Rainy Beatitudes

Church of the Beatitudes, 7 December 2010

I wonder if it rained at all
During the beatitudonal wisdom teaching?
The disciples and onlookers huddled
Deeper into their cloaks
Coming away with impenetrable
But memorable nuggets
To upset their worlds.

Or were they tougher,
Happy to sit on damp ground
At least it was rest from labour
Glad, as the earth, for the blessing
Of even a millimetre of rain
Falling on the lush basalt soil.

As we strive for silence,
Space to think; voices intrude
And the singing
Reminding me that it was probably
More like symphony under the stars
Than an octagonal church service.