November 13, 2024

Looking through my treasure-trove
of photographs of natural places,
I am awe-struck again at the number
of magical scenes in the world
that are "transparent to transcendence,"
enabling us to sense the presence
of more-than-words-can-say.
And connect us with the meaning of life
by being meaningful to us here, now,
day in and day out.

Sacred places are meaningful,
though we cannot say what they mean,
and it would be wrong to try.
Words are useless before the wonders
of time and place,
and so, the camera,
and our capacity to stand dumb
before the ineffable.

And damn us for talking about it!

Religion is nothing but talk, talk, talk!
About things that cannot be said!
Depriving us of our solitude,
without providing us with any companionship!
(Which is what Oscar Wilde said of Bores--
and who has not been bored with religion?)

Emptiness, stillness and solitude 
would be an appropriate substitute
for religion as we know it,
which makes the Quakers the only available
outlet for religion as it ought to be.
And a walk in the woods,
or by the ocean, would do just as well.