Life's tapestry

 “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”  (Romans 11:33)

"LAURELS AND MYRTLES" with the title "QUESTIONS" --Constantine Kallinikos

I told the seventy-year old ascetic elder,
whose beard waved like a lilac's branch;
Tell me, my father, why in this sphere here
do night and day walk inseparably?

Why as if they are twins do they sprout together
the thorn and the flower, laughter and crying?
Why in the most charming greenery of the forest
do nestle scorpions, asps, and cold venom..?

Why before the delicate shoot comes forth
and unfolds before the light its unsmelled beauties,
a black worm comes, gives it one stab
and leaves it a soulless rag in its swing?

Why does the wheat need plowing and sowing and workers
till it becomes a piece of bread and a loaf,
and everything beneficial and noble and divine
is paid for with tears and blood in life,
whereas parasitism automatically becomes strong
and meanness seeks to swallow the whole earth?

Finally, why in the vast harmony of everything
should confusion and disorder thrust itself?
The ascetic answered with his deep voice
lifting up his right hand to the heavens;


"Behind those golden clouds up there
the Great One sews a priceless embroidery
and since down below we walk
we see, my child, the reverse view.
And it is consequently natural for the mind to see mistakes
there where one must give thanks and glorify.

Wait as a Christian for that day to come
where your soul a-wing will rip through the air
and you shall see the embroidery of God from the good side
and then... everything will seem to you to be
a system and order!"

“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”  (1Corinthinians 1:25)