Pseudo-strength

You hang on, feet trampled, fingers cramped, gripping life. You wring your insides for every last bit of will. You hold yourself at gunpoint to perfection. You reconstruct your face until it smiles. You castigate the pain with one-verse theology. You lock up grief in reasons that don’t fit. You plaster murder words you don’t […]

Just Rewards

“I don’t deserve this!” yelled I, loud, till raised by my hot ire the wakened form of fairness came and sweetly placed a crown of garbage on my head.

All Saints

They burned–and long ago and somehow here below the fire-sparks of ancient glow still reach us; glories of their greatest throw of faith; the settled trust to know that nothing’s lost if it would show that all they have and all they know is nothing worth, and they would throw it all away to seek […]

He Built His Church

He built His church upon the earth where fires kill and demons rage. He tried His words and proved their worth in humble men of every age. He spread His kingdom everywhere though kings of men forbade Him come. He crushed the serpent and his snares and brought His outcast servants home. He gave Himself […]

Sinai

They misread the signs— the silence of forty days’ time— the loss of the man, destitution. _ Blindfolds and unmoving feet stoke madness. _ They put their gold to the awkward gape and made a calf— This is your god, O Israel. _ And where was Yahweh all the time? Not far— the Creator of […]

Seasons

The seasons go on in circles, whatever else may cease to be, one sure step after another— the weary, aching world, bearing the purpose for which she was made forward to the High King’s return, the inevitability of time.

One in a Million

When God saw all those walls come down– and Israelites a-stormin’ in, when Joshua prayed for the sun to last, and stop the earth from constant spin, when Daniel and His friends stood firm against the evil king’s decree, when Peter stepped outside the boat to walk upon the stormy sea… then God saw the […]

Happiness

Elusive— a whiff in the air a flash in the night the sparkle of dew before it is gone. ••• Locked— water beyond guards gold behind glass homeland of exiles who may not return. ••• The key— a nail through His hands my sackcloth and ashes the balm of chains unlocking joy. ••• Ubiquitous— a […]

Lord of Autumn

Lord of Autumn, You enchant us with Your skill for taking summertime with such majestic grace. You lend Your royal colors to the wooded hills. You stain the sky impassioned blue above our place, and with the breeze, You stir the fallen leaves to run. You make of loss a paradise when You are near […]

Welcome

On my way home, I found I was not alone— hope climbed in and sat beside me— a silence occupied with smiling. And all around the dying sun touched the road and trees and made them gold— so much like kindness if kindness had a color. I saw my mountain, mother-like, waiting where it always […]