POETRY
Is Anything Impossible for Him?
Oh, how we underestimate Him
Belittle His omnipotent power
He who turns water to wine
Walks on water and
Calms the storm
He who heals the sick
Multiplies loaves and fish and
Raises the dead from their sleep
Who, oh my soul, have you doubted?
Is anything impossible for Him?
He is not bound by the rules of nature
He is not afraid of the raging winds
He is unmoved by threats of violence
For He carries Peace inside Him
Call upon Him when you are in need
Don't assume that He can't help, won't help
He is generous and compassionate
Eager to rescue
Able to do all things
Willing to intervene
Always
The Death of Lazarus
The Master is come
Mary sits at home
I don’t want Him to see me like this
I can’t face Him right now
Why didn’t He come sooner
Now I’ll make Him wait
Two days He had delayed
Not enough time to get there
Before Lazarus died
But it had left her alone
In her grief
The Master is come
And calleth thee
Once she knew He wanted her
Was asking for her
She couldn’t stay away
She’s running
And crying
Collapses in a heap of tears
Before Him
He is deeply moved
By her grief
He shudders
Deep anger surfaces
Indignation
Emotional sternness
He is angry by the limits
Of His human body
No way to get there in time
Couldn’t stop it
Tortured at the magnitude
Of the curse
It’s grip on those He loves
He feels it deeply
Wants to stop the grief
The cause of it
Desire to change her reality
Defend her right to happiness
Show me
Where you have laid him
Determined
To get to the tomb
Mary and Martha fall down
Weeping
He joins them
Shares their grief
Takes a moment
To sit with the suffering
Knowing He could stop it
Immediately
But chooses the slower path
To let the grief
Wash over Him
To feel fully immersed in it
To come to terms
With the tomb
Contemplating his own
Internment
Now He prays
Recognizing the Father
As the One
Who guards life
And breaks the chains
Of death
Showing those nearby
That the Father’s desire
Is always life
Hope
Joy
In impossible situations
He calls out Lazarus
Joyfully
Knowing he is already
On his feet
Just inside
The darkness
God distances Himself from us
Sometimes
He disappoints us
Or so we think
We don’t realize
That resurrection
Is just days away
He will come
And do miraculous things
Where have you laid it
Your loss
Your stolen love
Your grief
Show me
I can’t raise dead hopes
If you don’t invite me in
Where is the sepulcher
Where you have buried
Your dreams
Your security
Your feelings of safety
Bring them out
Roll away the stone
Let me into that place of stench
Let me at
All that distresses you
It is my battle to fight
Not yours
Every sword in the kingdom
Is here
To defend you
Against that hidden darkness
To defend your honor
Your reputation
Stand up now
Let me wipe away your tears
You have full reason
To leap for joy
LEAVES
We are each like leaves
From different plants
Different climates
Different shapes and sizes
Growing on the same vine
Same task
Same purpose
To produce life
And breath
Same orientation
With our faces
Lifted towards the sun
THE HEAVENLY FAMILY
Lord, right now
I ask You to breathe on me
The true me
With all that is easy
And that which is hard
​
Abba, my Father
Cuddle me and mine
In Your expansive
All-encompassing
Yet gentle and warm arms
Wipe away our tears
Murmur soothing words over us
Spirit, my Mother
Excite my gifts
Dampen my weaknesses
Let me tread this earth
With lightness of foot
Cure the ills
I leave in my wake
​
Yeshua, my Brother
Bandage my skinned knee lightly
Being careful not to brush
Over the raw spots too roughly
Tossle my hair
Tease a smile out of me
Pick me up
Toss me up in the air
Until I giggle and laugh
For the thrill of it
Then let me down gently
That I may run and play once more
My God
Watch over my play
Night and day
I pray
Amen
MY INNER DEER
Less bull in the china shop
More deer in the woods
Chipping away
Laying aside
Skittish but not resistant
True me went to Canada to see my friends
True me enjoyed learning how to drink water the Indian way in Bangalore
True me is content alone
Or in peaceful community
True me is earthy
Would prefer to use wooden dishes to china
True me lives with her head in the clouds
When I stumble across a byway
I’m wary
When I feel threatened
I run and hide
True me prefers to blend in
Stay hidden
THE DRY TREE
The dry tree
Where Jesus is not here
To stay our hand of cruelty
To heal our sick
And deliver our demons
When the branch we sit on
Is brittle and weak
Because it has no life
The dry tree
Without blossoms
Or leaves
With blight
And termites
When the shadow
Of what remains
Is thrown into the fire
For one night of warmth
Before the cold
Consumes us
Our last breath
Stolen Away
By the bitter wind
​
THE SYMPHONY THAT IS ME
My soul
My life
Is a musical score
Hard and soft
Blend together
In harmony, beauty
And stirs the deep places
Inside
Sometimes
