Among the Lilies

I have heard

The words

“Welcome home!”

Over and over again

This week.

 

I smile

And say thank you

And know that I am

Loved

And cherished

That I have been missed

And that now that I am back

At least for everyone else

Life can return to normal

 

 

But honestly

The truth is

I am not quite yet

Home.

 

 

I am not quite certain

Where home is

Any longer

Except that home

Is where

I feel the Holy.

It is where

I feel the presence

Of the One

Who knows me

And loves me

Better

And deeper

Than any other.

The One

Who knows my fears

And yearns for me

To let them go

So that this One

This Holy, holy, holy One

Can sweep them away

Scatter them to the wind

Blow them apart and

Swirl them away

Never more to claim me.

 

This day

Home is among

Thousands

Of summer lilies

Boldly calling out to me

To look

And see

And when I do

There it is

That unmistakable Presence

Of the Holy One

That connects

With my heart

And bids me to

Come among the lilies

And listen.

 

And when I do

I hear the Holy One

Whispering the words

Look deeper

Look deeper

Look deeper

To find the place

Within me

Without fear

To find home.

 

Written July 14, 2018, by C. Alicia Randolph

 poem and photo © by Alicia Randolph Rapking 2018