sand castle

scores of bare feet shuffle by 
without pausing or noticing


but the lack of an audience
does not stifle their resolve
scuttle their plan
or compromise their precision


the project goes on
moving earth
grading 
sanding
smoothing 
polishing the finish work
to perfection


and then in a moment of silence
a goodbye
a joyful offering
to the tide
which
at a discreet hour
will greedily devour
this labor of pure love
leaving behind only this:


a satisfaction that cannot be washed away
    --

from "declarations"

right where i am
i will do all i can
to breathe God's life into my world
if not now...
  then when?
   --

surrender

if i am in fact
in a cocoon
i have to relinquish the right
to be a 
caterpillar
--

from "what if i"

what if i crucified
all my pride and upward striving
put an end to dreams of fame
bigger things and social climbing
made myself more teachable
reachable
invisible


would there be less of me
would i become a nobody
or would i finally be
the best of what You had in mind
for me


one finger at a time
loosen my hold on the pride that i cling to
and walk me by the hand
lower and lower
down to the places You go

cause i need to go with You
wherever you take me to
                --

raw material

take the bricks of
your sorrows
your experiences
your losses
your learnings
your heart
your art
and your recovery
and build a chapel
for the healing of many

pivotal question

Do you want to bless the world,
or do you want the world to bless you?


-maybe we only get to choose one of those two options...

a small shaky seed of trust

and protection arose.

help came forth.

the Presence sent agents of hope.

they skirmished with desolation

in high and hidden places.

they engaged destruction in every desolate valley,

every hallway of every hospital

every dank corner of every dark street

every bedroom of violation

every emergency room

every street of combat

every village of disease

and protection arose.

healing spread

help arrived

power burst forth.

the emissaries set up camp and kept vigil

envoys flew to danger zones.

rescuers emerged

pain was eased

comfort came

fears were soothed

ill intent stopped cold

paralysis loosed

mobility restored

children born healthy and able

the young were shown their dignity

given guidance

the spirit of the depressed lifted

the elderly were assigned honor and respect

the Presence felt in every pore of the planet

as help arose

to listen

to encourage

to heal

to reinforce.

mercy encircled the planet

a balm blanketing the earth

sobs were calmed

invisible embraces everywhere

food into empty stomachs

wounds bound up with care

touches gentle and inoffensive

empathy, sympathy poured like soothing rain

into feverish souls

the new Jerusalem swung open its doors

and souls poured in

heaven enriched,

earth soaked in joy

peace a river, mighty, smooth, flowing comfort

one prayer

one prayer

and all this happened

one undecided soul

stopped doubting

and offered up

a small shaky seed of trust

let it be so

let it be so

let it be..