In God Makes the Rivers to Flow; An Anthology of the World’s Sacred Poetry & Prose, Eknath Easwaran includes a selection from Ansari of Herat entitled “Invocations.”  I’ve written the following poem-like reflections inspired by this selection.

You Care for Every Lily

O Lord, to find thee is my desire,

But to comprehend thee is beyond my strength.

Remembering thee is solace to my sorrowing heart;

Thoughts of thee are my constant companions.

I call upon thee night and day.

The flame of thy love glows

In the darkness of my night.

—Ansari of Heart

You’ve given me everything I have.

You’ve loved me with a love beyond conditions.

You’ve comforted me when I was inconsolable.

You’ve forgiven the unforgivable.

You are my hope.

You are my strength.

You are my heart’s desire.

I search for you in the morning.

I search for you in the evening.

I search for you all day long.

I go from house to house, door to door, searching for you.

I go from church to church, from religion to religion.

I search the city streets.

I search country roads.

I search wilderness paths.

I search the beach.

I search the mountains.

I search the forest.

And even though I find you everywhere I go,

it is as if I haven’t found you.

I search my heart for you, and you are there, but I know you not.

I cannot comprehend your greatness,

you, who exists in every atom of this infinite universe.

You, who exists in every breath I take.

You, who cares for every lily.

I cannot comprehend a God so immense and so intimate.

I cannot comprehend a being that does not begin or end.

I cannot comprehend love as pure as your love.

I cannot comprehend being forgiven without forgiveness.

I cannot comprehend a consciousness conceiving all of this.

Are you mother or are you father or are you some other thing?

Are you a holy child?

Are you a lover? Or are you simply love?

I long for you.

You are the light of my soul.

You are the ground of my being.

With gratitude, I receive your grace.