Within the Forward Push of Time

minutes tick away turn into hours then days and silently within the forward push of time blossoms become tiny bulbs hidden baby mangoes soak in sun and sap swelling as the weeks slip by even without rain strips of clouds float northwardwhile we wait for dark onesto splash respitesomeday they will come somedayour Lord isContinue reading “Within the Forward Push of Time”

Just What We Need

When our hands are empty, fill them up, we pray— not too much, not too hearty a ration, or we may topple and then fall.You set the table in desert landsas well as on mountaintops.We need you!When poverty strips awayour access to foodit’s you we call!And you come, Father, to your kidsand feed them withContinue reading “Just What We Need”

Gentle in the Storm

In the middle of this whirlwind may gentleness become the strong, long root that fixes me to what is true, that calls to othersto come to youto find that inner confidence,that deep ironic peace,that stands against the gale.Only you, living in me, can takemy frail impotency andempower it to healwhen all aroundinjustice rules and wipesContinue reading “Gentle in the Storm”

The Gift of this Gray Day

Rain slips through the forest while birch leaves whisper and earth drinks in sustenance. God made this day too! Gray skies absorb the sunshine to share mild light with the calm white lake. The rusty leaf carpeton the forest floorsips blessing as it diesand younger leaves yellowthen swirl gracefully downlike silent charmsto nest and restContinue reading “The Gift of this Gray Day”

Right Through to the Heart

It’s the Word that cuts right through to the quick to the heart of the matter through tough scar tissue and cataract blindness so thatsuddenly the light shines inhealing abscessed recesseswaking somnolent brain cellspouring nourishment into the souland thenexclamations of awerecognition of truthdelight in the intricate planwith its certainty of rescuewhen heardfor the very firstContinue reading “Right Through to the Heart”

Like a Weaned Child

Your heartbeat spins the galaxies and pats my back to calm me. You are so good, and true, and I am loved by you. Compassion is the constantinstantoutflow of your heartin perfect syncwith wisdom,beyond myopic sight.I’m nesting here,the shufflinghush ofangel wings subduing other sound.This quietwithout answersis the peace that heals my wound.And yet your WordhangsContinue reading “Like a Weaned Child”

You Are My Shade

You are my shade when the sun beats down with tropic heat, when its beams creep in like crafty spies, when it hides its face but penetrates. You are my shade. You are my shadewhen the enemy blasts with full attack,when he sneaks in wearing a new costume,when he comes behind me to whisper lies.YouContinue reading “You Are My Shade”

Prayer to the Shepherd

I walk beside a river and you hold my hand as we exult in beauty. When the sky turns gray with a storm rolling in you shelter me from pellets of ice, rough winds,sky fire, or even justa cold wet downpour.Next comes a hilly incline,tiring my calf muscleseven though this is onlyslightly draining. It’s training.ButContinue reading “Prayer to the Shepherd”

Punctuating the Separations

I greet distance once again, geographic separation that clips my best strong heart connections, separates close friends, my loved ones. The threads of tendernesstrail tears over continentsand disappear intothe salt of seas.“Goodbye!” is the wordthat stabs me, punctuation tothe phrases of my lifeeven while it sends my love after a heart.Delight moves throughshared sequences(some catapultedContinue reading “Punctuating the Separations”

He is at Work

God stretches out his arm, his right hand goes to work, and what was meant for tragedy is tweaked and tuned to good. We cannot see ahead, we don’t know when or how a dangerous trap’s been set in place to frustrate, crush or kill, But since he holds the worldsecurely in his palms,he knows!Continue reading “He is at Work”