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”
Tag Archives: purpose
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”
To Do What He Requires
To live out justice means to hate what is evil embrace what is good act on it with wisdom take note of what’s broken speak like a prophet intervene to right wrongs when the Spirit leads the way freeing slaves of greed-mastersor of dirty justice systemsor of cultural traditionsthat demean and disrespectthe dignities of peopleContinue reading “To Do What He Requires”
On a Thread
It’s a quick walk on a fine thread, this gift of life, this privilege of breath and beating heart and strength to step ahead. So many disappear, flash out of sight, thread cut off before its final length unwinds. We shout “No!,” and cry, and move along, subdued, with more awareness of the dangers, rightContinue reading “On a Thread”
What He Wants
every weakness self-pity selfishness laziness procrastination lost opportunities hurts inflicted back-stabbing shaming ungracious picky hateful oozing woundsmisunderstoodbetrayedminimizedmalignedignoredsoul sufferinglonely depressedbattereddeceivedundressedall fell on himthe crushing weightof meannesscorruptionpaindespairthank youseems so smallto sayso minimalagainst the massof grief What grace, yes, amazing grace, was poured out on us through Jesus’ death on the cross! It saves any wretch who comesContinue reading “What He Wants”
Passion Pumps Me
passion permeates my person pumps me then plummets unwieldy but willing for you to work magic transform passion into power potent patient wielded by you Waiting is a challenge, especially when we yearn for what we’ve been told is coming. As a teen (that’s me in the photo above) when I was away at MKContinue reading “Passion Pumps Me”
But Wait!
“Go tell!” he said, “But wait!” What? Wait? We were so excited, overwhelmed with joy by all his words that made it clear: the Sacred Word had prophesied it all—his death but then this third-day miracle, life made new in him!We touched his hands,and he touched us.This was no ghost:he ate that roasted fish!And heContinue reading “But Wait!”
Peter Speaks!
He said, “Love each other.” I asked, “Where will you be?” Evasive? or just sure we could not make the grade without him? He knew this too, and said, “The only way you can bear fruit is to stay attached to me.”And yet, he went away.Hope died.When he came back hetwirled us into dreamsas heContinue reading “Peter Speaks!”
Open Home, Open Heart
The travelers walked in the front door, hot and dusty after hours on dirt roads. Mom always found room at the table, one built for her by Dad, big enough to welcome at least a dozen guests. She added another vegetable, salad, bread—done! There was always enough.Then, grown up, it was my turn.I learned toContinue reading “Open Home, Open Heart”
This Mystery
It’s a mystery of unity beyond my understanding: One God, three Persons, One Essence in deep harmony, working together as one to build a home in me and move in permanently!You live in us, each onea piece of your Family,each one with access tothe heart of the Father,the love of the Son,and the intimate realityofContinue reading “This Mystery”
Linnea's Lines 