Poems, Personal Stories, and Observations

Archive for March, 2016

Sleeping from Grief

[“When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found
them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them, “Why are you
sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”
(Luke 22:45-46)]

As darkness falls,
Do we sleep from grief,
Or weariness –
Discouragement deep?

Or cynicism,
Or harsh derision,
Or is our sleep
Another kind?

Brought on by drugs,
Or too much wine?
From entertainment,
TV time?

Or trying to end
Our emptiness
With false romance
Or casual sex?

No matter why
We’re sleeping now,
Must ask for grace
To wake somehow –

To take up cross,
Accept all loss
Of worldly glory –

Must tell the story
Of Jesus’ love,
His always-love.

Let grace come in,
Fill souls within.
Our peace receive,
And let grief sleep.

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Poems

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The Root of the Problem :)

 

A recent online conversation with friends.   Some names have been changed.

 

————————————–

 

Cathy: Storm damage in our neighborhood.  This is the worst I saw. The tree covered two cars and what looks like part of the garage roof: [Picture of large uprooted tree over cars and a roof]

[Two days later]

Cathy: Today is 2 days later and nothing has changed. Cars haven’t budged. Either they can’t afford to get the tree removed or all the arborists are busy after the rains. [I don’t think anyone was hurt.]

 

Fred Maple: At least you found the root of the problem.  Sounds like that tree’s bark was worse than its bite. Yeah, I know what you’re probably going to say, I should just leave it alone.

 

Cathy: You mean “leaf” it alone?

 

Fred Maple: That’s vine with me.

 

Cathy: Oakey dokey.

 

Richard Johnson: These comments would be funny if it weren’t for the wooden delivery.

 

Fred Maple: Needless to say, Richard Johnson is right, we’re just knot that funny. Boughever, I can’t help laughing because I’m such a sap. I am a Maple though, so …

 

Richard Johnson: I think Fred has found the root of the matter. But it’s just too much fun to needle Cathy.

 

Cathy: Can’t seem to worm my way out of this; just need to compost myself.

 

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Humor

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Waitings

 

Clouds bursting forth,
After long pregnancy –
Such a long time waiting;
Fulfilling their destiny.

Desert blooming,
Long time coming –
Dryness senses water;
Life is flourishing.

Century plant
Growing so slowly.
Once in a lifetime
Its bloom condescending.

There are many waitings.
The patience of God
Is eternal.

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Poems

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Incarnation

God in a body –
How can it be?
The Star-Shaper, Light-Maker
Dwelling with me?

How can the Great One
As infant come down?
How was Man’s Molder
In poverty found?

What kind of love
Does startle, astound?
Incomprehensibly,
My soul He has found.

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Poems

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Glimpses of Your Glory

Glimpses of your glory,
Shadows of your grace.
When I hear the story –
How You saved the human race.

Just around the corner,
A ray of light does shine.
Can’t seem to wholly grasp it –
Just like a butterfly.

Out of my eye’s corner,
Just around the bend,
A blinding light is shining;
I cannot comprehend.

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Poems

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Old Saints

[I saw a white-haired lady at church …]

Sun-wrinkled wisdom,
Silver-haired sense.
Long years of suffering,
Lost innocence.

Growth in compassion,
Mercy matured.
Their passion for praying
Has borne much great fruit.

Closer their souls
To God up above.
May all of us hope
To thus grow in love.

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Poems

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To Be Human

 

To be human
Is to love – and lose.
Then my response
I need to choose.

To be human
Is to hurt – and cry.
Perhaps anger will
My hurt belie.

And then my anger
Might energy give
To right the wrong,
To help me live.

To be human
Is to have deep needs.
I might deny them,
But they’re the seeds …

To bring salvation
If I’ll confess
How needy I am –
That my heart is a mess.

But if my love
Is real and true
Will it be spurned?
I don’t have a clue.

And if my “love”
Has selfish roots,
I’m back to square one –
Truer love to pursue.

But I’m always learning,
Ever learning.
And for God’s truth —
Forever yearning.

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Poems

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“For everyone has sinned …”

Once I was watching a documentary about the Nuremberg Trials (in which prominent Nazis were on trial for World War II war crimes). A Jewish man who was present related how he suddenly fainted during the testimony of one of the accused. When asked why he fainted, he said, “Suddenly I realized that I, too, was capable of the same horrible actions.”

We ALL need forgiveness.  We cannot do any good without God’s help.

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (Romans 3:23)

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Commentary

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