Poems, Personal Stories, and Observations

Gotta Keep Believing

Gotta keep believing,
Though so much contradicts.
People think that I’m a fool,
And devil plays his tricks.

People that I’m trusting
Seem to disappoint.
But maybe I mistakenly
Misplaced my frail hope?

Need a clearer vision
Of what God wants for me.
Don’t seem to know the answers
For questions bugging me.

The road keeps getting darker —
Here’s where true faith comes in.
I’m teet’ring on a tightrope,
Can’t seem to trust in Him.

How long to be in exile?
How long out in the cold?
Lord, help me to surrender,
To wait upon Your throne.

Have I lost Your vision,
Has pride put me in chains?
I’ll wait upon Your answer
And then be free again.

Am I disobeying?
Did I blindly fall?
I don’t have all the answers;
I’ll give it to You all.

Another Day

Alarm goes off —
Get up and pray.
Starting out
Another day.

Cold water splash
Upon my face,
On Adam’s daughter
Of human race.

Do morning chores
And then get dressed.
Give husband hug,
And cheek caress.

And then we both
Go out the door.
Another day
Begins once more.

How can I His child be
When worldly cares relentlessly
Beat at my door?

I must let go,
Let trust decide
And be my guide.

Let go with wings
And songs that sing
Eternal glory.

Give up my way
And eyes must stay
On unseen Lord.

Does He now know
My suff’ring deep?
Of course; ‘tis His.

And calmly will I
Go to sleep
And rest in Him.

All Hallow’s Eve

All Hallow’s Eve –
Called Halloween,
When ghosts and goblins
Can be seen.

The night before
The saints are celebrated,
Pumpkins carved
Are finely calibrated.

The candy orgy
Makes you porky.
The sugar high
Makes kids fly high.

Yet still a candle
Brightly burns.
Let faith fight fear
And tricks be turned

To acts of love
To kindness bold,
To light that conquers
Fears of old.

On Magnolia Street

[In Mountain View, the city has planted
magnolia trees along many streets. This
was written after a morning walk.]

On Magnolia Street in Mountain View
My nose was tickl’d by morning dew.

I kicked the seed pods as I passed,
Though squirrels found them great repast.

The pods had ruin’d my mow’r twice,
Left on the lawn against advice.

So if you walk in Mountain View
Please stop and do pick up a few.

Your Candle

When your candle’s barely burning,
When your breath is just a sigh,
Step out into the darkness —
Lift your prayer to God on high.

Remember how He loves you
Amidst your fear and sin;
Remember how He died for you
And did the victory win.

He’ll carry you in darkness,
He’ll comfort you in grief.
He’ll give you all you ever need
If you’ll just trust in Him.

And if you don’t feel trusting,
If doubt and fear creep in,
Just let it go, give Him control,
Just give it all to Him.

Everybody’s Talking

Everybody’s talking,
Fighting all the time.
Think that their opinion
Is wise and so sublime.

Have their own perspective,
Think it’s the only way,
Can’t listen to another,
Must jump into the fray.

Can’t see the other viewpoint,
Don’t let others have their say.
Must always be the winner
Must always have their way.

They never ask another,
How do you see things?
How does your perspective
Fit all that’s happening?

We’ve got to learn to listen,
Each one of us has guilt.
Let’s use our ears more often,
Our lips have got to chill.

Blest by Believing

“And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:45)

Blest by believing,
Blest one of faith.
Blest in her offspring,
Blest by God great.

Blest in the morning,
Blest in the night.
Blest in her dreaming,
God took away fright.

Blest in her suffering,
Blest in her pain,
Blest in her offering
To God unrestrained.

Bless-ed be Joseph,
Her faithful betrothed —
By angel visited
And Mary took home.

In faith going forward
On roads then untrod,
To unknown beginnings,
They gave all to God.

Fragrance Fair

Like lowly flower
Along a path —
Be glad

When you can give forth
Fragrance fair
When trod upon

One early morning this summer, I was driving past a freeway on-ramp, and I noticed a camping tent amongst the trees. If I hadn’t known that I was on a freeway, the area looked very much like a campground, with lovely pine trees, but of course without picnic benches, running water, showers, or toilets. But the place did look a lot like a typical California campground.

A few days later, there were two tents. Word was getting around.

But after a few weeks, no more tents. It would be interesting to know the stories of the people involved.