The melody is simple
Low and soft
Other times
The crescendo comes
In force
Loud and disturbing
Instruments affect the tone
Subtle or brassy
Influencing the score
With their voice
The Master
Weaving it together
In one piece
Where there seems no unity
He pulls it in
Where there seems no sweetness
He soothes it
His pen
His ink
Drawing it
Note by note
Rest by rest
The symphony
That is me
What kind of kingdom
Crowns its King with thorns
Where His reign
Is a symbol of torture
His realm
That of suffering
Where His authority is established
Through His own endurance
Of pain and mockery
The Man of Sorrows
A King in agony
What does He teach us
What instruction
Does He give to me
None
He speaks not
Only looks deeply into my eyes
And shows me how its done
Submit to the Father
Forgive
Release your foes
Entrust your legacy to others
Offer comfort
To the one beside you
Die with no regrets
Breathe your last
In the Father's arms
Share the curse
Nay, lift it
From the souls of others
Carry the scars
But lay aside the thorns
THE MASTER'S STEPS
Walking in the Master's steps
Big prints
Easy to follow
My tiny feet
Many steps to His one
Leaping from print to print
Two prints
Two feet
Balanced
Not two left
Not two right
One of each
Going in one direction
The ground gets hard
Prints less deep in the Earth
Can't see them
Lose sight
Fear not, Child
I am still holding your hand
​
​
BE PRESENT TO ME, LORD
The enduring song of the Lord’s presence
The presence of the Lord’s embrace
The embrace of the Lord’s children
The children of the Lord’s promise
The promise of the Lord’s presence
BE PEACE
Be Hope
Be Love
Be Joy
Be Gentle
Be Patient
Be Kind
Be Humble
Be Open
Be Grateful
Be Welcome
Be Present
Be Peace
HONEYMOON BEACH
Sometimes the wind blows strong
Powerful, unruly
Sometimes the breeze is gentle
Soothing and kind
Some days are still and hot
Fire, water and steam
Any kind of weather
We face it together
For weather changes
Are not as endless as they seem
A WALK IN SPRING
A cat watches as she basks on the warm pavement
One dog barks, another answers
Geese talking up above
Smell the earth spring forth new life
Through the decay of last year’s growth
Feel the damp grass beneath your hand
As you rest by the pond
Which is louder?
The sound of the wind or the trickling of the creek
The song of the birds or frogs croaking in delight
Listen to their glorious harmony
Watch the delicate blossoms tremble in the breeze
Flowers, flowers everywhere
Bowing before the King
Yellow ones for His crown
Purple ones for His gown
White ones like incense offered before His throne
My soul flits here and there like a bee
Sipping the nectar of life
Sit awhile, soak it in
Bask as it rejuvenates your soul
Capture the awe of the moment
Here’s an odd sight
A corn cob stuck in the crook of a tree branch
How did it get there do you suppose?
Something has eaten the kernels, but not man
Twisting vines with buds bursting
A broken branch suspended in midair
Caught by his brother below
One lone tree clings to last year’s leaves
Man adds his voice
Children at play
Wind chimes ring a cheery tune
A train whistle blows
Awake, my soul
Your daydream ends
DARK IS SILENT
Dark is silent
Still and calm
Wind arises
Whispers peace
Branches wave
To those who see
Starkest night
Breathes music
Be gone false lights
Heaven’s need speak
Quiet and slow
Takes time to hear
Remain awhile
Wish I could
Life beckons
Come again
THE CHRISTMAS MOUSE
Sniffing the air
Feeling my way with my whiskers
Climbing over the edge of the manger
​
The Babe slowly awakens
His eyes meet mine
We communicate silently
I feel His essense emanate into my feet
I rub my face against His
​
An invisible Spirit descends
Tangible, yet unseen
Stroking one hand over my back
The other over Jesus' brow
Moving in the way
And will of the Child
Since He cannot move His own form at will
​
The Maker's face beams down
With love and pride
Breaths life over us
​
Love circle complete
Snuggle
Warmth
Glow
Silent companionship
​
The mother strokes my head with her finger
Speaks nonsensical soothings
I climb into her lap
Curl up in a ball on her shawl
I drift into sleep
She lifts me down
Into the manger
Onto swaddling cloths
​
Morning light
Lures me away
Leaving feels sad
My body heavy
My mind in a fog
My mundane life
Fades into the background
​
The Child
Now full grown
Picks me up
From my mouse hole
Carries me outside
Sits me on His shoulder
Lets me climb on His head
Shows me the morning sky
The valley below
The rising sun
MOONFLOWER
In the full moon
One single night
Fragrant blossoms
Luminous white
In the dark
Hidden place
Dry and arid
Desolate space
Living fence
Towering tree
Flaming fruit
Spines and seeds
Flowers wither
Moonbeams fade
Early dawn
Shrinking shade
Dry the bloom
For noonday soup
Slice the stems
For cleaning soap
Gift of the desert
Queen of the night
Reveal your secrets
Dream of delight