I wait for you in long, dark days,
In silent places far from crowds.
I wait for love’s most tender words,
For glances with your love so full.
I wait, and do not force myself
On hearts that are not ready yet.
I wait until that day you come
And we will then be one at last.
[On the passing of my friend Martha]
Goodbye, my friend,
Until we meet again.
When sorrow runs its painful course,
There will be joy again.
Goodbye, my friend,
Who bravely bore your pain,
Who wandered earth in brokenness
And still could wear a grin.
Goodbye, my friend,
Sometimes I hardly knew
What went on, inside your mind
Or what you had been through.
Goodbye, my friend —
We didn’t see eye to eye
On many things, but still it seems
In gardens we could smile.
Goodbye, my friend;
We’ll meet again someday.
Your body healed, our friendship sealed,
And love will ever stay.
In the driest dirt, in the poorest soil,
Love keeps fighting an endless war.
Amidst abuse, and toil, and war
The battle rages forevermore.
In countless houses, in countless homes
The struggle goes on, the end unknown.
Will love win out, will fighting cease?
Will kindness, gentleness increase?
Will patience gain a new foothold?
Will holding tongues show that you’re bold?
The real struggle is in your heart –
Will pride and selfishness depart?
Will wanting your own way soon end?
Will you on Jesus’ love depend?
So ask yourself at each new day –
What can I do to end the fray?
When disagreements sure must loom –
Must listen to the other’s tune.
The fight again is in your heart –
It’s not that differences don’t start,
But how we handle different tunes;
Will there be harmony or ruin?
(Memorial Day, 2015)
Did you ever prod a sea anemone?
Well, that’s me.
If you come too close,
I scrunch inside;
I hide.
Did you ever touch a little snail?
That’s sometimes me.
At slightest touch,
I scrunch inside;
I hide.
Did you ever see a flower in early morn?
Sometimes that’s me.
I open wide
To the morning sun.
I’m having fun.
Did you ever hear a songbird sing?
That could be me.
I tell the world
Of all my gladness,
My springtime madness.
Did you ever feel the softest breeze?
That can be me.
I’m whispering
My love to you
And friendship true.
As I went I went for my neighborhood walk, I saw a mom sitting in her car …
—————————————————————————————————————————–
The mom daily waiting in the car
To pick up her kids from school.
The dad going camping with his son,
Even though the dad hates camping.
And you say there’s no such thing as love?
The mom or dad who cooks dinner
After a long day of work.
The kid who makes dinner
After his mom and dad’s
Long day of work.
And you say there’s no such thing as love?
The wife who bites her tongue
Instead of nagging her husband.
The husband who hugs his wife
After her emotional outburst.
And you say there’s no such thing as love?
The therapist who listens to
Rants, raves and painful memories.
The confessor who listens,
As heinous sins are forgiven.
And you say there’s no such thing as love?
The waves lapping on the shore,
The wind moaning at the door,
The flower with dew afresh,
The wild and bounteous wilderness –
And you say there’s no such thing as love?
Yes, there’s illness, pain and sorrow,
But there’s always a tomorrow.
Yes, sometimes our hearts are broken,
But much grace — by the same token.
A baby born in a stable bare,
A healing voice in the still, cool air,
The God-Man dying for our sins,
The God-Man living once again.
And you say there’s no such thing as love?
THAT FEARFUL THING
That fearful thing did quiet lurk.
It disappeared into the dirt.
I dreaded to that thing go near;
With apprehension I did fear.
I set a trap to catch that thing.
I’d catch it good, with trap to sting.
I knew it must a monster be.
I knew it lurked to get at me.
What wonder did my eyes behold —
‘Twas not a rat, but lizard bold.
It looked benign, it stared at me.
It did not jump — sat quietly.
And now I’ve given the thing a name.
My fear misplaced — it’s not to blame.
—————————————————————————————————————————
IN DARK SHADOWS
In dark shadows live our fears;
In half-seen pictures, fear comes near.
In hidden places lurk our doubts;
In darkest alleys, doubt comes out.
Our thoughts get twisted, tied in knots —
Contorted, garbled — truth it’s not.
Imagination — it runs wild.
We’re fearful like a little child.
Until the light of love turns on,
Until God’s truth shines like the sun.
Until we give Him all our fears —
And then He calms and dries our tears.
Today I see Your beauty,
An ever-changing sight,
But really just a shadow —
Creation mirrors Your light.
The wonders You have fashioned
Are merely slightest glimpse
Of Your majestic glory,
Your awesome pow’r intense.
The roaring river waters,
The waves that rise and fall,
The quietness of shallows,
The soaring eagle’s call.
But sure Your greatest wonder,
The utmost height of all,
Is how You love Your creatures,
Though oft’ we gravely fall.
Can’t keep the poems back,
The sing-song words,
They roll and turn
Inside my head.
They make me sane,
Help put a frame
‘Round jumbled thoughts
And pensive knots.
They make a fence,
Repel nonsense,
Build peaceful scenes
And help me dream.
The words are strong,
They build a bond.
They help express
Love’s fruitfulness.
Written while taking a walk in the neighborhood.
Just playing with the sounds of words —
Hope it might have some meaning for you … 🙂
——————————————————————————————
I fell into a dream and screamed.
I fell into a vat and laughed.
I flew around the sky and cried.
I prayed, and then my fears were stayed.
I broke into a song and longed
For peace within my troubled heart.
I wrote this poem with these words
To stop the threat of life absurd.
I felt the wind against my skin.
I felt the peace well up within.
I tried to give you all my heart —
At least, I made a running start.
I sang the song of always-love.
It flew in air, like peaceful dove.
The Spirit came down from above,
And told me what His secret was.
I fell into a new romance.
It made me jump about and dance.
Alas, ’twas just a thing of chance —
A fluke, a spark, a happenstance.
And now I see that nothing lasts,
Except the love born in my past.
The Love that brought me from the womb,
And will be there when I meet tomb.
clarakatalin 
The Existence of Evil Proves God’s Love
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Commentary, Faith
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