clarakatalin

Poems, Personal Stories, and Observations

The Rich Man

January 29, 2014

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.

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Sing Like the Lark

January 18, 2014

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.

Category:

Christian, Poems

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Great and Awesome

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.

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Christian, Poems

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The Traveler

January 15, 2014

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.

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Christian, Poems

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Like a Daisy

January 2, 2014

[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.

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Christ is My Hope

December 30, 2013

I love cemeteries. They are quiet and peaceful. I think of the people resting there and hopefully they are completely at peace.

So Christmas day, my kids and I took a walk to Maple Leaf Cemetery in Oak Harbor, Washington. The walk itself was brisk, both in speed and in the weather. After a few meanderings we found the cemetery. One grave I saw was of a three-and-a-half month old child, which brought me to tears. Then, a young man of 28, obviously well loved. More tears. As I walked, a group of people across the cemetery seemed to be having a party. They had their car door open, and Christmas music came from its radio. Perhaps celebrating Christmas as they remembered a life well lived.

The final grave I looked at is pictured here. “Christ is My Hope” was the epitaph. I can honestly say that is true for me.

I just now noticed that there is no date of death, and that the birth date was in 1915, which means the person is now 98 years of age. I am glad the person has faced the reality of death and has the hope of resurrection.

Just a few days later, we visited my uncle by marriage, who is now 100 years old. He still walks an hour a day using his walker. His mind is still pretty sharp. What an amazing man.

Still, we never know when we might go.