all is well

a slow meandering
upon the ancient sands
the sea reminding me
how small i truly am
and that’s totally okay
much more
behind me
than before me
a few less steps remain
the waves will sing
long after my last breath
sometimes
i just want to stop
and join the clouds and sea
just melt into
the horizonless dance
and stay
listen
and pray
it can all feel
so weary
still
i journey on
back to go forward
reaching into the ocean of stories
looking for that perfect shell
listening for all is well
remembering the glory
still to come
yesterdays
just fly away
even memories
are fading
is anyone staying
we are alone
ever together with our life
and with others
we are alone

and rise

new life
still all this strife
new opportunity
same entropy
new start
still in bed
new attitude
still no gratitude
new insights
still trying to fight
new word
still not listening
new day
same old ways
new light
still seeking shadows
new colors
same monochromatic soul
new gifts
same folded arms
for you
on this day
right now
new grace
boundless love
endless mercy
a Cross to bear
with an everlasting Companion
unmerited forgiveness
an endless sunrise
can be yours
receive
be centered
through surrender
be free
through confession
be at rest
through acceptance
come home
it is finished
lay down your shame
take up your hope
lift up your head
receive your identity
and rise

a prayer

we used to gather
to remain in the vine
neighbor
sister
brother
mother
father
singing our songs
Kyrie eleison
standing room only
we were searching for
Holy, Holy, Holy
in a time of upheaval
we found comfort
in the cathedral
of our hearts
in the neighborhood sanctuary
candles
prayers
stained glass windows
used to tell our stories
guiding us toward glory
dazzling testimonies
told in fragile colors
we were lost
but we found each other
and we found
our heavenly Father
Kyrie eleison
now just silent songs
unsung melodies
broken monochrome glass
and look
the vines enter in
perhaps searching for souls
maybe a prayer or two
God make all this old
to be new
and begin
in me
please, Lord
tell a story
of your glory
through all
that is shattered in me
as i sing the ancient song
Kyrie eleison
Christe eleison
Kyrie eleison

dismantled

sing a canticle with me
a little music
a melody
to try and defy
all this gravity
that will soon
silence the tune
of my life
and i’ll be done
with all this strife
when you press a key
a silent symphony
will rise
and the veil
will be removed
from my eyes
oh to be free
and be at rest
one day
when this instrument
has seen it’s years
all will be new
no more tears
its true
so sing out loud
i was lost
now i’m found
and peace will be
my everyday
i’ll let go
of all that i can see
i will be free
dismantled
and transformed
in the endless Light
i’ll join the endless song
and all my days
will be a canticle of praise
will you come with me
what do you see
in the eternity
He has placed inside
let go of pride
and sing a canticle with me
a little music
a melody
let’s defy
all this gravity

oh Lord and Light

like a black sea
stretching out before me
all this mystery
of what is yet to be
all that i cannot see

like a black sky
slowly descending over me
telling shadow stories
all i cannot hide
a dark gray canopy
made up of all my whys

oh Lord and Light
guide me on my way
help me navigate
this story through the night
waiting for the day
longing for all made right
for the unseen real
to replace
what all the senses feel

like a dark wave
swallowing up my soul
all the doubt and shame
why must it
be this way
growing old
is growing close
to a different shore
to so much more
than the sum of my failures
or anything labeled
a success
it’s all just a mess

oh Lord and Light
i’m grateful
that you gave me sight
for this mess
that i call my life
for you carried me
you saw me
you ransomed me
so i’ll follow you
i’ll turn to you
surrender to you
and let you tell me who i am
for you are love
and far above this darkened sky
and far below this blackened sea
your glory and light
your power and might
the Lord and Light
is with me
in me
all around me

the Lord and Light
is with me
in me
all around me

sometimes i wonder

sometimes i wonder
where it all came apart
where the promises and love songs
withered and sighed
the radio station
otherwise known as our lives
just plays static
the noise of our brokenness
the crackle of our selfishness

sometimes i wonder
where all that love went to hide
where the feelings and tryings
the caring that was dying
before our once hope filled eyes
is that love buried
beneath the winter of our self-protection
will there ever be a springtime of affections
sunshine to melt the hardness
to take back all the words
that tore apart the fragile fabric
otherwise known as our lives
do shreds of tenderness remain
i see tattered threads of holding hands
i think i can make out a long lost embrace

