Prayer for Gilboa

The dew lies glassy on the grass like tears. The early mourning sun has touched the sky. And far above, that promontory high, Gilboa, rises from the misty years. The shrike of arms, the shattering of spears— seem memories the wind bears in its sigh, The place for kings and warriors to die groans wearying […]

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Blueprint for Mercy

He kneels before me both arms wide begging for clemency again— like he didn’t know the pay plan. – eyes trained on me, as if I’m tied to some special code of kindness, overriding sense with blindness, – as if some mercy should divide him from his failures, change his ways, forgive his debts for […]

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A Prayer for Sleep

Tonight O God, may He Who made the stars to shine through darkness down on man, allow the silent, vast of night to take me deep (like death) into the realm of silent providence. May secret blessings: spiritual and by my body craved rest, sustain, refresh my soul. And grant again that with Your morning, […]

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The Conqueror

Hatred cast its eyes on Him— scheming minds of threatened men, armed with lies and aimed to kill. (Anything for glory!) They led Him like a thief to trial, bound Him like a lamb for slaughter. He bowed His head and bent His knee but not to them. The devil, man, and death together mocked […]

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Your Light Arises

Far away the wings of morning lingered long in darkened hall. Wreathed in murky gloom the promise just beyond our reach and call. Then a shaft of God-borne sunlight, Morning star where night had fled broke the bounds of death and darkness Christ has risen from the dead! – CHORUS: See our death and darkness […]

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Why?

Why did He die hanging there against the sky? The evil witness stood and lied, Peter swore, and trice denied. Why did Jesus die? – Why was He torn for crimes He never once had worn? The crush and pierce of razor thorns He bore amid the sins and scorns. Why was Jesus torn? – […]

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What Was It Like?

What was it like to wash the feet of sarcastic Thomas? Or hear bombastic Peter claim, by withholding, his superiority? Or what to smell the earthy mix of sweat and dirty toes while awkward glances flitted round? Or what to wash the traitor’s feet? Did he pull back or full extend, eagerer than anyone to […]

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The Man

Long the war had torn the world apart with souls the casualties and souls the cause. The enemy ensconced and great in art made war the hope, and hopeless doom the laws. Silent lay the prophets’ dusty truths that glittered once like lanterns in a mine. The wise men slept in silence while the youths […]

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Sunday Morning

Here at crimson dawn he prays, the sounds of morning, futures near. Beside, a honeysuckle’s curled like serpentine around a pole as far away a restless chaos rides the breeze. – Low, a patterned spokenness: rising pleas and murmured, earnest prayer. A form in quiet conversation lone. Just away, a vineyard tower, Tended by the […]

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