Rest & Work -- A Poem (sort of)

 . . . free writing is a messy freedom. Here we go . . .

I said again that I would wait to create until

after a little rest

A little closing of the eyes and folding of the hands

because I am always sure that

once my mind has been refreshed and my eyes

open wider to truth, unincumbered

then

then I could get to the work

But suddenly the day’s currency is spent

like each day before

and this soul slips haphazardly into easy Spectacle and flighty Flavor -

Distraction and Disillusionment then come to pay ready penance

A reminder that, frankly, the work seems too hard on a tired, old soul

And refreshment too, too far away

I hardly notice that the hours in waterfall rush me toward forever’s sea

But I do wonder if perhaps feeling fresh is more

about going to The Well than mustering

More opening up and less closing the deal

So before my mind has remembered

the villainous cast of naysayers swimming frantically inside

“Quick, now, before they steal control!

Move, child!”

Yes, I’ll Insist that Weariness take a seat there next to Anxiety and

I’ll busy Self-Absorption on some fool’s errand

and leave them and the others behind and close the door hard

Then go to another mental room taking only Wonder with me

I’ll be sure to check under the desk

where Apprehension is prone to lie in wait, salivating

He's there - shun him

If Doubt shows his face, I won’t send him away, but I’ll use him up

Let him watch what happens next

Because Wonder is holy and patient and will stay and will deliver

See, I have rested too long

And the work won’t wait

Eternity won’t wait

My mind is only aging and my bones growing gray

More so and more so every blessed day

So this little life, I’ll use it up

Use

it

all

up

On beauty and truth and God’s calling

Rest comes later and forever

Mary - An Advent Poem

 

Photo by Anuja Tilj from Pixabay.

Mary                                                                                                                                

Precious girl,
even now we follow your lead.
You who welcomed such fearful visit
of strange heavenly tidings,
that a worldly impossibility would be swallowed up
to herald all Creation’s redemption.
You who chose to believe it --
we trace similar steps to bow and worship
the God who generously makes all things possible.

Blessed girl,
we hunger for a faith so simple and pure.
You who saw youth and station and ridicule as
no obstacles to God’s mighty work
within you,
for you.
You who quietly cradled the Eternal One incarnate
into this unredeemed soil and dirt
and reverently loved
with a mother’s love
the I AM steeped in flesh.
We watch you and observe how to handle
holy things with care and with fear and with great joy.

Chosen and willing vessel,
we are grateful for your ordained place in His story.
You who bore such monumental pain
in His coming,
then in His going,
and yet clothed yourself in obedience at the call of your King,
prayerfully patient.
You who abandoned common manmade dreams to follow your God --
your humble faithfulness kindles a fire in our bellies,
bears bold fruit even now
as an offering of worship,
a legacy of godly devotion and of love.

A Prayer for Mission Week

One of our grown babies is helping with a mission effort this week throughout the city. As with all short term missions, things are pretty intense, a little scary and completely exhausting. Here is the prayer I'm praying for her and her team today, and I would absolutely love it if you'd join me:

 (Based on Psalm 23) 

LORD, be their Shepherd in all things this week.
Let them fully and constantly sense Your loving Presence
Give them good rest when it is time for rest
Give them refreshing sustenance for strength
Restore their fervor for You again and again
Lead them on these preordained paths
For the sake of Your Name and for Your glory

Even in uncomfortable and possibly dangerous situations
LORD, make fear flee from them
Let them feel your protective hand surrounding them
And be comforted to their cores

Before those who would oppose their Gospel work
Show Yourself as Provider in lavish, abundant, undeniable measure
Pour upon them an extra measure of your wisdom and strength in the Spirit
Let Your goodness and mercy pave every step before them
And follow closely on their heels
And be their guard to the left and the right
Grant to their souls firm assurance that You, O LORD, are their true home

Giving of Thanks (2020)

in this year of want

wild with worries sore

tangled up in time

and left to melancholy

hearts are now humbled

bells set to chime

and I inhale long

dare to shirk the folly

and to look up and up

position a full posture

of gratitude galore

for these blessings You have brought me

how with reasons wrapped in rhyme

You whisper "Peace" within this war

This Time -- PAD Challenge Day 7

 

Photo by Pixabay.

This Time

Waste not

that accorded wisdom

to seize and to savor this slivering

Wait not

for ideal opportunity

born of wanton maneuvering

Wish not

for mis-sized dreams

drawn out providentially for another

Will not

the time to fly

this time, love, elect to linger

 

Decision

Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay.

I have been instructed by the institutions,

“Choose you this day whom you will serve.”

What is a pilgrim to do

when taxed with the impossible?

When pressed to decide between which matters most:

children destitute at our borders in cages

or children in pieces in a biohazard container?

“Which is more valuable, oh voter?”

How has this been established a dividing line in a "civil" society?

For all are made through Him and for Him

and Jesus loves ALL the little children of the world,

just as He loves every confused, every desperate

mama facing every difficult, every impossible decision.

Where are the honest scales to properly weigh such a dilemma?

I own privilege. I know that. 

I did not earn it.

I often do not want it.

I watch as many I love continue to scrape and scramble day to day

just to be embraced as equal,

to be afforded a truly fair shake and

their pain matters, too.

Their plight deserves sober consideration.

And so much more!

But now I am expected to somehow sign my name to 

one – of -- two 

who stand atop even greater privilege:

one who pays lip service (my cynicism deciphers)

to equality of color and creed and gender

and the other so cold he can’t even muster the deception.

God help us, your chosen brood,

to bear with one another through this time
(for we do not agree). 

Enable us to forgive lavishly and

long-suffer like never before for Jesus’ name’s sake.

To recognize our greater heavenly bond

come what may in this kingdom on the ground.

And, in the end,

to refuse to require institutions or earthly allegiances 

to do the good work that

You have predestined Your people to accomplish.

We are Yours.

You are sovereign.

Jesus is King.

May He reign in our hearts above all else.

 

We lost a friend today . . .

Oh, Death,

perhaps for a moment
you have stolen center stage
with rot and rank offending
But remember
for every child of the King
a new life waits in the wings
light and life ever lurking behind the decay
a life that, at curtain’s call,
shall utterly ruin and replace your reign