For Sister Nativity

Only the clear see clearly. The pure of heart see God. I once knew a translucent person, an old nun, thin as an altar candle, eyes like flames. She was completely clear; she harbored no lie. And the lies in me? She saw right through them. She made me feel like water. She could see to the bottom. I could not have hidden myself from her, I did not try; I did not want to. Only the old ones can be pure. Only the ones over whom the sands of life have passed a thousand times, sands driven by rain, sands heavy with the sea, sharp sands, the many-sided crystals. They wear us down. They change our shape. Finally, only the soul remains, round, bright, clear, and shining in our eyes.

First published in my book, FINDING STONE: A QUIET PARABLE AND SOUL-WORK MEDITATION. Innisfree Press. 1996.

Comments: 12

David Rochester Oct 6, 2006, 1:42pm EDT

Lovely, Christin. I have never thought of the soul as being round. I shall have to consider that.

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Marilyn Hertel Oct 6, 2006, 1:45pm EDT

Great as always. It's been so long since I read "Finding Stones". I don't remember this bit. . .but it is so perfect, I can see her in my mind's eye. Some people one is simply unable to lie to, even to speak to them leaves one almost tongue-tied!!

much love,

me

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Edward Nudelman Oct 6, 2006, 2:59pm EDT

Beautiful Christin, such light and grace is seen only rarely, but when you do see it, you know its real. A good, fat, round shining soul sounds good to me!

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Beryl Singleton Bissell Oct 6, 2006, 4:01pm EDT

Christin, look at how you write, have always written! I savor every word. The nun thin as a candle with eyes like flames ... translucent. Oh my. A friend of mine, who married an irascible man was advised be like the sand which absorbs the fury of the waves. Waves that would crash against a rock.

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julian 'blighted karma' three Oct 6, 2006, 8:17pm EDT

I had no idea you had published a book; as soon as the budget allows, I shall have to seek it out. This was so touching and beautiful, and so true! Many layers!

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Carol Roach Oct 6, 2006, 8:42pm EDT

very nice hon.

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Christin Lore Weber Oct 7, 2006, 12:21pm EDT

Thanks everyone. Julian, FINDING STONE is out of print now, but you can sometimes find it on the second hand market.

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Carol Cassell Oct 7, 2006, 6:22pm EDT

Beautiful light within.

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Kathryn E. Oct 8, 2006, 11:03am EDT

Beautiful, Christin...absolutely beauitful.

I've made this the Lead Feature in Famous Firsts and Not So Famous Firsts.

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Christin Lore Weber Oct 8, 2006, 2:14pm EDT

Thanks, Kathryn -- a real honor.

Lucie, I didn't know that about the refining of silver -- what a profound image/metaphor for the spiritual life--the reflection of the divine.

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Max Babi Oct 9, 2006, 1:22pm EDT

Very interesting, Christin.
I studied in a missionary school at Baroda, India -and we indeed had a male version to this translucent nun there, Fr. Whitely, from Australia. Not only he had a transparent persona he could see through us all. Astonishing man, possessing a level of simplicity that each one of us wonder why couldn't we be more like him...
Thanks for posting this pithy masterpiece. This sheer poetry in prose form!
Cheerz!

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Linda DeMerle Apr 4, 2007, 7:02pm EDT

Christin, this is so beautiful

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For Sister Nativity

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