The Providence of the Palm: a meditation poem as begin Holy Week

The Providence of the Palm

There is a divine 

tenderness

found at the heart

of the world

still, 

though

often forgotten.

If you do not believe me

that's ok.

But at least 

ask yourself 

why

the Palm tree,

growing silently

and unremarkably

for long years,

then

put forth a branch

a stem,

a flower,

in precisely that

direction;

growing 

inch by

perfect

inch,

to seeming 

touch 

with love

the face of

sacred suffering?

You may have 

many reasons

to say otherwise,

all of them no doubt

are good 

in their own way,

but to me the

providence 

of the Palm

is this,

a reminder

from the ancient

tribe of tree

that we

are called

to stretch toward

the

suffering

and pain of this 

world

and there

tenderly caress 

the 

wounded

face of 

Christ.