These Days
Walls
I never tire of holding that astrolabe, When, for a moment, All my particles of dust are in Perfect union. Even when I’m led into Strange, terrifying territory, Those are usually the moments When I feel most safe. We spend so much of our lives Playing worldly games in the dark, but Every one of the infinite layers of reality Are permeated with light. Rahab survived the fall of Jericho. The Beloved is marching around the city. Just wait, These walls are coming down.
Lord
Lord, who can I call on tonight but you? I’m empty, fill me with your presence. Though tomorrow’s uncertain, I know I’m safe with you. Lord, give me sight, speech, breath. Remind us that we’re all your children. Open a path for us. Give us what we need, heavenly bread. Lord, who can know your mind? You’re so far away, yet I know, You are right here. The sickness is strong, give us healing. If I ran from you, where would I go? You’re everywhere. Show me my place in your plans. I know this great story isn’t over yet.
My Soul
The moon bathes the earth at night; My soul is a flower, Blooming in that quiet light. The Buddha sleeps now, But his love needs no rest. My soul is a Buddha, a Jesus, An MLK Jr, a Sophie Scholl. It is a Joseph At the bottom of the well. What is mine is yours. As serene and wide as the clear blue sky Behind the storm clouds. As small as a quark, able to slip Under prison cell doors, To keep roaming and working in this Kingdom of God.
Rocks
At times, I despair that I will Never be able to Communicate to another person What I feel Or have felt, What heights and depths I’ve reached, How I’ve witnessed a healing flow Spread out through my chest and Into a building full of people. Words are as lifeless as rocks. Other times, I have faith That rocks have their magic as well, And what words cannot accomplish, Perhaps my silence can.
These Days
These days, I observe the birds To remember how to mourn. Their sorrowful songs or their silence Awaken me, grieving, in the early morning. These days, the main task of life Is to rediscover how to be human Amid so much distress, pain, hatred, Fear, chaos and confusion. The light still has not left the world. The love has not grown fully cold. You are here. You are breathing. This means that God is not yet finished. These days, we face a choice: To seek to slake our thirst in mirages, Or to repair our broken compasses And find our inner wells of living water.