Sunday, August 05, 2007

Imagine


It's late and I'm drinking cold Corona. Here's a random thought - the essential contact of soul to soul between humans has disintegrated and all we're left with is a very cruel alternative.....just not sure what it is.....feels like I'm driving a stolen car... my soul is thirsty now, for the intimate embrace and understanding....truth is, it's too easily erased....

thanks to my friend Martin for saying my prayers....AGAIN

"So I'm just thinking to myself, right...
I'm thinking that John Lennon said,
'Imagine there's no heaven...'
But I'm thinking, 'Get lost, John - I think I
might imagine thre is'....

A place where the buses run on time,
and women walk safe after dark.
Where eating chocolate reduces cholesterol,
smoking is relaxing but doesn't cause cancer,
and you can't get headaches or hangovers.

I'm thinking of a place where nurses earn as
much as company chairmen,
policemen are liked but not really necessary
and teachers don't want to be anything else.
Where children run multinationals for fun
and grown-ups are sent to bed every time
they're rude.

A place where you can be busy
if you want too be,
but you can buy extra time when you need it
(from an extra time shop).

A place where you can go to sleep
when you're tired,
deep, deep sleep so you wake up feeling like
you've had a life transfusion
like your life has been heated up.

I'm thinking of a place where nobody notices
their nakedness
and species aren't endangered.
Where you've got all shapes and sizes...
but no one great or small.
Where people meet you
and don't even notice your bone structure
or your colour
because they're so struck by your soul.
Where they hear your spirit not your accent
and everyone knows that everyone's only a
mere immortal.

Of course
this heaven is not a religious place.
I mean there'll be no Jehovah's Witnesses at
your door (who needs a witness when Jehovah's
down the road?)
and God won't be a rumour because he'll have
a front door.

You won't have to pray because you can talk.
There is no need for churches,
mosques or temples.
No one tells you how to live your life
because no one needs to.
There'll be no-streets of gold
or pearly gates or harps,
no big dad god and little boy god
on matching thrones.
No regrets
but a place where every time you bump into a
"why"
you can feel a "because".

There will still be bad language.
Words like bomb and bullet and rape.
There will even be the odd four-letter word
...hate,
for example.
But some words will not be able to be spelled
at all
...fear,
poverty,
pain,
death,
because these words will come from
an ancient language
no longer understood
occasionally studied but never spoken.

I'm imagining a place called heaven.
A place where you can eat chocolate
and fight heart disease,
take a long slow drag on a fag
to cure someone of cancer,
climg through the air on wings like eagles,
run but never get tired.
(Martin Wroe - When You Haven't Got A Prayer: A journalist talks to God, Lion Publishing, 1997)

ps, the shot was taken in Zanzibar

17 comments:

Bar L. said...

I absolutely love what you've written here, it's pretty much perfect.

Suzanna said...

"Where people meet you
and don't even notice your bone structure
or your colour
because they're so struck by your soul.
Where they hear your spirit not your accent
and everyone knows that everyone's only a
mere immortal."

can I say I'm struck by your soul?

When can we say that without scaring the other away? I look forward to a place where love isn't a threat. Where love isn't supply and demand. Where people aren't objects of love but gifts.
Maybe the intimate embrace has the same DNA as manna.

Rainbow dreams said...

what a great image of heaven...

I guess soul to soul contact makes us so vulnerable no wonder it's fragile.. hence it's beauty...

J Pearson said...

Do you have directions? What bus do I need to catch - would a travel agent be able to help?

Brother Cyril often talks around this imaginary place and leaves me with more questions than answers. But there are moments when we touch into this reality, it is not just a place of dreams.

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

Ok, me thinks I had better clarify something....this prayer was written by my friend Martin Wroe - I should have made it a little clearer - I don't want to be taking credit for the work of a man I'm not fit to tie his laces....apologies if I gave the impression it was mine

(I have added the source at the end of the prayer - it's a wee book worth buying)

Barbara,
I love his work - he allows faith for the amateurs, he's a lovely bloke who I'm proud to call friend.
ps, what do you think of Dave Mathews? I just got introduced to his work - really enjoying it, can't believe I've never heard his music - evidently he's quite big over the pond!

Suzanna,
That part struck me too...
Of course you can say that....I think you just did
Have the lovely Kester and Gareth been in your neighbourhood of late?

Katie,
absolutely....
I think he may be on to something about the heaven thing....hope so anyway

Br David,
Still looking I'm afraid - will let you know if I find either.
I agree with Br Cyril, it's not just a place of dreams - occasionally, in our rare good moments of kindness we touch the face of God....

Suzanna said...

I get to see the lovely souls of Kester and Gareth this weekend!
Now, I am happy that we'll speak of you. Begin now, to feel equally lovely. It's good company.

Unknown said...

This is amazing. My soul is always fed when I read your blog.

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

ah, so the two raggamuffins arrive in a few days - a fine time i know will be had - please give those gorgeous humans a hug from me....

Tori
thanks for your kind words - i do feel with martin's work that i'm chewing a steak rather than drinking milk....and surely that's a good thing....

mister tumnus said...

cheers for that paul. that john lennon song is, i think, one of his worst. catchy hook though.

great poem/prayer too.

see you soon! woo!

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

hey, it's a great story - i keep going back to it

martin's prayer is pretty wonderful also

looking forward to IKON very much.......

awareness said...

I hope God has a kitchen too. I'd like to sit at His kitchen table sipping hot tea with Him and having a good chat.

And you know what? I think His front door would be painted the most glorious sky blue.

Loved this.......

I don't know if soul touching has disintegrated totally, though I think many are feeling deep wounds and are perhaps afraid to open their vulnerable hearts once more. And maybe we were never supposed to touch souls with everyone....I think we have the capacity to feel great empathy and understanding for many, but soul touching conjures up an intimacy that only remains special in its embrace if it is offered and reciprocated by people who cross our paths sometimes for reasons we may never figure out.
I think touching souls is the feeling we have when we are humbled by a moment of grace. As much as we want to experience this life altering deep feeling, it would lose it's powerful cleanse if it happen all the time.

martin's piece reminds me of U2's Streets with no name......I could hear it playing in my head when I read it.

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

'but soul touching conjures up an intimacy that only remains special in its embrace if it is offered and reciprocated by people who cross our paths sometimes for reasons we may never figure out.'

i like this dana, was having a bit of a moment when i penned what i did....

am sure god has a kitchen - that's where all the fun is at parties isn't it?

here's a little secret, the reason you may see glimpses of U2 in martin's work is that, some of the time, he works with them!!!!!! Yep, he knows them well - can you believe that? A friend of mine knows them!

Kate's Typewriter said...

love your new layout. of course link me.... that would be fantastic, i am honored, thank you so much. thank you so much. it means a lot. continue the brilliance...

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

kate, it was an extraordinary piece of writing - people should read it

still not sure about the layout

Anna said...

I have missed your posts Paul! Thanks for sharing this. Have a wonderful week!

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

glad you missed them anna, feeling was mutual - love your latest shot...

will try and post again over the weekend when i feel i have something to say

nonizamboni said...

No regrets
but a place where every time you bump into a
"why"
you can feel a "because".
Wonderful poem--you're lucky to have such an articulate friend. I agree totally.
Lovely.