March 29: John Donne

I almost let this day slip by without reminding myself and you that many Christains are remembering that on March 31, 1661, one of our best Christian poets died. John Donne wrote poems like "Batter, my heart, three-person'd God":

Batter my heart, three-person'd God ; for you
As yet but knock ; breathe, shine, and seek to mend ;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force, to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurp'd town, to another due,
Labour to admit you, but O, to no end.
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,
But am betroth'd unto your enemy ;
Divorce me, untie, or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

He wrote lots more poetry and preached many sermons such at this one, given on Easter Day, 1619. If you have some reason for appreciating what God has done in the life of John Donne, here's a prayer you may wish to give to God:

Almighty God, the root and fountain of all being: Open our eyes To see, with your servant John Donne, that whatever has any being is a mirror in which we may behold you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.