every moment

every moment is in the past
every experience dissolves into a memory
as soon as a moment in time arrives
it retreats into yesterday
the crimson and deep blue sea colors of a sunrise
merge with a new day
and they quietly disappear
after loudly announcing the gift of a new day
a photograph tries to stretch the brevity of the moment

but it remains powerless to make the moment last
it only amplifies the memory
which in turn makes the moment more elusive
it only brings to our consciousness
that the moment has slipped away
and continues to slip away beyond our reach
it only represents the beauty and majesty of the Creator
and brings us face to face
with this mysterious transient thing that we call life
which i think is why an old stoic and wise man once said

It is better to go to a home where there is mourning than to one where there is a party, because the living should always remind themselves that death is waiting for us all.
Sorrow is better than laughter; it may sadden your face, but it sharpens your understanding. Someone who is always thinking about happiness is a fool. A wise person thinks about death.
*

a bit dark

i suppose

but also true

pondering impermanence
stills our striving for things that do not last
heals our hearts of passions that never satisfy
pauses our pride in who we think we are

so i will welcome the loud colors
let the moments slip away
even as i too
am slipping away
following the crimson and deep blue colors
pondering the promises
of a heavenly voice

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. **


* Ecclesiastes 7
** Revelation 21

you

when was the last time
you walked across
the noise in your life
and journeyed
into the depth of you

when was the last time
you just were still
and present to your soul
your longing
your sorrow
your joy
your hope
your anxiety
your darkness

when was the last time
you closed your eyes
and settled into your spirit
named the pain
let the tears carry away the sorrow

when was the last time
you heard your voice
when it tore down another soul
did it leave you broken
did it stab your heart

when was the last time
you surrendered
you admitted your limits
faced your shadows
let pride fall away in humility

when was the last time
you said
thank you
i love you
i was wrong
please forgive me
i need help

when was the last time
you leaned into your ordinariness
you opened your heart
to your strengths and weaknesses
you listened to feedback
you didn’t defend yourself

when was the last time
you were you
not as you think you are
but listened to others
and how they experience
you

you are an ocean
a vast sea of dreams
of loss
laughter
weeping
of love
fear
perseverance
sin
of cowardice
strength
power
kindness
of impotence
clarity
valor
uncertainty
and so much more

you
are
human
created by God
loved by God
seek Him
rest in Him
receive His love
live in His grace
receive His forgiveness
be alive
in Him
He knows full well
you
are
human

change me

sometimes it feels like
i don’t know anymore
can you point me
to the exit door
i thought it would be the tribe
that had the right vibe
or the cool cause
would become my why
but I find myself
asking why
the night seems darker
and all the sides just lie
messages dance and prance
through the
social media sphere
shouting
the truth is here
the truth is here
the truth is here
what you see is what is true
period
what i see is false
period
we’re both right
we’re both wrong
period
so we sing our song
loud and proud
and if you won’t sing along
and if I won’t play
cancel
cancel
cancel
we say
but i am here
and so are you
maybe the push to win
is just polished
acceptable sin
i’m trying to see
to open my heart
to start a conversation
to lay down my weapons
to deal with me
to recognize
what’s inside
this flawed broken man
learning to stand on my knees
dear God
help me please
to realize
that there is no prize
waiting for any side
when we choose to erase
a person who has
or doesn’t have faith
we all bear His image
we all need a center
it can’t be me
it can’t be you
the Creator’s justice
His love and grace
is solid and true
for me for you
the human race
needs to slow down
and embrace
our limited sight
our twisted mind
and instead
taste and see
He is good
He is good
He is good
you and i
are not the answer
to the problems we’ve made
it’s the enemy within
this fractured soul
that needs redemption
to be made whole
what if we stopped
stealing the healing
with all our shouting and screaming
and in stillness and silence
we met our Creator
and finally meet ourselves
as we really are
and quietly pray
change me
change me
change me

winter fire sky

as the winter fire sky
gently carries the day away
i allow my eyes
to drink in the beauty
and let the colors
fill my mind

a glorious letting go
a blazing surrendering
to time
are there moments
in those colors
memories in the
winter fire sky

