Sunday, January 17, 2010

The White Way of Delight


"Oh, Mr. Cuthbert," she whispered, "that place we came through--that white place--what was it?"

"Well now, you must mean the Avenue," said Matthew after a few moments' profound reflection. "It is a kind of pretty place."

"Pretty? Oh, pretty doesn't seem the right word to use. Nor beautiful, either. They don't go far enough. Oh, it was wonderful--wonderful. It's the first thing I ever saw that couldn't be improved upon by imagination. It just satisfies me here"--she put one hand on her breast--"it made a queer funny ache and yet it was a pleasant ache. Did you ever have an ache like that, Mr. Cuthbert?"

"Well now, I just can't recollect that I ever had."

"I have it lots of time--whenever I see anything royally beautiful. But they shouldn't call that lovely place the Avenue. There is no meaning in a name like that. They should call it--let me see--the White Way of Delight. Isn't that a nice imaginative name?"

-from Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery



















This morning I awoke to a breathtaking sight
every naked tree branch was covered
with the white frost of a winter morning

It was as if the Holy Spirit had traveled
through the night, breathing his heavenly mist
upon the trees, covering them with the white
perfection of heaven

The frost clung to the branches
and sparkled against the blue sky
waiting for the sun to touch them
with the warmth of love
and melt the frozen dust from their tips

For a few hours I was in the
heavenly White Way of Delight
and my heart ached with a
"queer, funny, pleasant ache"

Heavenly Father, thank you for "The White Way of Delight" that pleases me so. Thank you for the foretaste of the beauty of heaven.
Amen.

11 comments:

  1. Dear kindred spirit Anne,
    This is exquisitely beautiful. What a gift the good God has given you! Thank you for sharing it.

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  2. Anne with an "e", have you ever tried to get these lovely poems published? I was never a fan of poetry, but I love yours!

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  3. I also can't think of anything nicer than waking up after snow fall. It's amazing! Like a great velvety silence has arrived, bringing a sense of long lost childhood security. Great words, thank you for posting them.

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  4. Very poetic - very moving!

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  5. Love this poem! Gave me a great visual image to smile at.
    And I am so totally jealous of your winter white. Here it is rainy but warm, which means humid. Ugh... who wants humid in January?!?

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  6. Anne,
    Even before I read today's entry, I thought of you today. I too witnessed this miracle while walking the dog. This is going on my "Praise God" list for the week.

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  7. Your poems give me that "queer, funny ache" inside my heart. The pictures were stunning, too. It's like a touch of heaven on earth, isn't it? Creation, poetry, music, art, children. A taste of heaven, that sounds right:)

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  8. Anne- I saw this too! It was like they had been turned upside down and dipped in the snow! It "snowed" frost from the trees on us after mass! Lily Stephen and I all stopped to catch flakes on our tongues! It was the most beautiful sight coming down the road going home. YOU were able to put my experience into words. Now that is a gift!

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  9. Beautiful, Anne! Would it be alright if I posted this on my blog, with your name of course? Thanks.

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  10. Anne with an e, I love that you love Anne of Green Gables, I love your poetry. I hope we will meet someday in person, because when I read what you write, almost all of it, I feel like I found the sister I always wanted but never had. Until now. Sister in Christ, you are amazing!

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