In a recent essay Robert Ellsberg, a writer whom I know from Thomas Merton circles, offered some thoughts from people in Christian history who have lived a solitary life. This is meant to offer some advice and solace to all of us who face our own solitariness. Many of these folks were monks or nuns. Of course, most of us are not ready to volunteer for life in this monastic setting, but sometimes life puts us in a type of monastic setting without asking us! But not all of the people he cites would call themselves Christian nor live in a monastery.
One such person he cites is Emily Dickinson. I don’t know Dickinson’s work in any extensive way, but I am attracted to the thinking of this 19th century recluse in Amherst, MA. Dickinson chose to return to her parents’ house in Amherst, a pleasant town in western Massachusetts, home of UMass, Amherst College and other places I have visited. She never left her house, except to spend time in the garden behind the house. I am sure the folks in the area thought she was eccentric. Probably others were convinced she was flat out crazy!
But she was profound. Her poetry has an amazing poignancy and punch for me. Ellsberg quoted a few lines from one of her poems entitled, “Some keep the Sabbath going to Church.” Let’s look at this short poem and consider it from our times of solitude and, often, silence.
Some keep the Sabbath going to Church –
I keep it, staying at Home –
With a Bobolink for a Chorister –
And an Orchard, for a Dome –
Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice –
I, just wear my Wings –
And instead of tolling the Bell, for Church,
Our little Sexton – sings.
God preaches, a noted Clergyman –
And the sermon is never long,
So instead of getting to Heaven, at last –
I’m going, all along.
Those first two lines appeal to many people with whom I deal. Many students who would claim to be spiritual have no intention of going to a traditional church. Staying home is not a bad alternative. Recently many people have learned to go to virtual church via zoom, Facebook or some other medium. It makes things like taking communion a challenge, but I know many people very much like this contemporary version of church.
The next couple of lines betray Dickinson’s love of nature. It almost feels like she invites us into her Amherst garden on a nice summer morning. Her choir may be the melodies of birds. One of the things I love about spring is beginning to hear birds again. What if I could learn to hear them as the Spirit’s choir! An Orchard for a dome. She capitalizes Dome. Her church building is much more expansive than many buildings around my town advertising themselves as churches. Dickinson’s orchard is a veritable natural cathedral. There is an inherent holiness which was created by the Divine Architect in person.
Speaking of God, we can skip the middle section and go directly to the last part. There is an orneriness to Dickinson that I appreciate. She claims that her clergy for the morning is none other than God! I also might prefer the direct encounter to some of God’s human spokespersons I have heard! And it makes me wince when I think about some lame efforts I have made to be a spokesperson for God. Dickinson reminds all of us we can go to the direct Source of it all. Besides, the sermon is not long.
And then comes the best part for me. She is not putting off heaven until she dies. She is participating right now. She assures us that she is going to heaven all along. I take as a challenge and solace. It is a challenge because it means I can begin my heavenly pilgrimage this day. Why not? This might be even more important if heaven turns out not to be what some people think it might be. What if heaven is today---or it is not at all?
Of course, I don’t know what heaven is or will be. But I am willing to live my life as a bet that it has to do with love and, probably, a good deal of grace and mercy. I am confident it means living in the presence and power of what I trust is an underlying Spirit and spirit in the life of each living person. I am sure it means community---people living together in peace and equanimity. All this would be a dream come true.
It is more than a dream. You make it true by going to heaven all along.
One such person he cites is Emily Dickinson. I don’t know Dickinson’s work in any extensive way, but I am attracted to the thinking of this 19th century recluse in Amherst, MA. Dickinson chose to return to her parents’ house in Amherst, a pleasant town in western Massachusetts, home of UMass, Amherst College and other places I have visited. She never left her house, except to spend time in the garden behind the house. I am sure the folks in the area thought she was eccentric. Probably others were convinced she was flat out crazy!
But she was profound. Her poetry has an amazing poignancy and punch for me. Ellsberg quoted a few lines from one of her poems entitled, “Some keep the Sabbath going to Church.” Let’s look at this short poem and consider it from our times of solitude and, often, silence.
Some keep the Sabbath going to Church –
I keep it, staying at Home –
With a Bobolink for a Chorister –
And an Orchard, for a Dome –
Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice –
I, just wear my Wings –
And instead of tolling the Bell, for Church,
Our little Sexton – sings.
God preaches, a noted Clergyman –
And the sermon is never long,
So instead of getting to Heaven, at last –
I’m going, all along.
Those first two lines appeal to many people with whom I deal. Many students who would claim to be spiritual have no intention of going to a traditional church. Staying home is not a bad alternative. Recently many people have learned to go to virtual church via zoom, Facebook or some other medium. It makes things like taking communion a challenge, but I know many people very much like this contemporary version of church.
The next couple of lines betray Dickinson’s love of nature. It almost feels like she invites us into her Amherst garden on a nice summer morning. Her choir may be the melodies of birds. One of the things I love about spring is beginning to hear birds again. What if I could learn to hear them as the Spirit’s choir! An Orchard for a dome. She capitalizes Dome. Her church building is much more expansive than many buildings around my town advertising themselves as churches. Dickinson’s orchard is a veritable natural cathedral. There is an inherent holiness which was created by the Divine Architect in person.
Speaking of God, we can skip the middle section and go directly to the last part. There is an orneriness to Dickinson that I appreciate. She claims that her clergy for the morning is none other than God! I also might prefer the direct encounter to some of God’s human spokespersons I have heard! And it makes me wince when I think about some lame efforts I have made to be a spokesperson for God. Dickinson reminds all of us we can go to the direct Source of it all. Besides, the sermon is not long.
And then comes the best part for me. She is not putting off heaven until she dies. She is participating right now. She assures us that she is going to heaven all along. I take as a challenge and solace. It is a challenge because it means I can begin my heavenly pilgrimage this day. Why not? This might be even more important if heaven turns out not to be what some people think it might be. What if heaven is today---or it is not at all?
Of course, I don’t know what heaven is or will be. But I am willing to live my life as a bet that it has to do with love and, probably, a good deal of grace and mercy. I am confident it means living in the presence and power of what I trust is an underlying Spirit and spirit in the life of each living person. I am sure it means community---people living together in peace and equanimity. All this would be a dream come true.
It is more than a dream. You make it true by going to heaven all along.
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