My Morning Revelation

I just got back from my morning walk I had forgotten how exhilarating it is To watch the sun rise Up over the hills of Beirut. The campus where I teach is simply breathtaking Nestled cozily in the pine tree forests on top of a hill, It offers a panoramic view of Beirut Many years back this was not a good thing As the army brought a tank up to the upper campus To shell enemy positions in Beirut And our campus got riddled with bombs We spent our days in shelters While our campus burst into flame But this morning, I didn’t remember any of that I walked on the lower campus and gazed out at Beirut I walked like a fool....my eyes looking up Saying a shy good morning to the clouds And a warm good morning to the One beyond While I did my sit-ups on one of the benches I looked up into the jacaranda tree Its branches were naked, but I knew, I knew that in spring It would be regal in purple finery That would enchant all those who walked Under the train of its beauty Later it would rain purple petals down on all But purple kisses for me, for I’m in love with this hue As a reward, as always… I drove up to the upper campus While listening to music, my second passion As my car made the turns I tried to keep my eyes on the road And not fixed on the hills where the sun was getting ready To make his glory known Nor down on Beirut that was just waking up from slumber I passed places that my heart cherished Where my husband first asked me to be his Where we parked the car and looked at The dazzling lights of Beirut at night Our hearts ablaze with the burning passion of youth The place where he wanted to claim possession of me But held back…honoring custom and tradition I drove down slowly I drove down reluctantly I wanted to relive everything To find the joy of being alive, once more I had forgotten how beautiful the mornings are I had forgotten who I am in the great scheme of things But HE reminded me… As the sun pushed through the clouds and shone in brilliance The verse came to my mind… “And the Son of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings.” Arise in my heart, for I need your healing! Eileen Manassian Ghali