Perseverance when observed in action,
Elicits from us inspired
Responses, which are
Strong
Enough to
Void
Earlier
Regrettable
Attitudes, and
Nudge laziness aside as we set out to
Conquer our great
Enemy: Self.

on this side of Heaven

sitting up, spitting up
learning how to stand.
saying words you've always just heard,
that now you understand.


sleepovers, and pillowfights,
discovering your dreams...
learning how to ride a bike
and playing on softball teams



first love, first kiss
first time you say goodbye
first chance to make right what's wrong
first time you selflessly cry.

may you be all He ever dreamed you'd be

on this side of Heaven

autumnal

there's a rush of crisp fall wind outside my window

scolding the ears and nose

there's a leaf turning gold on the closest tree

curling up like the petal on a rose

there's a gilded blanket hiding in all the shadow'd corners

as Frost begins to paint them

there's a crisp fall apple all cut up for some child's lunch

ripened to the colour of a gem

anticipation

holidays

laughter that fogs up the air

warm coats

sunday dinners

and friends that show you they care

even the rain seems happier in October

maybe because it knows

it wont be long

before it

snows

_______________ is the great equalizer

nothing more to say than this:

if what i did today is all i ever do, was it enough?

if i never make more out of life than what i made of it today, can i look back at the end of the road and call it good?

i'm not looking for Fantastic or Thrilling, just trying to stay out of Ordinary.

storm time

The air fragmented and still

The wind playing games in the trees of another town

The clouds lying in vast repose...taunting the trees/sidewalks/houses/fields below

The rain (still young enough to be timid); touching the leaves of the blackberry bush with tender curiosity

The horizon adorned with pearly greys, pinks and blues

The sun setting and taking all the finery of day to his palace on the other side

The child watching from a bedroom window...stands like a conductor, waiting for the music to begin.

baby eyes

in the reflection of your eyes i see Heaven.

perhaps a memory, perhaps a promise,

perhaps an invitation to come and dance

Tonight...your dance card is full

not too long from tomorrow
we'll be waving from the other shore.
watching you walk...safely to the other side.
so happy to see you go...
so sad to watch you leave.

not too long from tomorrow
you'll be a bright-eyed girl with glossy black hair
running with abandon to the other side of the divide.
say hi to everyone for me.
say hi to Grandpa, kiss your mother and father, rock my first baby to sleep.

not too long from tomorrow
He'll be walking you home...for the last time.
in the twilight, in the dusk; up the last hill you'll ever have to climb--the hand of our Christ is steadying your final steps.

not too long from tomorrow
we promise not to cry too long. Since there is no more crying where you are, we promise not to cry too long.

mettle

i am solid all the way thru
not thin enough for the rain to rust me till i fall
just a taste of metal in my mouth reminds me i can still trip
oh Mr Tinman, you know my predicament...

lesson

over my shoulder in the direction of the horizon
lies the road that i've travelled.
i see all my footsteps behind me
poignant reminders of my mistakes.
my past paves the way for my future
as i watch those same muddled footprints
straightened out in front of me.

us

you and i

you and me

us and we

bringing our two sides face to face

confronting our humanity and awkward youth

blazing a path for our feet with the fervor of hope

you can see

i can hear

we can feel

the relentless tide of tomorrow

threatening to undo our willpower

and yet we are stronger still

together

wandering into...

Do not just call me Folly, for I am very wise;

these wares that I now sell to you are my beautifuly crafted lies.

Both rich and poor, wise and fools--my clientel is vast

all begging to be the one to help cut their anchor before it is cast.

I speak in the words of the scoffer and the scholar

and make reason to both children and men.

I tell them that nothing is true or false,

and they then take up their pen.

I entreat to no one, yet many retreat to me--

for there is no better lie than the one you cannot see.

walk this way

There is a road for which I was made to walk
It is a Holy highway with sure places for my feet
There I will be safe; for no one with an evil heart can step onto it...
there will be no one waiting by the side or around the corner to trap or injur me.
Only the redeemed can walk here, and although a fool--
i can never fear of losing my way.
When i walk on this road all my sorrow and heartache turns like shadow and flees away.
(Isa. 35:8-10)

written 07/06/07

blank space

there is a forgotten longing; a secret hope.

i am waiting for an encounter.

i see its preamble through glimpses out the corner of my minds eye.

the soul of humanity waits as one.

no matter how dissonant our other cries may be

we all sing the same plea

while waiting for an encounter

He keeps my feet not to stumble

this is not a cosmic game of cat and mouse,

i have not been thown here like a prisoner into a gladiators' pit.

God didn't send me here to see if by chance i would ever make it back;

He keeps my feet not to stumble

i do not wish to be my yesterday

I do not live from glory to glory;
I live from hindsight to failure.

I do not leap from mountaintop to mountaintop;
I walk in the valleys--trying to skirt the shadows.

I am sometimes always tired and always bored...
I am a frustration that strives to contradict my nature.

drink offering

i am oil poured out in the desert
i am a mountain no one will ever think to climb
i am a wildflower...hiding in the middle of a million fields
if all i ever do is make you smile once--its enough for me.

i am a single blade of grass--unknown and unseen--revealing the glory of God to no one but the sky.

if all i ever do is make you smile...once
it is more than enough for me.

i dont know me, but i know you

today i discovered a piece of God
lying on the floor of my closet.
it looked familiar and i felt guilty...
watching it lie on the ground.



today i found an uncharted island
through the lense of my telescope.
then i realized that the tattered flag flying...
was one that i'd planted years ago.



today i broke a glass cup
and watched it shatter into a million.
i saw my reflection in every shard...
and knew i'd never seen it before.

introspect

wandering through my sleeping mind i found a draconian lair,
selfishness is the only thing thats found to be hiding there.
morbidly fascinated, i stepped inside the room,
and found a mirror on every wall with the power to consume.
every good and thoughtfull thing i thought i'd ever done,
was a battle for my motives, and selfishness had won.

yes, i made it all up