Easter in the Northwoods

 
Reflections on a personal spiritual retreat, weekend of Resurrection Day 2012, Boundary Waters, Northern Minnesota

Up the joyous coastline,
     fresh and free all feels,
To the place Adventurous Christians

     may go.
Gloriously

     rugged,
Rightfully

     untamed,
Present with the mystery -
     Easter in the Northwoods.

The sound of my soul
     rises,
     resonating
     with this
     wild freedom.
A million arboreal cathedral spires
     point my heart to You,
Here,
     with Nouwen my companion in solitude,
Sitting on the riverbank,
     edge of holy waters -
Boundary
     between now and eternity.

Strangers welcome me

     in the Name,
Saints draw me
     in to havens of hewn trees,

     Dwelling borne by crossbeams,
Feed me
     what's Real.
Woodstove warms my spirit,
     the rustic restores me.

Your breath in the body -
I've come alive again.