Blindness

A powerful man resigned his post today
and some of us, stone faced, rejoice
while feeling sorrowful for the "half" of him
who standing with him had no voice

"Hypocrisy, an ugly sin", we blaze
"He thought he stood, but take heed, how he fell"
and then we hear the voice of God break through
"My child, those words apply to you as well"

Sub "Way"

Toques and tams and turbans
headphones and hijabs
bob in broken rhythm
netherworld they stab

No sense of decorum
rush to get a seat
close your eyes or zone out
stare down at your feet

Opening door brings shock waves
in baggy knee length pants
blues the air with language
paranoiac rants

Homeward see a woman
begging on the stairs
one insists on giving
money smiles and prayers

Ancient forlorn female
doors close, left alone
"trains must keep on schedule",
say hearts cold as stone

See it as a skirmish
battle of the tube
seasoned cynics versus
naive small town rubes

Now here safely swaddled
snow our natural fence
cannot judge the people
who act from self defense

Held Back

In the surreal blue-gray
not fog, but equally nebulous
I thank God for the united front of plows holding us back
In one sense - we're always flying blind
the immediate future totally obscured
despite our sense of cockiness
as we make our "best laid" plans
and then...
thankfully
joyfully
watch
as a Sovereign merciful God
causes them to "go astray"

Well, that was yesterday, and the picture above is this Lord's day.
The sun has risen, and so has the Son!

The island of regret

I told a few friends this week that I was going to write a book entitled, 'Living on the Island of Regret'
I've decided instead to co-write an Arlo Guthrie style ballad with my buddy Todd (who doesn't know it yet.)
It might go something like this (without the audio you'll have to imagine the tune)

Intro
Lots of my brothers and sisters telling me where to live.
I'm just looking for a ticket off the island of Regret.

1st verse:
A friend took up his residence at 1-10 Kings Kid Court
Gold dust in his bible paid the cost
Another heads for Wormsville, a hairshirt on his back
seems caught up in all the love he's lost

Chorus:
Once I hitched a ride on that good old ship Repentance
thought that was the boats name anyway
Lately I've been thinking maybe pirates have boarded
left me stranded in Delusion Bay.

2nd verse
Heard today that all you need is faith in your believing
where they're teaching that I'd hate to go
There's a gospel train that heads down the wrong side of Charis mountain
lose the feelings and you'll plunge real low

3rd verse
Took a trip to PoMo River where an unchurch had emerged
Left entertained but stuck in deconstruct
Went caving with the Set Apart to see just how they lived
Got shunned for my disorderly conduct

4th verse
Well I've sure muddied the waters with my never-ending search
for fiery fervent fixed fidelity
But His truth cuts through my blindness and paradoxically
when I'm "cross-eyed" His face I'll clearly see.


got any melodic inspiration Todd?
And my dear sister who has agreed to play the bongos, you're on!

Reflections on time spent with nieces

My nieces came to spend several hours with me today. They are 7 and 9, so it was hardly onerous. They are old enough to occupy themselves, and they are girls so it doesn't involve treating a variety of household articles like softballs. No lamps were broken. I learned a little about the world of Webkins, and they learned as the youngest one said that "cats aren't at all like dogs".
Every time I have this privilege, I reflect on the discipline and sacrifice that I haven't experienced as a result of being childless. I've bought into the deception that my time is my own. My role within the evangelical organization I work for has a degree of autonomy. Most evenings I have no-one telling me how to spend my time.

Discipline ?

I have known people who professed no trust, belief or delight in God, who were able to give up destructive habits, seemingly permanently with an expressed resolve that was difficult not to admire.
I have read stories of the discipline (ascetic or otherwise) followers of various deluded cult leaders exhibited in pursuit of what most of us would see as irrational objectives.
"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments." Jim Rohn said this.

Paper chains

Calling all sages to answer a riddle
why is it always when I'm in the middle
of sorting my papers and bobbles and books
and tidying up all my crannies and nooks
I find myself scurrying this way and that
distracted, fragmented,my efforts fall flat
while dreaming of freedom found in a clean slate
I wake up still chained by the clutter I hate.

At home or at work the conundrum remains
I print, copy, sort and start over again.
Some pieces of paper I've handled so much
I'm worried they'll soon fall apart at my touch.
They come out from bins, from baskets and cases
spread out over desks, floors, available spaces
So patiently waiting for my disposition
they welcome with joy each new printed edition.

Then panic ensues, there is company coming
I kick into high gear, all cylinders humming
It all gets heaped back into its hiding place,
It looks like it's vanished without any trace.
There's no fooling me, as I know where it's hiding
I can't shut out ongoing internal chiding
But then joy of joys, I find some time to spare
Will I clean or sort or turn quickly to prayer?

Despite claims of wanting a clean peaceful home,
the answer is obvious; I've written this poem.