Paradox: Lenten Reflections Poem by RIC BASTASA

it is when you feel so strong
that you become weak
when you have learned too many things
that you start to feel
that you know nothing
when you feel you are so blessed
that you become so empty
when you are too near to God
that you become too distant
when you feel you are so loved
that you are forsaken

so we start with nothing again
to achieve the fullness
to be so forsaken to feel being loved
to be emptied all over again
to become full again
to reach an end
so we can start all over again

to be reborn in order to die
to die and return back to dust
to gain eternal life

for in truth our wisdom is nothing
but all foolishness to him who gives it
for it is in giving everything
that we get back what was missing