Jacob's Encounter--2 Poems

Gate of Heaven

Jacob's Dream by David Coker

Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place—

and I did not know it!’ And he was afraid, and said, ‘How awesome is this place! 
This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’ -Genesis 28:16, 17

Surely, Jacob woke.

Surely, he was sleeping.

Surely, he was a fool

                  and did not know it.

The house of God and

the gate of heaven:

                  a stone!

Surely it cracked his brain

                  as he slept.

Surely, he was afraid—

                  a night without rest

                  for a man on the lam.

Surely, wouldn’t you be a mess?

And still, how awesome

                  was his place.

I lay me down

here

hoping to feel that stone hard

beneath my head—

                  Jacob’s gate to heaven.

Where has my life dreamed ladders

and angels to make me gasp:

                  surely,

God is in this place?

Jacob’s place was such: so sure

he lavished anointing oil

                  in dust and sun—

—do you suppose it soured?

Do you suppose God noticed?

Do you suppose I might take

                  just a drop?

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     Jacob’s Thin Place

You want to know a thin place?

How could I ever draw the map,

lead you toward that secret room?

I have entered by oiled doors

hidden behind stacks

of finger-worn fictions

curtained by prayer

cluttered with desperation, breathless

longing, and the expectation

            that One

            is always

always in seclusion there—

            waiting

            for me.

You want to know a thin place?

Would it surprise you to know yours

is basking in the brassy commotion

of Café Ardour: Dad

and twins sharing scones—toddlers

too young to worship

caffeine begged by eager students?

Or that your room rests on pebbles,

stings your soles as you step

into the Poudre?

            Or that it is here? Right here

            now.

You want to know a thin place?

Remember your room. Map the

quadrants until your north is

fixed. Until X marks the Gate.

Until you are there again. Surely,

            God is in

            that place.