The love that knows and names the stars
aflame in heaven's dome
stoops down to heal our broken hearts
and bring the exiles home.
We left behind us shattered walls
and empty, aching rooms;
love gathers us into its arms
to bear us from our tombs.
Secure and safe the house it builds
where we can dwell in peace,
and long the table love has filled,
and calls us to the feast.
And we, who lived on what we scrounged
or morsels we had begged,
sit down where bread and wine abound
and are not sent away.
For love has heard the raven's prayers
and filled the earth with food,
has known us even to our hairs,
and gives us what is good.
As if we were the very stars,
love knows and calls our names.
With its own light, love fills our hearts
and joys to see our flames.
The image is from the European Space Agency. It is listed as the LH 95 star forming region of the Large Magellanic Cloud. The image was taken using the Hubble Space Telescope. By ESA/Hubble, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8788068
Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the Lord stood beside him and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!” And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
Genesis 28:10-19
Each stone beside the highway is your altar.
The drooping eaves where sparrows make their nests,
abandoned buildings sheltering the swallows:
Are these where we recline upon your breast?
For we have seen this world is not your kingdom,
yet you have raised your altars even here
to bear each sacrifice your people bring you
and draw each weary trav'ller ever near.
Your ladder's lowest rung is on a pebble,
a landing place for angels touching down,
transforming rocky soil into a temple,
and every yard of earth is holy ground.
This world is not our home: It is your dwelling
where you spread out the refuge of your wings,
and in their shadow you have made us welcome,
this nest where fledgling sparrows learn to sing.
Then may we be at home, Lord, in your shelter
and every morning find here mercies new.
Spread out your shadow everywhere we venture:
Let wand'ring hearts at last find rest in you.
Kate Bluett 