XI. Paradise
The burning sun
Is but a reflection of my Love for You
That I might lay beneath it
A sort of torture
Slow and painful is this surrender
And it melts away my desire
Burns up my thoughts
And leaves me still and empty
Just as I wanted
Paradise is within my grasp
But I choose to suffer in Yours
Because without Your presence
Paradise is not paradise
A false illusion only
Masking a feeling of longing
That roots in disconnection to You
And that is why I choose You
For all the struggles it may bring
When I am close to You
All is paradise
Once the clouds have parted on their way
Sing to me
Let me hear the music of devotion
Your voice in its physical form
I can do nothing but listen
Since I lay amidst the fires
And look to you
For a pail of water
XII. Sweet Mary
Sweet Mary
Now that I can see it so clearly
What you have done for me
For us
Beloved Mary
My gratitude breaks my heart
I just couldn’t see it before
Drowning in my own suffering
All the while
Your hand remained in mine
And forever there it will stay
And I feel no shame in my emotion
Pouring from my eyes
For all the world to see
This gift of Love
You integrated into my heart
So I might forever walk with Grace
By your side
And I will sing for you
No matter who listens
And I will dance for you
No matter who is watching
Because the only meaning in any of it
Is Love
XIII. Storm
In the eye of the storm
I stand
Chaos may sway my branches
But I am rooted
In Love
In Trust
And in Faith
All will unfold
Exactly as it should
The mind cannot perceive
Or control
These fated events
So I only can return to the flow
In Peace
XIV. Endings
Gratitude strikes me in the heart
For I have suffered
And to what avail?
That Love might take over my being
That compassion seeps through my veins
I trusted in You
And You led me to Joy
In the most unexpected ways
Beloved journey
I can now reflect in stillness
And see the precious fruits
Austerity has brought forth
Each moment now a treasure
That I can only be thankful for