Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Good boy

 

 

I prayed last night

It feels right to draw a line in the sand

I’m not sure if it’s wrong to never cross that line again

Even for artificial peace

 

In the moment it feels more wrong than right

Why should I care about him?

Because that’s what Jesus would supposedly do?

What if he’s a pharisee?

 

Should I pray for Saul to become Paul?

For forgiveness, because he doesn’t know what he’s doing?

Saul repented when confronted

He accepted change

 

And as far as forgiveness goes

It turns out that our Father did not forgive them all

Forty years were offered to repent 

And become children again

 

He doesn’t have that many years left though

He knows he should do something

I prayed he would

Or, at least I think I did

 

Maybe I fell asleep

Before I got to that part

If he does do what is right

Does anyone even know what that would look like?









For yourself


 















None of us were surprised

He came and brought her

And made excuses afterward

 

It was a good time apart nonetheless

Kids puking will become his excuse

To normalize dysfunction

 

He convinced many for a time, times, and half a time

That he really does love us

Just not enough to take us seriously

 

This is because he sees the missing

He knows how nations are discipled

His whole life is one adopted failure after another

 

Old man, you have built very little

Defended quite a lot of your own panache

And sustained absolutely nothing but a reputation


For yourself










Sunday, January 22, 2023

John 6.63

 




Profitable is the word I speak and worthy of acceptance

Let us now awake from our sleep, and lift up our hearts and hands toward God in heaven...

Let us observe the appointed time of the glorious bridegroom, so that we may enter with him into his bridal chamber

Let us prepare oil for our lamps, so that we may go forth to meet him with joy

Let us put away and cast from us all uncleanness, and put on wedding garments

Let us trade with the silver we have received, so that we may be called diligent servants

Let us be constant in prayer, so that we may pass beyond the place where fear dwells

Let us purify our heart from iniquity, so that we may see the Lofty One in his glory

Let us be merciful, as it is written, so that God may have mercy upon us

Let there be peace amongst us, so that we may be called brethren of Christ

Let us hunger for justice, so that we may be satisfied from the table of his kingdom

Let us be the salt of truth, so that we do not become food for the serpent

Let us sell our possessions, and buy for ourselves the pearl, so that we may be rich

Let us lay up our treasures in heaven, so that when we arrive we may open them and have pleasure in them

Let us honor the Spirit of Christ, so that we may receive grace from him

Let us be strangers to the world, as Christ was not of it

Let us be humble and meek, so that we may inherit the land of life

Let us be constant in his service, so that he may let us serve in the abode of the saints

Let us pray his prayer in purity, so that it may have access to the Lord of majesty

Let us be sharers in his suffering, so that we may also rise up in his resurrection

Let us bear his sign upon our bodies, so that we may be delivered from the wrath to come



-Aphrahat the Persian







Silent Lover

 


What kind of person are you?

Why don’t you care enough to get involved?

All these people suffer

And my family suffers

We all suffer

But, for what—your glory?

 

Then comes the satiation

Of fingers or fists

Raised up high

 

Life together

At first so sweet

Turns into life separated

Without a choice

Or with a choice

To keep it that way 

Since the other departed

 

Help from on high is then sent

To quote and comfort 

From our lover’s book

All things work together for good

His ways are not our ways

You will never be tested 

At least not beyond what you can endure

 

I’ve heard them all

I’ve even said many

Back when magic words were the only cure

 

Thus, when silence remains the only offering

And the only assurance one receives 

Comes from incestuous prayers and esoteric incantations

That’s when it’s fair to ask new questions

About not loving or respecting the silent treatment

Or the inanity of his children













 

Proverb

 




Prayer is an interesting exercise

One talks to the person in charge

And waits

To wake up

And discover the reality

That “He” listened

“He” stooped and heard my cry

“He” delivered me from the pit

“He” showed mercy to those who feared “Him”

 

But for those who are not chosen

Yet choose nonetheless

Like chicken soup or beef stew

And commit to entertaining the fantasy

Of a “He” who loves to listen

And has many things to say

But is mute

And struggles in popularity

With only one bestseller

 

“He” is merely the residue

The excuse

The guy up high who’s qualified

And highly recommended to fix existential leaks

Better than the guy down the street 

“His” credentials cover heaven and earth

 

When they pray

They wake up to the same reality

As those who parrot proverbs

And wash in lamb’s blood

The only difference between them

Is gratitude for the exercise













Friday, December 23, 2022

Acknowledgements



To my children

with new names, but anointed once

There is a new temple being built

 

The first is an author of hope undiminished, set on reaching God

The second, an Athenian heroine with angelic self-control

The third, a fighter willing to part ways and yet offer only two ways

 

For my father

A familiar saying

Frequently misunderstood

 

With a quick search one finds

Love enduring imprisonment

Faith and reason overcoming injustice

 

In place of a stone

some find a prudent jailor 

lighting gas with rigamarole

 

For my mother

A poem for a poet 

with gems inside


Hiding the Spirit

of the first, second, and third

as the new Temple is built












Saturday, December 3, 2022

Messengers

 


I cried this morning

I changed the wallpaper, too, because of you

It's the perfect picture of the crazy I remember

    with the glow of love for the Divine


All I could say in the moment was, 'I miss you.'

And thanks be to God that you can receive such greetings

    whispered to angels

        or those seated above them


I picture one of them saying, 'Go! Give this to her quickly.'

And at once each one darts off to run their own race

and eventually comes to your mansion


You sense the urgency, 

and so, rush to the door

    and listen intently

        and respond gently


Go tell my son, 'I love you too.'

That's when I cried

and changed my wallpaper

    to the perfect picture of crazy love for the Divine