Our Father — Where?
Our Father who art in heaven …
and just where is that?
And what has some heavenly Being – wherever He is
have to do with me – earthbound
and suffocating in my own technological waste products?
But the word in the prayer is NOT HEAVEN
that’s only a lazy translation.
It is HEAVENS – plural – and that means something,
though timid teachers insist it does not.
But WARNING: here there be rabbit holes!
And nary a white rabbit in sight.
How many heavens? What is contained in earth?
Are they related to the universe we study?
More holes. Fewer rabbits. Maybe we should keep it simple.
“We” is the key word. Our construct. Our illustration.
Our impressionistic representation.
We’ll make it three in Trinitarian fashion,
The third first, as the Apostle tells the story.
It is the throne room of the Creator,
The control room according to an English prelate.
The central core from which all creation
And creativity flow.
The second heaven where the Nebulae
In grave and violent delight
Conduct their majestic reel,
And nearer at hand the spheres dance
To the music of their movement.
The first heaven is that
In which we live and move and have our being…
As the poet said of God.
But the first heaven is also where God is,
as close as the air we breathe.
Soaring with eagles, riding on the clouds,
Reigning on the throne.
Our Father in the Heavens, there is nowhere where you are not.
Preserver of the memories of our earth fathers’ love,
Healing the wounds of the wounded and wounding fathers
You are Father to the fatherless.
You set us in the midst of uncomfortable company
We share our lives with you in them.
It is the Our of our Father
And in that Our we give and receive instruction, wisdom and blessing.
Hallowed be Your Name?
How could it not be?
The Apprentice Priest 