I’ve retreated
To a quiet place;
Just need my space.
Too many things
Are coming at me;
I cannot think.
Different voices,
Different choices;
Who’s telling the truth?
All sincerely,
Intensely believing;
Is someone lying?
Focus on Jesus,
He’ll never leave us.
Our mighty God!
Help me understand.
I didn’t know
What my words might do to you.
I’m in a fantasy land;
Can’t understand
What my actions do to you.
Am I bereft
Of empathy?
Completely void
Of sympathy?
How did I know
What I could do,
Since silent were those
Who’d tell me true?
What does the silence mean?
It can be peaceful and serene.
It can be tense, it can be mean.
Let our silence be a calm,
A healing balm,
A space that will give birth to song.
Broken today
By my own sin.
Tears of sorrow
Fall like the rain.
Only Your love
Will bring a new day.
So weak without You;
Why do I doubt You?
Wandering eyes
Start looking at lies.
Inadequate soul —
Why my surprise?
Why all the violence?
Lacking godly reliance.
Too driven by lust —
In God we must trust.
We all have our fears —
To Him let’s draw near.
Feel so insecure,
But Your love is sure.
Yes, I am weak,
But Your strength I will seek.
Though sometimes depressed,
By You I am blessed.
You’ve won the war,
The strife for my soul.
Now I allow
Your grace to endow
Your new life in me —
And thus victory.
Lord, I need Your healing
From pride, from sin,
From jealousies within.
Please cleanse this broken heart,
Let me make a new start,
Give me Your Sacred Heart.
From fear, from hate,
Wipe clean the slate —
Your love demonstrate.
Help me look up above,
Focus only on Your love,
Fly free like a dove.
Then Your healing light
Will give my soul flight.
I am whole in Your sight.
Your Love is told a thousand ways
As steady we traverse our days.
The fact that we exist is one,
And then the Father, Spirit, Son.
Each new green leaf, each tender stalk,
Each fragrant flower, as we do walk.
A tender touch, a kindly smile,
The one who says, “Come stay a while.”
Forgiving words and peaceful pardons,
Sustaining waters, grace-filled gardens.
Creation sings; Your love song rings.
The stars, the skies, let praises rise.
Majestic mountains, roiling streams,
Icy fountains, bright sunbeams.
And darkness too, can give You glory —
More brightly shines the candle’s story.
A thousand ways let hearts explore.
Your Love still gives a thousand more.
“Come walk with me”, the Savior said
“Leave earthly cares behind
Leave all that comes twixt you and me
The sin and worry bind”
His heart was aching with such pain
He saw men struggle, strive in vain
When in His hand He held all things
The peace, the joy, that His love brings
He said, “You must the silence keep
The quietness, the inner deep
Close every door and go inside
To you My love I will confide”
“Each day go to the inner door
And listen as I speak, and more.
My inner peace I will impart
And make a fountain in your heart”
All men will one day bow the knee
To Him who hung upon a tree
‘Till then let us be well content
In silence, a true sacrament
This ship I travel, on treach’rous sea
I often wished that I could flee
I did not choose this ship of life —
Of sin, of sorrow; sadness, strife
I felt alone, though many traveled;
In darkest ignorance my life unraveled
But now and then a Light would shine
And slowly came the gift divine
I am not here for self alone
My purpose through the darkness shone
And as this ship sails on or stalls
With others do I meet life’s squalls
And I have met an Unseen Friend;
His Presence here do not contend
And if I may but save one soul
From falling, jumping in the sea
My soul will thrill, my heart will sing
‘Tis purpose done; ’tis destiny
The tawny hills with golden flecks
The summer’s air, the wilderness
The lazy buzzing of the bees
The grass that tickles calloused knees
The welcomeness of gentle breeze
All these and more my heart do swell
And then my soul says, “It is well”
The wilderness a sacrament
The vibrant stillness infinite
The wind that rustles in the trees
It seems that time will never cease
A window opens to a place
Which weary soul can now embrace
The gift of silence like to gold
My heart will ever, always hold
Lemons, tomatoes
Brimming over in trucks.
Big 16-wheelers
Between which we’re stuck.
Windmill propellers
Sixty feet long.
Convoy of army trucks;
Young men looking strong.
Low-riding race cars
Police were escorting.
Garlic aromas
And cattle all lowing.
Tall tandem bicycles
Built for a scream.
Cruisin’ on the highway
Was it a dream?
(2011)
clarakatalin 
Missing Men
Missing men and absent abbas,
Deadbeat dads and passive papas,
Men who have gone off to fight,
Men who seem to be off site,
Men who sit and read the news,
While their kids are so confused.
Men who don’t know how to be men,
‘Cause their dad was missing when …
As they grew up, there was an absence
In body, spirit, or emotional lapses.
God, our Father, we pray to thee:
Fill the gaps we cannot see.
Help the men who never learned
For family, wife, to be concerned.
Who might not know to show respect
To women — sometimes they in fact reject
The ones who dare to have a mind;
Some men have not learned to be kind.
Don’t get me wrong, the ones who fight —
The rough guys, tough guys, they’re all right.
I only hope they will include
Some kindness in the interlude.
Yes, dear men, you have a role
To care for wife and children’s soul.
And like us women who too have flaws,
To see God’s plan we must give pause.
Category:
Christian, Commentary, family, Poems
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