Where is the place
I can call home?
At ocean shores,
Or mountains high,
In grassy plains,
Or deserts nigh?
Near rushing streams,
By forests green,
Or just in dreams
Will I be free?
Will I find rest
Upon a path
Strewn with my tears,
Or might I laugh?
In God I must
Seek out my rest.
And then at last
Will end my quest.
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.
I’m dancin’ again!
Through the pain,
And through the tears,
I’m dancin’ again.
Because the dead are raised to life,
And peace will come through fearful strife,
Because the wrong will come to right —
I’m dancin’ again.
Because my heart,
Though so confused,
Is slowly, gently being infused
With grace, and truth, and light.
Because the pain is for my good,
Because He’s always understood,
Because with God I really could —
Learn to dance again.
Because the cross will cure my sin,
Because He’ll bring me peace within,
The peace that silences the din —
I’ll dance again!
[Written during the California drought of 2014 and during the Ferguson, Missouri, riots.]
I dreamed that it was raining
And streets were wet again.
The cars went by
And gave a sigh
As water splashed on them.
I dreamed that it was raining
And children laughed aloud.
With gleeful hoots
Their muddy boots
Through puddles gaily plowed.
I dreamed that it was raining
And clouds burst forth in flood.
Their waters calmed
The violence strong
And peace could now be found.
I dreamed that it was raining
And living water sped
From streamlets high
To rivers dry —
The thirsty land was fed.
I dreamed that it was raining
And black made friends with white.
The past was healed,
Their friendship sealed,
With harmony in sight.
I dreamed that it was raining
Upon the wasted land.
The thirsty earth
Could now give birth
To many seedlings grand.
I dreamed that it was raining
And cleansing tears were shed
O’er mem’ries deep,
I now could sleep,
Could rest upon my bed.
I dreamed that it was raining
And God forgave my sins.
He calmed my fears
And dried my tears,
And I could live again.
If all the world is trouble,
And everywhere I step
Seems some poor soul is suff’ring —
These things I can’t forget.
Within me stirs compassion
And tears do often fall,
But better still if I knew how
To answer action’s call.
It seems sometimes I’m in a dream
Where body cannot move —
The spur to action paralyzed,
Though there is much to do.
How did I end up in this fog
Of thick pea soup — so still?
Can’t speak, can’t shout — I don’t know why,
But truth will conquer still.
Your tears water God’s garden,
Your sorrows make God’s house strong,
Your joys light up the heavens,
Your triumphs give glory to God.
Every sin cleansed brings virtue,
Every wound is made less,
Every weakness now strengthened,
Every failure, success.
Death becomes life now,
Illness — good health,
Ugliness, now beauty,
And poverty, wealth.
Fear not in the darkness,
It will soon be dispersed,
And His glorious victory
In your life be expressed.
On crisp, clear day
The planes would come,
Their engines pregnant
With fiery death.
With hatred fueled,
With vengeance filled,
Men hardened to
A self-made death.
The planes collided
With steel and glass;
The carnage coming
No one could guess.
Our hearts were torn,
Our minds grew numb.
The horror made
Our tongues grow dumb.
Yet in it all
Our God was there.
His mercy great
None can compare.
No one can answer
All these tears.
Only our God
Can calm our fears.
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.
clarakatalin 