Tuesday, December 6, 2011

war zone


My friend Jay reminded me of something I told him long ago:  We walk, live and move on a battleground of the spirit. Sometimes I lose sight of the intensity of the conflict behind the scenes of our visible physical world, but some days it doesn't take much to remind me.  

the spiritual world 
it is a war zone  
it is skirmish and schrapnel
tripwires and rocketfire

it’s not the garden of eden 
not a game 
not lord of the rings 

it is scruff and red wound 
and life leaking away 
concussions and car bombs 
sabotage, innocent hostages 
and no cease fire in sight

it’s the flesh
the human souls
one or two at a time
walking heads up
eyes darting
in this battlefield 

every last soul is loved 
and worried over in Your sight 
You watch each cell
down to the DNA  
with maternal concern

You scrutinize the iris of every eye  
is there color in our face 
symptoms of shell shock 
battle fatigue
you are on night watch
scanning for any lurking ambush trap set  
around the next dark corner
and how provisions are holding out
who might be there 
if anyone 
to wipe the tear off


prayer is the lifeline
the GPS
chopper touchdown 
the airlift 

Christ is the soldier 
who gives himself for his friend
in a firefight

and so here are we...

singed
but still standing

thanks be to God


3 comments:

  1. Jay reminded me of something else that we had talked about re the spiritual skirmishes behind the scenes. There are stray bullets flying around...and once in a while we get caught in the crossfire.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Greg...you are amazing. Jay

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is the third time I've looked at this poem...I see something new in it every time. When.....when....when are you going to write a book? Jay

    ReplyDelete

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