“Chop wood, carry water, pray” is a descriptor of practical religious practice that appeals to me quite strongly.<\/p>\n
“O fire-feeding corpse of fallen tree,
\nWhich now my granite-sharpened axe doth hew
\n(And may it cut like Justice, straight and true):
\nI praise thy Maker as I’m chopping thee.”
\n“O swiftly-flowing water, bright and clear,
\nContain\u00e9d in my pot like Grace once poured
\nInto a human soul by our dear Lord:
\nMay thou be twice as sweet, though half as dear.”
\nThe bell for Vespers rings. I calmly kneel,
\nNot praying, really, just inventing praise.
\nBut then the silence comes, and phrase by phrase
\nReclaims my wasted words, and makes them real.
\nAnd thus the evening justifies the day:
\nI learn to chop wood, carry water, pray.<\/p>\n
Posted on Making Light<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" “Chop wood, carry water, pray” is a descriptor of practical religious practice that appeals to me quite strongly. “O fire-feeding corpse of fallen tree, Which now my granite-sharpened axe doth hew (And may it cut like Justice, straight and true): I praise thy Maker as I’m chopping thee.” “O swiftly-flowing water, bright and clear, Contain\u00e9d … Continue reading Chop wood, carry water, pray<\/span>