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In Stillness the Dancing
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In Stillness the Dancing

Connecting life, scripture, and poetry

a hundred sunbeams splintering

Beth Ferguson, January 2, 2010

We spent a few days of “r ‘n r” at the beach just after Christmas.  I can’t explain or reason why being on the beach makes such a difference to me … I can only say I experience the divine while contemplating the ebb and flow of the tide.

The sunsets were amazing – truly the heavens declared the glory of God.

In his poem, A Sunset from Feuilles d’Automne, Victor Hugo writes,

I love the evenings, passionless and fair, I love the evens,
Whether old manor-fronts their ray with golden fulgence leavens,
In numerous leafage bosomed close;
Whether the mist in reefs of fire extend its reaches sheer,
Or a hundred sunbeams splinter in an azure atmosphere
On cloudy archipelagos.

Oh, gaze ye on the firmament! a hundred clouds in motion,
Up-piled in the immense sublime beneath the winds’ commotion,
Their unimagined shapes accord:
Under their waves at intervals flame a pale levin through,
As if some giant of the air amid the vapors drew
A sudden elemental sword …

O contemplate the heavens!

And I say, “Yes!”  Let’s gaze on the firmament & contemplate the heavens!

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  1. Bonnie says:
    January 4, 2010 at 12:23 am

    Beth, I love the title of your blog from this poem. It creates such a lovely image. I, too, find the beach compelling, refreshing, soothing… God’s creation draws me much closer to his heart. It makes me want to know him more intimately. I also love to see his handiwork in people, how they change by spending time with him. Thanks for sharing your beautiful thoughts here.

    Bonnie

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