sometimes i wonder
if all these thoughts colliding in my mind
can make sense of anything at all
why did i say that
why didn’t i tell you
why did i hide
why didn’t i leave you alone
why did i remain silent
why did i scream
i have so much on repeat in my head
longing to find that clue
that tiny missed detail
to unlock the best of us

i love you
i said it
but you saw through
all i insisted was true
and i couldn't carry the weight
of what it meant to be we
us
together
our true selves
as one
in the story otherwise known as our lives

the last ornament

a frosty cold dawn
a gray featureless sky
feels just like me today
there’s a frozen mist
sprinkled on the ground
it’s a monochrome morning
a colorless song
that sounds like me today
so i guess
i’ll take the Christmas tree down

Christmas carols
echo in my living room
the grandkids laughing
wrapping paper tearing
meals we were just sharing
are now memories
and there’s something sad in me
at the end of 2023
so i guess
i’ll take the Christmas tree down
a quiet end of the season
a gentle closing of the year
and for no particular reason
a tear appears
and it’s okay
the past three sixty-five
well…
let’s just say
it can be hard to be alive
there have been days of good cheer
sorrow and struggle too
said a final good-bye to mom
and then there are the fractures
in the family
feeling all the anxiety
and those whispers of failure
just rise
amidst an endless
ostinato of whys
so i guess
i’ll take the Christmas tree down
a plastic stained glass window
with a little boy in prayer
amber crystal beads
a shiny red ball from Macy’s
a tiny wooden christmas tree
a three story ceramic house
a quiet Christmas mouse
glimmering shimmering
sparkling dazzling
all are put to rest
almost done
there’s just one
the last ornament
it’s a smiling angel
holding a star
with colored gems for wings
so there i stand
with this angel
in my hand
i can almost hear it sing
a song of grace
a melody of peace
a smiling angel in my hand
helps me know
i’m in His hand
so i hum a tune
i can’t remember which one
but i remember
the fractures and failures
are held in His hand too
all our fractures
all our failures
so grateful He holds them
grateful He knows them
thanks for listening
i’m done
taking the Christmas tree
down

His Light is near

this Christmas
may your soul shine
as you take time
to reflect on God above
and love your family
and see your story
is from His hand
of love

for you are here
and His Light is near
so lay those burdens down
this tiny Child
is here for you
so put away the frowns
and rest in His light
rest in His peace
rest in His joy
may you be free
and not anxious
for you are precious
for you are here
and His Light is near
for you are loved
from above
He came
to be
with
you

maybe

maybe it’s because
the way things are
i’m longing
for what used to be
maybe it’s because
what used to be
is why the way things are

maybe it’s because
i’m remembering
a world that was gentle and true
maybe it’s because
what’s gentle and true
was forsaken and broken
back then too
maybe it’s because
we’re lost wandering souls
that it seems faith is gone
hope and love sailed away
maybe it’s because
we’ve wandered so far
the light seems so dim
we don’t know
who we are
maybe we can turn
and swim upstream
awaken and see the Way
maybe we can hear
the Truth with our ears
and Life can return
to our poor restless souls
let’s surrender
right now
all we think we know
and find His rest and peace
for only if we lose our lives
in His love and light
only then can we rise
pray with me
that we will see
the world we carry inside
mended and healed
by the Way
the Truth
the Life

stop wait listen faith

i don’t think
i would mind
getting lost beneath
a gold and yellow sky
watch the crimson
snow leaves
gently settle
at my feet
smell the pine soaked
breeze
be as still
as the trees
as they surrender
their beauty
and let go of their
color laden leaves
i lift up my eyes
i wonder if my
prayers can soar up high
to reach your ears
oh God
are you near
we’re really lost
have you given
thought
to our broken
hearts
we really
could use
a new start
i surrender
the beauty
i think i possess
let winter
come
and clean my soul
no more pretense
i’ll wait with the trees
in silence
and cold
welcome this season
of dying
less trying
of seeing
and being
i’m lifting my hands
God please
bring us your aid
don’t want to be afraid
as i walk 
this painted path
there is beauty
when we fall
upon your Light
and stop
and wait
and listen
in faith

and stop
and wait
and listen
in faith