[Written while watching the movie “Waste Land”, about people who pick through garbage to get recyclable materials, in Rio de Janeiro]
You are loved
in Jesus’ name.
It’s not your riches,
nor any fame.
Not what you did,
or didn’t do,
What things you own,
or your great school.
It’s not how many
friends you have —
No boyfriend, girlfriend?
don’t be sad.
Lift up your head,
Because you’re loved.
Are we rich in any way? It may not be material things ….
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Invited in, I shyly stood,
Not knowing if I really should.
You see, I had so much to lose —
A fancy coat, expensive shoes,
My pride of life, my love of booze.
[The door too small to take it all … ]
Undecided, there I stood,
But I could see beyond that door
Some happy people, singing all.
But I would almost have to crawl
To get within that little hall.
I’d have to bend, might have to kneel.
My fear, my pride, I sure could feel.
I turned around, dejected still.
I wandered long; I wandered far,
But in my mind could see the door
Still beckoning, still off’ring hope.
While wandering, I lost the shoes,
The fancy coat, my taste for booze.
Somehow they didn’t seem to give
My soul its very-needed lift.
[My feet were calloused; my soul was bruised …]
I lost my pride; where did it go?
The things I’d thought; they were not so.
Inside-out, it seemed my life;
Continuing, but filled with strife.
Then humbly came I to the door.
I knelt; I crawled, into the hall.
With tears of joy I was received,
And my own tears, my fear, relieved.
Look to Him, look to Him,
Though you wander in the dark.
Fly high, take wing,
Sing like the lark.
He will triumph,
He will win,
He will overcome your sin –
Let Him in.
Stay strong, keep on,
Like the eagle you will be
Flying on to destiny.
Fly high, do not fear,
Your Lord and Master,
He draws near.
Great and awesome, mighty God,
You who made the heavens and earth,
And every soul that comes to birth.
We do not understand Your ways,
Oblique to every mind are they.
How often we misspend our days.
We struggle, strive, to keep alive.
We fight, we hate, offense do take,
‘Til understanding comes – too late?
Your mercy, grace, so fathomless;
Your justice, anger, so restrained,
Until the time You have ordained.
Your patience for us wayward souls,
Your love expressed a thousand-fold —
Infinity we now behold.
How do we You now comprehend?
How, small soul, your ways to mend?
His mercy triumphs in the end.
I must go on,
For the road is long.
No matter how I think or feel,
I must go on.
I must be strong —
Still the river flows.
Where it leads; I do not know.
I must be strong.
I must keep on,
Though all seems dark.
No matter what some say or do,
I must keep on.
Though throat be parched,
Though eyes do sting,
Confusion reign or angels sing —
Remember Jesus’ suffering.
Keep on the road,
And do not fail,
Though drink be bitter, bread be stale.
To heaven’s gate I must prevail.
[Inspired by the following quote:
“JESUS DEIGNED TO TEACH ME this mystery. He set before me the book of nature; I understood how all the flowers He has created are beautiful, how the splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the Lily do not take away the perfume of the little violet or the delightful simplicity of the daisy. I understood that if all flowers wanted to be roses, nature would lose her springtime beauty, and the fields would no longer be decked out with little wild flowers. And so it is in the world of souls, Jesus’ garden. He willed to create great souls comparable to lilies and roses, but He has created smaller ones and these must be content to be daisies or violets destined to give joy to God’s glances when He looks down at His feet. Perfection consists in doing His will, in being what He wills us to be.”
St. Thérèse of Lisieux ]
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Like a daisy in God’s garden,
Not rose nor lily fair,
Like Leah to Jacob’s Rachel,
No beauty to compare.
Yet Leah brought forth Judah,
Of whom our Lord was heir.
And all the kings and queens of earth,
And those who lack in means,
Come to this world with nothing,
And leave with naught, it seems.
Whether you be famous,
Or by the world unknown,
His purpose you must surely find,
Unique to you alone.
clarakatalin 