Wandering

When the preacher begins to sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher,
It is so easy to let my mind wander to that cheesy version
    of “The Solid Rock” the band played.
The drum intro reminds me of “Ants Marching” about fifteen years ago,
Our summer camp wake up song before the pre-recorded “Reveille” came on
   and started off the day.

Part Two

You gave us but one prohibition,
But we lacked the inhibition
  to choose wisely,
Because our desire to be like you
  in knowledge
  gave us a new type of courage –
  the courage to disobey.
The price we would pay
  for interrupting your perfect design!
Now until the end of time
  accursed.
The end.
The black.
The broken.

In The Beginning

Powerful Creator -
  Maker of sunshine and raindrop,
  Ruler of drought and monsoon,
  Controller of wind and tide –
You spoke the universe into being
  saying, “Let there be this and that,”
  imagining and willing,
  forming and filling.
You created us in your likeness
  to make and cultivate
  to steward and procreate.
You called everything good
  and it was so
  in the beginning.

This Is My Prayer

This is my prayer:
that you would live long and love well;
that each new day would bring moments of joy and moments of peace.

I pray that, as you go about your day,
you would be surprised by small mercies;
that you would see good in all people, places, and circumstances;
and that you would be refreshed again by the grace that abounds to you.

I pray that you would be a rock of faith, a beacon of hope,
and a fountain of lovingkindness
to the faithless, the hopeless, and the unloved.

I pray these things for you for the sake of Jesus Christ -
the Source of all faith, hope, and love;
the Giver of grace;
and the Author of life itself.

Amen.

Chase the Sun

If I could chase the sun,
I would run west into forever
Stopping never to rest
For fear that its light
Might fade and night begin,
The rays grow dim,
And daylight end.

Storm Clouds

Storm clouds sail
like battle ships
across the open sky,
poised to make war
or cruise on in peace,
whatever the command.
Stretching tall
and peering down,
a hovering grey
creeps across the horizon –
an ominous presence.
yet somehow majestic
in both glory and fury.

B-13

B-13 is no man’s land;
it’s where you stand
to wait and wait
as buses fly.
You wonder why
no one sends
a bus to tend
the five plus ten.
You’re running late.
You begin to hate
those who found a spot
in the front of the lot
near B-1 or 2.
Oh unlucky you!

On Psalm 19

The Word speaks:
    deepest blue is inaudible
    yet utters profundities;
    a white wisp is hushed
    yet whispers truths;
    a twinkling light is mute
    yet proclaims mysteries.
Deepest blue speaks;
a white wisp speaks;
a twinkling light speaks;
the Word speaks.

Magnolia Tree

Magnolia tree
with waxy leaves -
the perfectly cool canopy,
Shade me please
from stifling heat -
your fragrance sweet -
the quiet seat
upon the ground
and not a sound
til’ summer storms
and raindrops form,
hitting the leaves
of the magnolia tree.

Called

He called me to follow him.
I dropped my nets,
And I called him teacher. 

 

He asked me what others called him.
Some gave him the name Elijah.
I called him Messiah.

 

I called him out
When he talked about dying.
He called me Satan.

 

I called him rabbi
When we were on the mountain.
God called him Son.

 

He called us to pray with him,
But I fell asleep,
And he called me to wake up.

 

He called me among those who would deny him.
I turned away
When someone called his name.

 

He called out to God
Before he breathed his last.
Then he called no more until

 

He called to us from the shore
Three days later.
John called him Lord.

 

He called me
Three more times.
He called me to follow him…again.