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

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

i wonder

i wonder what she’s praying for
she’s pleading for
she’s kneeling for
i wonder what this child of God
is asking of her Lord

perhaps for peace inside her soul
and in this world
and in this world
perhaps for peace inside your soul
won’t you plead with her now

perhaps for love inside her soul
and in your heart
and in your heart
perhaps for love inside her soul
won’t you plead with her now

i wonder what she’s praying for
she’s pleading for
she’s kneeling for
i wonder what this child of God
is asking of her Lord

perhaps for rest from all her pain
from all her pain
from all her pain
perhaps for rest for you and me
from all the pain we feel

perhaps for pardon from her sins
from her sins
from her sins
perhaps for pardon for your sins
won’t you implore with her now

i wonder what she’s praying for
she’s pleading for
she’s kneeling for
i wonder what this child of God
is asking of her Lord

i wonder if we all could kneel
we all could kneel
we all could kneel
i wonder if we all could kneel
and join her right now
cry out with her now
be humble with her now
be a child of God
right now

good-bye hello

say good-bye
to the veneer covering your soul
to shallow shadow living
say hello to all you are
those parts of you
kept tidy and tucked away
integrate your shiny self
with your darkness too

say good-bye
to not knowing
you
to not reflecting
to not pondering
how those you love
experience
you
say hello
to living inside out
be present to yourself
listen
listen
listen
as others share
what they see
who they see
what they feel

say good-bye
to running here and there
to getting it all done
to being okay with the frazzle
breaking your mind
feeding your anxiety
say hello to stillness
to stopping
ceasing
waiting
to closing your eyes
just breathing
say good-bye
to pretending
you’re doing fine
the pain in your body
is telling a different story
all that scrolling
diminishes you
watching another series
living other’s lives
just won’t do
say hello
to being real
to crying
to sobbing
to lamenting
the hard stories
that live in you
must be told

say good-bye
to your own strength
intellect
will
gifts
determination
you’re such a success
but kind of a mess
say hello
to faith
to trust
you did not make yourself
He created you
every moment is written
His thoughts about you
are precious

help me see me

you think the truth you spittin
is hittin and all the while
it’s missin the heart
why don’t you start with the
2 x 4 stickin out your face
you call it grace you say you love
but it feels like a shove
of theological grooves
that in your mouth
is just fake news
we all got the blues
we all need the truth
take a look in the mirror
are you clearer to you
maybe you should go
feel and find what you left behind
there’s nothin new
under that big bright star
who do you think you are
who do you think you are

start something new in me
set me free to be
restin instead of testin
everybody’s this and that
where am i at
what am i going to be
show me
me
show me
me

you say you prayin
but you just slayin
throwin hollow verses
that feel like curses
and what’s worse
is that when you done
you done
silence
no presence
silence
no assistance
silence
no shoulder to cry on
active love to rely on
your logic doesn’t do a thing
get in the ring and fight for the unseen
the unnoticed are real
whatever they see this world to be
connection is what they need
don’t log off when you have your say
and just walk away
why don’t you show up
level up
your argument is sound
but your heart can’t be found
you stand your ground
as you ground others down

start something new in me
set me free to be
restin instead of testin
everybody’s this and that
where am i at
what am i going to be
show me
me
show me
me

the only way

will we ever learn
doesn’t it concern you
what will it take to get through
your hype your type
your tight tight grip
you don’t want to slip
so you give others your lip
you just strip away humanity
society can’t be free
with all this anxiety
you think you're the most
with your posts
you say i’ll be free
he says i’ll be free
she says i’ll be free
if i just see what he sees
say what she sees
be what he sees
like a virus
you spiral your viral
perspective
what makes you think
others want your infection
when they know
it’s about selection
who’s in who’s out
i need a heart mask
to stop the bleeding
i’m reeling
my soul is spinning
nobody is winning
this losing game
no one is willing
to stop the blaming
shaming
conflating
the Cross
the flag
the dross will be tossed
someone is hungry
someone is alone
someone has no home
being taken from their own
who are we feeding
do we visit the prison
or stay behind the bars
we keep building around our hearts
did you listen to their story
did you listen to their pain
what does it matter if you gain
the whole world
but
LOSE
YOUR
SOUL
i can’t believe
what some will rearrange
disengage and exchange
for their soul
LORD
HAVE
MERCY
the only way
to be free
is to get on our knees
Jesus wept

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

Lord have mercy

You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.
But I say, love your enemies!
Pray for those who persecute you!
In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:43-45

I will proclaim the name of the Lord; how glorious is our God!
He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect.
Everything he does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!
Deuteronomy 32:3-4

a wife weeps for her husband
fatherless children
are given
shattered lives

some lament
some deride
a nation is disoriented
broken
lost on one side
lost on that side too
the heart of the country
needs a gps
we are lost
no
it’s worse

a wife weeps for her husband
fatherless children
are given
shattered lives

in a windy city nearby
some wonder
about all the fuss
holes in their walls
are covered by pictures
of sons and daughters
moms and dads
senselessly stolen
from love and home
and not a single post
not a single thread
to remember their dead

a wife weeps for her husband
fatherless children
are given
shattered lives

is our justice the best
is our judgment pure
we must choose
our response
to the horror
in front of us
we must ponder
what is in our hearts

a wife weeps for her husband
fatherless children
are given
shattered lives

God will let us go
our own way
religious lines
party lines
hold no meaning
for what resides
in the heart
will be revealed
it’s not the affiliation
or denomination
we may think we carry light
or hold truth
Lord have mercy

a wife weeps for her husband
fatherless children
are given
shattered lives

what do you want
or
is there a better question
what do we need
what is wrong
maybe we should just stop
ponder
wait
listen
grieve
kneel
plead
is God, God?
is Jesus
alive?
what kind of ambassador
am i
may we be
true children
of our Father in heaven
for he is just and fair

a wife weeps for her husband
fatherless children
are given
shattered lives

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