To Build a Swing

A Poem by Hafiz (translated by Daniel Ladenski)

You carry
All the ingredients
To turn your life into a nightmare-
Don’t mix them!

You have all the genius
To build a swing in your backyard
For God.

That sounds
Like a hell of a lot more fun.
Let’s start laughing, drawing blueprints,
Gathering our talented friends.

I will help you
With my divine lyre and drum.

Hafiz
Will sing a thousand words
You can take into your hands,
Like golden saws,
Silver hammers,

Polished teakwood,
Strong silk rope.

You carry all the ingredients
To turn your existence into joy,

Mix them,
Mix them!

I love these lines from the poet Hafiz, a Persian mystic, who lived 700 years ago and yet still speaks to us today. One of the things I love about our St. Barnabas community is the creativity and generosity that is so evident at every turn. We are a people who love to make things together, whether art or music, cooking up food, building houses, making plans, dreaming big.  

God has truly done marvelous things! I have been thinking of these words as we reflect on stewardship. Stewardship is the practice of using our resources wisely and joyfully serving others. Stewardship is an invitation to recognize that everything we have is a gift from God. In gratitude, we respond by giving of what we have – sharing our talents and financial resources to help share God’s love and gifts with others. And there is joy in knowing that what we create together has value not just in our lives but as a witness to a world desperately in search of good news. I hope you will join us in sharing what you have this week and throughout the coming year to support the life our community.