slow motion mending

sometimes i need to find
the time and silence
to unwind these coils of lies
these shackles of shame
and the commotion in my soul
so i sit in slow motion
while i name each derision
and consciously make the decision
to breathe in the Light of the World
and exhale all these false tales
that shield my heart
from receiving
the love on the Cross
He is bleeding
for me
losing His life
to save my own
taking my sin
calling it His own
this Christmas child
a King has come
to reign through love
and set me free
from the insanity
of my own making
so like these winter trees
i’ll surrender the leaves
those colors were so nice
but it’s just a show so i’ll let them go
and die
to what i think i know will set me free
and stay here in the mystery
of winter’s necessary death
it won’t last long
so with each breath
i’ll wait and sing a song
to the Christmas King
as He works in my soul
and rights all wrongs
He is my healer
my story writer
and life giver
i’ll wait
while He does
some slow motion mending
old things must have an ending
to make room for the new

jewels in my soul

and there were threads in the garden
and there were stars in the leaves
and there jewels on the flowers
and there were diamonds in the webs
and there were threads in my mind
tethered to sorrow
beauty
lament
wonder
love
and there were stars in my heart
sparkling memories
regrets
dreams
loss
hope
and there were jewels in my soul
brilliantly reflecting
the promises
of my heavenly Papa
the redemption
of the Lamb
the deliverance
from the shadows
of my brokenness
and there were diamonds
all around
family
friends
love
companionship
a smile
an encouraging word
gratitude
melodies
light
beauty
song

connection

standing still
contemplating all
the strategic decisions
that brought me here
ready to take a new step
on the journey
navigating
this ocean of feelings
the sadness
just beneath
the surface of it all
how do we traverse
the relational mines
of this broken world
no more pretending
more unmasking
what lies beneath
the smiles
and the tears
so tired of defending
time to stop protecting
and submit to truth
to words that may hurt
but will heal
the path to connection
spend more time in reflection
admitting all that’s wrong
in me
it’s so easy to live
suppressing
love and heartache
stepping into releasing
it all to Him
embracing the journey inward
not hiding what others see
accepting all that is
turning away
from denying all that is
the fog of reality
is clearer
that the seemingly
serene shimmer of self-deception
the crying
is from the lying
vulnerability is moving
towards being free
intimacy or distancing
the choice is up to me
to live in authenticity
and humility
is to break through
the veneer of safety
and i’m certain
that certainty
is not so certain after all
faith requires
the tension
of a solid hope
amidst the crazy
of the now
hate and
willful ignorance
are easy
it’s love
that is
hard

Kyrie eleison
Christe eleison

let it all in let it all go

and i find that i’m choosing to let it all in
i stand in the light while i’m feeling the pain
that keeps falling like rain on my story again
and the clouds crowd my soul so i let it all go
carried on whispered prayers with hands pleading
lifted in unspoken longings eyes searching
for some kind of answer in this darkened light
embracing the rain and the clouds and all the unseen
running into the light as it reaches all that’s been
perhaps a lament or two will see me through
the paradox of this impermanent journey
a time for everything and everything in time
i’ll welcome the longing with singing
celebrate the love with understanding
that all is fading into unending yesterdays
and the clouds crowd my soul so i let it all go
and i’ll walk towards the light
keep my eyes on things above
and choose to love here below
and let it all go through trembling whispers of faith
until i find my way home with some amazing grace

find some slow

remembering
letting go
surrendering
finding slow
winter’s cold
a memory
blooming color
here comes summer
seasons
in my heart
some things
i can start
again
and some
well
they just are
moments
in the sun
will soon
run away
colors will fall
winter will howl
lonely branches
will soon help me see
so i explore
the seasons
in my life
some things
must die
some things
bring so many whys
but with each
blossom
all this beauty
wrapped up tightly
waiting to spring
i surrender
let go
and find
some slow
and
sing

across our times

every now and then
a little boy
walks into the room
he was already here
he has never left
i just acknowledge
his presence

he sits
and listens
i share
memories
questions
doubts
fears
longings
words of comfort
and remorse
i sit
and listen
as he shares
stories
wishes
sorrows
giggles
secrets
tears
attempts to speak
all that was real

our meeting
is as a key to a lock
slowly arranging tumblers
a click or two closer
to opening a box
filled with light
opening a chamber of forgiveness
opening a door
that has been tightly shut
for too long
diminishing the shadows
and obscurity
of what it means
to be
sometimes
we just gaze
into each other
and see our soul
our converging wanderings
and there is calm
peace
between us
inside us
not because
all the mysteries
were explained
more because
across our times
we met
found solace
and remembered
who we are
who we are not
what to grasp
and what to set free

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

cloudy winter day

so what’s up
cloudy winter day
what have you got to say
you remind me of me today
a little chill
a little gray
the blues are above you
somewhere high in the sky
like the blues
down inside me
where i’m tired
and i don’t want to try
to pretend anymore
that it’s sunny
act like it’s all okay
cloudy morning
i hear what you’re trying
to say

wait
weep
stay
don’t keep
it together
just be
feel
don’t try
to weather the weather
rest
pray
chill
gray
stay
connected
to
your
Creator
on this
cloudy
winter
day