the first two letters…P A

It looks like the other two letters are Y A followed by the numbers 9 7

The second A could also be an N but that seems a stretch.

I did a quick Google search and found @discoverpaya on Instagram. But it’s from New Delhi. The styles seem way different as well. Please keep in touch with me if you find out more. I’d love to know the mystery. I’m the meantime my wife is going to look in old files when she has a moment.

By the way, how did you find me or this particular post?

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Leslea Newman
8/10/2022 12:33:00 pm

Hi Ian,
I could not find any information about the ring, so I asked a friend who is a genealogist to help me. She has some fancy search engines and can pretty much find anything on the internet! I looked for jewelry stores off Melrose and there seem to be many. I may call a few just for kicks. You never know. I am also going to ask my rabbi more about Rabbi Tov Baer and if there is any more to the poem. The ring was given to me by the daughter of a friend who recently died. She (the daughter) has no idea how her mother obtained the ring--whether she bought it or it was a gift, etc.--and now we will never know. I feel a deep spiritual connection to this ring (and its former owner) and want to find out anything I can. And now you and I are connected. There is some magic afoot.
Lesléa

Reply
Leslea Newman
8/13/2022 09:12:21 am

Hi Ian,
Today I am wondering where you originally found the lines by Rabbi Dov Baer and if these two lines are a fragment of something larger. Can you site the source for me? I realize you wrote this blog years ago and may not remember. Thank you and I hope I am not being too much of a pest!
Lesléa

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Ian Macdonald
8/13/2022 01:27:51 pm

No. You’re not being a pest. Knowing me, I googled it at the time of the writing. I’m surprised (kinda) that I didn’t cite it since I did the others. I also could do better at proofreading.

Someone once read my blog and said “It was like reading a private diary or notebook.” In that they are “Raw ideas that haven’t been damaged yet by the author.” I’m not sure how to take that, but I personally liked it.

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Lesléa Newman
8/14/2022 04:41:17 am

"Raw ideas that haven’t been damaged yet by the author" -- I kind of love this. Though I do revise -- or "pester" as a teacher of mine called it -- everything I write at least 20 times before it sees the light of day.

I will be back in touch if/when I find out anything more about the poetry snippet, which I so dearly love.
Lesléa

Reply
Lesléa Newman
8/22/2022 07:39:59 am

Hi Ian,
I have some more information for you. The artist who created the ring is Jeanine Payer. The one my friend bought was made in 1998. You an find Jeanine Payer's website here: https://www.jeaninepayerjewelry.com/about
She seems like an amazing person!
I did reach out to her but she has not responded.
My Rabbi could not confirm that Rabbi Dov Baer is the source of the quote.
I am still searching!
Will let you know if I find out anything more.
Lesléa

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Ian Macdonald
8/22/2022 10:19:33 am

This is AMAZING! Thank you so much. Your persistence has paid off. I look forward to seeing her work. And sharing this news with my wife. I wish I could remember where I learned that quote came from Dov Baer.

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Lesléa Newman
8/24/2022 09:39:05 am

Hi Ian,
I think I have confirmed that the quote does belong to the rabbi! Can you kindly send me your email address so I can forward you the image? I found a citing in a book about Chinese medicine and I don't know how to attach an image to this reply. My email:
leslea@lesleakids.com

Thanks!
Lesléa

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Sean Prince link
11/13/2022 02:25:08 pm

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