Poems, Personal Stories, and Observations

Posts tagged ‘God’s voice’

Fairy Tale Dream

I lived in a fairy tale dream 
Of mostly sunny days —
Little disease and little pain —
Then reality came. 

I felt accused of misplaced trust,
Defensive, and defend I must.
The hopes of wanting to believe,
The criticisms ill conceived.

And cancer struck, not once, but twice.
These unexpected enemies caused
A leeriness, and gave me pause.

Life wouldn’t go on as I had thought —
Events could happen, unannounced,
Nothing seemed safe; nothing sound.

The sunny days had turned to dark,
The world, instead, became more stark.
I had to be ready; I had to be armed.

And then to move o’er 2,000 miles,
Uprooted, after 67 years –
Somehow, that caused a lot of tears.

Each day that passes, I come aware
Of tragedies, of people’s cares —
That lead some people to despair.

Evil spreads, or so it seems,
Yet parallel, a good perceived —
Incomprehensible battle screams.

And then He said, “Take up your cross,”
“With Me,” He said, “Must count the cost.”
“Without the cross you will be lost.”

I learn to hear His voice each day,
And trust He’s with me in the fray,
And good, o’er evil, wins the day.

Listening for God’s Voice

You woo me in the quiet places;
It’s there you fill me with Your graces.
I long for silence, to still the voices
That tempt me onto errant courses.

The noise of living makes me weary
(Though noise of loved ones can be cheery!).
The “noise” of nature, by contrast,
Brings calm and peace, or makes us wary.

When list’ning for Your mighty plan,
I calmly sit, or kneel, or stand,
Or even on a quiet walk –
By grace, or chance, I’ll hear You talk.

Grant me, O Lord, that blesséd grace –
No matter what the time or place –
In noise or quiet, at work or rest,
By Your sweet voice to then be blessed.