The Forgotten Threshold: A Journal of Arthur Middleton — John Shaqi
The Forgotten Threshold: A Journal of Arthur MiddletonO'Brien, Edward J. (Edward Joseph)
Religion
The Forgotten Threshold: A Journal of Arthur Middleton
O'Brien, Edward J. (Edward Joseph)
Diaries; Mysticism
Every time we look into another's soul we may enter Paradise. There is
an indescribable grace in the air this first day of prescient autumn.
The summer has taught me the secret of loneliness and the infinite way
of satisfying its desire. To be alone with God we must be intimate
with the beauty in the eyes of every face, and yet absolutely detached
save from one's family and friend. Life's ideal is to see the end in
the beginning, and act the road between. This is no other than the
eternal life of the Alpha and Omega. But the essence of it in time is
that the whole tide of humanity should ebb and flow in our breast. It
requires a crucifixion to drink in all its saltness. I found the dunes
beyond the lagoon this morning and sank into God in the wind of the
sunlit blue. When I returned, the people were coming from Church.
Tonight the Host was quivering gold, and as I write the planets are
ringing in my ears. I pray that at the end I may come to the Heart of
Eternal Silence.
August 19.
On the dunes this morning toward Wonder Island ... Eternity is
infinite speed. Time is the dragwheel, nothing more. Hence the
significance of "when eternity reaffirms the conception of an hour."
Flame is the symbol of time as dew is the symbol of eternity. They
meet in Christ and through Him in the human race. The moon properly
loved is the kindness of time, as the sun is the reflected love of
Eternity made Flesh in the Host on the altar. ... Tonight I desire
only silence to love.
August 20.
On the dunes toward Wonder Island this morning I lost space and walked
upon the blue ringing a cycle of stars in either hand. But I felt no
sense of distance and the seed of the sands blew on the wind which
carried me. It taught me how to walk softly through life, and coming
home I had the sand in my hair. I know now what clouds are, softer
than the breasts of doves. God's flying sorrows are the sandals of the
soul. They make us His angels, Mercuries of Light. The sun has not
bled for many a night, but has slowly descended in silver splendor,
always a second dawn with its fresh, keen, cool surprises. Today was
the grace of last night's desire. The wonder of it this morning was my
complete surrender, the assurance with which I moved on the singing
skies as my native element. I know that only the appearances remained,
as in the Eucharist after the Consecration we seem to see the bread
and wine. Life was the poise of infinity, and I knew of no horizon,
for I could look down upon the dawn. It came two weeks ago Sunday in
my heart. I see the mystery of the Resurrection in its beauty, and why
white lilies are its deepest symbol. How can there be a prison or a
cage? Every twilight is a white horizon. The gulls know that and the
sea tonight has lost its sorrow.
August 21.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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