Honor and Generosity

Of what do I know?
How did this come to be?
Such ways that one could grow
To understand mercy

When hardships befall
And insults are common
A wave engulfs them all
Beyond logic or reason

Kings serving their subjects
Children lifted high
Words that pierce what fear protects
A brighter dawn is nigh

Take the stairs to grow higher
Sacrifice passivity
Refuse the escalator
To achieve tranquility

Notice the little things
The whispers of the pain
The unheard murmurings
People shout inside their brain

Stillness allows you to hear
Souls crying to be cared for
Sorrow of the unshed tear
Wounds buried in their core

When you can grasp at the roots
Feel and heal the brokenness
Find the gold beneath the suits
And melt away loneliness

Then you will have discovered 
The beginnings of honor
Focus on what's uncovered
Gold with worth beyond measure

People do soar higher
Value beyond their thinking
A touch can light them on fire
An ocean of oil burning

Though blinded from the treasure
Most people's eyes are sewn shut
By threads of lies so clever
That weave and wind and curl and cut

Eyes shining with blazing glory
Can see deposits of gold
And rewrite a dark story
Of a heart that has gone cold

10-29-13

The Glory of Heaven

A little sound, a whisper,
From where does it come?
Little voices echoing through the
Halls of time, resounding for those
     who choose to listen
Of purity, of innocence, of wonder,
Where imaginations and dreams
Have yet to be stamped out by the 
     world
Glories missed by many whose ears
Have been shut by the grasp of 
     condescension
Glories yet unheard in many of our
     our own halls of glory
Treasures stored in God's private stash
The voices of children of which the 
     trees are keen to listen
No one has to teach a child how to 
     dream
But when teachings and temperance
     and logic have done their work,
The vibrant colors once painted across
     the sky often fade to gray
Oh!  That dreams and innocence and 
     purity might be preserved!
It is no wonder that God taught us
     that we must all become like 
     children

10-5-13

Autumn

A breeze blew like a wave in the ocean
Rippling through trees
Rustling the leaves
Creating a beautiful transition

Blistering heat has been carried away
And now there's stillness
Sunshine with coolness
What a glorious and beautiful day

The breath of the clouds brings the crisp cool air
Scent of cinnamon
Orange of pumpkin
Drinking in the beauty without a care

9-26-13

Hope

Hope, a hand that reaches out and
     says that everything is going to be
     okay
That rush of peace that envelops your
     heart and soul and spirit and deep
     down you know that you can rest
That moment when you can sit back,
     exhale, and inhale.

Can we live from such a place?

9-6-13

A Life Well Lived

I'm floating away on an island.

Floating away, losing attachments 

     to this reality.

Through a mist of unknown mysteries

     I travel

Through cloud and storm and wind

Then suddenly, like a curtain being

     pulled from before my eyes, 

     I enter.

Floating like a cloud,

I am taken back by the scene 

     before me.

A lush rain forest beneath my feet

A massive waterfall in the distance,

     towering into the most beautiful

     clear blue lake before me

A rainbow, mist, and brilliant sunshine

A chill of awe and inspiration runs

     up my spine

I can feel the joy in my bones.

I am revitalized.

9-2-13


This poem is a metaphor for personal growth.  I describe the struggle and price to pay for learning.  I then describe the place I find myself when I'm benefiting from that growth.  I titled it 'a life well lived' because I believe this place of discovery and glory is where we are meant to live.

Laying Hold of Other Realms

The God of angel armies
Echoes throughout eternity
Glory in the heavenlies
He has been and always will be

He speaks now as He did then
Such a hopeful, wonderful King
He loves us from now 'til the end
When from the next life we will sing

Though heaven is available
For us to bring to this place
Love and hope undeniable
Healing, prophecy, and grace

Peace, purpose, and all goodness
Passion, wonder, and trust
Can invade through acts of kindness
And melt this cold world made of dust

An encouraging word
A joyful song or joke
Can heal an offense that occurred
Brighten the day with one stroke

Joy of the Lord invading
A lifting into the clouds
I slowly begin rising
Above the earth, the sea, and the crowds

8-17-13

When Lightning and Thunder Collide

A field burns bright
A fire raging all around
Thunder claps and trumpets sound
Piercing, beautiful light

Angel armies march
The war cry has sounded
Echoing fury resounded
Underneath God's arch

A great war has begun
The outpouring of love and power
This is the enemy's final hour
When man and God become one

This surge of power and grace
Will echo in the marketplace
Revival in business
Leadership with purpose
Love flowing through organizations
Power and glory beyond our imaginations
From on high God has struck with His Fist
All the loneliness, brokenness, and depression 
       that exist
No more! He cries from Heaven
Worlds created that were once hidden

For all the works of the enemy will come to nothing and all the wicked schemes of the devil will be crushed underneath God's feet with judgment, wrath, fury, and vengeance.  For God is a jealous God, and He will not relent until His lost sheep are found and restored.

8-5-13