if i could fly

if i were only able to walk
i would roam to the sea
to the top of the mountains
and to the deep forest trees
if i were only able to run
i would chase the sunset
win the race to the sunrise
run after all the colors of the skies
and if i could fly
well
if i could fly and soar i would explore
the world with the power of my wings
as i listened to the sky colors sing
never again to walk or run
i would fly with the sun
ascend to the stars
and oh the songs i would sing
as i fly and carry the moon on my wings

- inspired by a fellow blogger

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

a starling moment

so let’s talk of
autumn mornings
falling into my consciousness
sunny skies
shaking off the
midnight rain
while coffee murmurations
dance in my eyes
and i come into focus
crawling out of my dreams
stumbling towards awareness
senses trying to make
sense of the blue painted sky
and those tiny beads of coffee
are they escaping
the scalding dark amber sea
or just singing to
the Creator’s design
the indescribable
unmistakable aroma
is fresh and new
and tells old stories
it is a starling moment
and i don’t really know
what to make of it
so
i make my escape
with the coffee beads
and enjoy
the view

help us down here

when i see all the unrest
the could care less
and carelessness from those
who should be our best
it’s like a colorless sunset
hollow empty shiny but still
somethin’s missin’
life is just dissin’
you and me
got to see these leaders
and who they really be
raisin’ anger
makin’ danger
riled up
fired up
lied to
free to
upset
regress
and not reset
the soul
or console the whole
of our cities
our children
all the cryin’ moms
does anyone hear
the tears
they just busy shoutin’
making fear
screamin’ for what
what
do
you
want
take off your mask
and task yourself with being someone
who is against the grain
relieving pain
runnin’ away from the insane
inane life drain
of sin and self
of placing humanity on the shelf
so your cause won’t die
what’s the use
if we just abuse
and use
and consider others
refuse to throw away
when they refuse to say
what i want them to say
Lord color us
with mercy and grace
make space for us to change
and stop leaning into feelings
and stay here kneeling into releasing
the darkness we think is the light
color our hearts with love light and truth
solid
unchangeable
unquenchable truth fire
that is higher
than our silly ways
have your way
save us from us
and deliver us to
a new that never dies
and that one day
will help us to transcend the skies
and leave this place of sorrow and woe
no more night
no more pain
tears left behind
oh God above
make it so
make it so
we confess our sin
leave judgment to you
invite you to look within
our broken hearts
help us to start
to say no to lies and yes to your truth
oh God
have mercy
have mercy
oh God
color our hearts
like a sunset singing loud
testifying that you are here
you entered our pain
lived died and rose again
HALLELUJAH!
won’t you help us
down here
won’t you help us
down here

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

a prayer for self-awareness

open my eyes
and let me see
the impact of me
in the eyes
of those
i say i love
in the face
of the stranger
in the heart of my friends
help me see
my flaws
help me
see my brokenness
help me see
the fractures
and inconsistencies
in me
that i so readily ignore
but call out in others

dear God
may the tone
of my words
carry grace
acceptance
and peace
let my heart be open
to know when to engage
and when to disengage
always with kindness
and gentleness
and help me love
with listening
help me love
with understanding
help me love
with an other-centered spirit
help me
to
love
as you reveal
me
to
me

prayer for mercy

am i descending
or ascending
is this praying
or just doing my own thing
cradling my heavy head
in my tear stained palms
i think
this time it will be different
my life will change
my heart will finally
be rearranged
only to realize
that even if my knees
were nailed to the earth
i stubbornly refuse to bend my will
instead i choose to stand in shame
is this my heart rising
to our Father who art in heaven
or am i running
stumbling
down into myself
help me be free
let my eyes see
and may my ears
listen to the sheer silence
of your kindness
open this heart
mend my mind
in love
mercy
and forgiveness
i want to rise
so help me
bow down
be still
let go
and
listen to the sheer silence
of your kindness

set free

i don't know about you
but there is so much
i need to say goodbye to
i'll welcome the endings
practice some surrendering
it's hard to study
all the expectations
that are now
a pile of eliminations
i thought this or that
would be the life
i would have
releasing longings
into the fiery ending
of this day
i guess
it will be okay
turns out being free
is not about me
trying to step aside
God
are you tired
of hearing
about my pride
set is ablaze
like the end of this day
i'm tired
of getting my way
love and hope
sin and shadow
peace and stillness
heartache and sorrow
is there a place
deep in the marrow
of my soul
where all
the counterpoint
of being human
is awakened
restored
and rises whole
saying goodbye
to all that tethers
me to this dirt
i'd rather
stiffen my neck
than lift up my eyes
stand on my own
than fall to my knees
search me
and know my heart
let all the parts of me
that you see
with grace
and mercy

be

set

free

a little bit of new york in my life, part 2

Part 2 of images from my first stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge.

a little bit of new york in my life, part 1

I have been on a three month sabbatical that will end at the end of July. One of my goals during this time was to spend time in New York with my dad and siblings. My previous post came out of my time in New York. In all the years spent growing up on Long Island, and then years going back to visit New York – we have lived in the Midwest since 1988 – I never walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. So, I decided to take a stroll on that beautiful bridge. Here is what I saw, part 1. Thanks for stopping by.