This past week’s service on Transformation gave me far more reflection than I could include in one sermon. One of the things that I found was a beautiful poem by the Spanish poet Antonio Machado, originally entitled “Anoche, cuando dormía,” translated to “Last Night, As I Was Sleeping.” I loved the idea of dreaming of transformation that was happening in our lives. I was transfixed by the idea of making beautiful honey combs from our failures and the transformative energy of the earth giving me warmth and light.
If you are still thinking about Transformation, if you love nature, or if you love good poetry, I encourage you to take 4 minutes and watch this video with Machado’s words and the beauty of our natural world. The poem is also listed below.
Last night as I was sleeping, I dreamt—marvelous error!—
LAST NIGHT AS I WAS SLEEPING, by Antonio Machado
that a spring was breaking out in my heart.
I said: Along which secret aqueduct, Oh water, are you coming to me,
water of a new life that I have never drunk?
Last night as I was sleeping, I dreamt—marvelous error!—
that I had a beehive here inside my heart.
And the golden bees were making white combs
and sweet honey from my old failures.
Last night as I was sleeping, I dreamt—marvelous error!—
that a fiery sun was giving light inside my heart.
It was fiery because I felt warmth as from a hearth,
and sun because it gave light and brought tears to my eyes.
Last night as I slept, I dreamt—marvelous error!—
that it was God I had here inside my heart.