take a photo
maybe this
digital likeness
will connect me
to the weightless
wonder and reflection
deeper connection
to the Artist’s
dazzling affection
for creation
and
all His children
winter fire sky
thank you for
your singular
contribution
to ease the longing
it’s not a solution
or absolution
just a nudge
a reminder
that helps me remember
that there is more
than all our senses tell us
the unseen real
the shadows of glory
an endless story
is whispered in my heart
as i say goodby
to this
winter fire sky

the star maker knows

where is the solace
when life only brings darkness
an achromatic sunrise
unable to chase shadows
a sunset that never leaves

where is the gentle breeze
when life storms around and within
can’t breathe the rain soaked air
while i try to put on a smile
the pulse rate of my soul diminished

where are the hands
cradling a countenance
when the lonely tears
are seeking an embrace
standing in the middle of the universe
i guess the view is nice
but no one is there
to share the stars

i’ve heard it said
there is a place
where melodies and harmonies
take flight
like lullabies that never say goodnight
music you can taste
and hold in hand
or pull towards your heart
music that covers you
with a blanket of love and grace
the softest peace
a delicate abyss of joy

so i run to this place
in the darkness and the storm
i lift up my eyes
when it feels i can’t breathe
i fall into faith
when the tears want to stay
i tell my story
and let the music fill in the gaps
the star maker knows
each page of sorrow
each gaze of wonder
the calming comfort of trust
if i’m in the
pain of the valley
or the delight of the clouds
the star maker
knows
my
name
he knows my now
and my yesterdays
my what is to come

i breathe in timeless hope
i fall into
a vast fissure of love and rest

another valley is near
but
He
is
nearer

a 4272023 morning

it's a 4272023 morning
the kind of morning
that will never be here again
the fire leaves are awakening
big blue skies are smiling
the proud trees are welcoming
a 4272023 morning

the silent digital sentinel
on our wrist
counts the seconds
that will make up the moments
of this gift we call a day
the unrepeatable you
this world of image bearers
in all our collective  journeys
we share
the sorrow
the waiting
the singing
the building
the crying
the disorientation
the confusion
the celebration
the shame
the brokenness
the wonder
the exhaustion
the despair
the longing
for meaning
the searching for love
it's who we are
glorious and ruinous

on this 4272023 morning
let’s remember together
our Creator is here
for you and me
for all the world
the Light has overcome the darkness
so we can open our hearts
and become fire leaves
illuminated
dazzling
sparkling
welcoming the Light
the everlasting Love
awakened by eternal songs
of redemption

so this 4272023 morning
will soon be gone
what will we leave behind
words of comfort
love and laughter
shared tears
forgiving eyes
grateful for
a 4272023 morning
and grateful
for you

let’s chase Light

it's not that the light has surrendered
or darkness has won
it's not that the day is done
or the night has begun

it's the rhythm of all things
the spinning and turning
the inhaling and exhaling
the rising and setting

it's the beauty
that accompanies
all that is held together
the colors that connect your soul
to the Artist of infinite insight
to the Artist who created colors
colors so exquisitely subtle
shades and hues
as countless as the sand on the shore

it's the clouds
and their random patterns
their playful textures
it's the breathless moment
when our eyes are transfixed
when we are able
to analyze and explain
and yet have no understanding

when our minds
our hearts
finally see something greater
we intuit the real
and that place of longing awakens
for love that lasts
for peace that endures
for hope fulfilled
for faith that comforts

let's chase Light
embrace the colors
take the long narrow way
of other-centered living
and loving
and seek
the Artist
of
our
souls

nook night

say goodbye
and set aside
the troubles
that are storming inside

at days end
now it's all
a remember when
so feel the sads
the mads
the glads
but more than these
give thanks and see
the treasures
the pleasures
that were yours

remember
the sum of them all
is the story of you
the unrepeatable you
a treasure
created by your Maker
who paints the sky
a masterpiece
be at peace
you
unrepeatable
you
be
at
peace
and have
a
nook night

when all there was was You

planted by the waters

when all there was was You