something safe

something solid
something sure
at the beginning of the end
and i am feeling insecure
what will it take
for this heart
to settle down
i think
it’s something solid
something sure

something that lasts
something i can count on
i can’t seem to stop surrendering
to the stories i tell myself
no happy endings
why am i spending time
in all the shadows
won’t you tell me please
what will it take
for my mind to be at ease
i think
something that lasts
something i can count on

something quiet
something safe
when it all unravels
when the puzzle pieces
don’t match the picture
on the box
what will it take
for my soul to rest
for my eyes to see
i think it must be
something quiet
something safe
there is an old story
of the Son of Man
that abides
through the centuries
He walked upon
the same ancient soil
that i stumble upon
His words true and sure
pierce my heart
and a small glowing calm
lifts my head

for He was before
and will always be
His love is for all time
and my mind
can’t understand
but i choose to anchor
my thoughts to the peace
of His everlasting wisdom
His never ending love

and into all my searching
in the midst
of all the bingeing and the scrolling
He shouts stillness
into the noise of my life
calming
restoring
reminding
renewing
resurrecting
and singing over me
the pain remains
but i am unharmed
confusion seems to hold sway
but my fear is consoled
by His presence
beside me
above me
beneath me
all around me
there is a storm
but
He
is

i wait

thinking about nothing at all
while everything is running
around in my mind
getting acquainted
with a dull ache
emanating from somewhere
in the middle of the center
of the core of my tacet anxiety
settling down
into an emotional complacency
trying to find some safety
to make sense of it all
Immanuel is sleeping in the boat
while the weight of my heart
makes every step so hard
inches are like miles
enclosed on every side
by confusion and helplessness
what can i offer
what can i say
what can i do
awake my soul
for the sleeping Man of Sorrows
knows this storm
my soul comes to rest
on a cold lonely shore
and i wait
the winds and waves
are His
i wait

an advent prayer

we sing of a silent night
and of a Wonderful Counselor
born on a bleak mid-winter
of starry skies
and angel choirs
while rushing here
and late again there
parties and gatherings
there’s so much left on our lists
we want Christmas
in our culture
but is Christ in our hearts
buy now pay later
real time tracking
replaces real time reflecting
pondering the Prince of Peace
Immanuel
God
with
us
we wail and cry
for the suffering in this world
while we pass by
the violence we commit
against ourselves
we stream and binge
have another drink or two
or we click
buy now
pushing the pain away
hoping this shallow
happiness will stay
even though we know
it’s just a matter of time
before that dark cold low
presses on our chest
so we keep doing
maybe later
later
we will rest
the hope of the world
this baby boy
born into the icy darkness
of our souls
is He welcome
in the home of your heart
the light of the world
born into the chaos
that is our pain
do we surrender
to His invitation
filled with grace and truth
for He entered into our suffering
He walked this place of sorrows
the Creator holds the universe
in the palm of his tiny hands

O Jesus
little baby boy
hold me
help me
have mercy on me

amen

the in between

still on the journey
through achromatic beauty
everything is okay
no
really
it is
well
sort of
i can’t make sense of a anything
everything will be okay
at least i hope it will
but there is the now
the inbetween
the stumbling
not quite sure
which way to turn
i recognize
this strange
space of uncertainty
and stillness
and i cry
fast forwarding
isn’t fun
i cry
feels like
a lonely drowning
i cry
a jumbled pile
of grief and loss
wading through
shattered hope
and i cry
God
help me to accept
the immovable
reality of now
and rest
inhale
exhale
rest
i
cry

be still love well

do you see the beauty
all around you
a dazzling sunrise
colors and clouds
singing out loud
abandoned joy
dancing across the sky
are you stilled in wonder
at the edge of forever
as melodious crashing waves
meet the coarse sand beneath your feet
when the morning sky
touches your soul
and you do
and don’t know why
tears appear
and for a moment
it’s all okay
and when you say goodbye
to another day
are you at rest
is there peace in your mind
as the sun meets the sea
are you free
are you free
to feel all your sorrows
make space for your pain
see the hope of tomorrow
when colors and clouds
will see unending days
that chase all the shadows
of your heart away
and all the loose ends
of your crazy life story
will end
in the glory
of lux aeterna
so be still
love well
just take
another step
away from the shame
eternity covers your soul
breathe into your worth
abandon the lies
confess your wrongs
step into every sad song
and just be willing
to make space
for the Way
the Truth
the Life
lux aeterna
will come for you
so be still
and love well

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

i will raise my voice

so this new day has come
whose will
will be done
in my heart and mind
today

these colors dance and play
they call and say
there is more to you
more to me
than this world often
will let us see
so many lies
so many tries
to measure up
to just keep up
you get tired
worn
cast down
and torn
God help me see

i bear Your image
strong and true
it is ruined
stained
and needs to be
renewed
like this new day
i will rise and sing
with the colors bring
a song of praise
i will raise
my voice
and say
thank you
for who You are
to me
thank you
for all that
makes me
me

the dark
the light
the rest
the fight
i will listen to
these colors sing
life up my eyes
and enter into
Your peace
Your grace
Your will
Your way
my heart
and mind
are yours today
not my way
not my will
but
Yours
be done
always
and in
all ways

breakthrough

we people are a funny mix
don’t you think
or
at least i am

anyway

sometimes
the sun is shining
smiles and laughs
no room for whining
like i want to photograph
every moment
capture
the rapturous mood
i’m in

and
at
the
same
time

no
really
at the same time

rain pours down
all around this town
of memories that sprouts
like massive trees
in a forest of lies
and shame
and why’s
and pain
and ties to the past
that seem to last
like a long sad song

so
i
pray

break through
in rays of hope and light
dear Lord
help me regain my sight
and “though the wrong
seems often so strong”
You will make all things right
‘cause You’re writing a story
full of downpours and clouds
writing a story
of songs sung out loud
of Your love and Your glory
of the way that you carry
this tale called my life
in Your everlasting arms
i am choosing to rest
to stop and embrace
the things i don't see
to silently wait
to just.... be
and see you
breakthrough
all the rainy
and cloudy in me
breakthrough
and one day
make
all
things
new

finding the story of me

a little older
but none the wiser
at least it feels that way
saying goodbye to this day
i see the light slip away
like the fading memories 
that fill my mind
so many
would have
could have
should have moments
that i can’t reach
but they reach me
they teach me
to walk
with heaven in view
it’s okay to be
somewhat new
tired of all the blame
at the end of the shame game
open my eyes to see
the new
you’ve place
in me
so i can rise
above the gravity
and rest
in stillness
the silence
of deliverance
the calming
resonance
of your presence
eternity in me
there is Truth
that doesn’t fade away
a Light
that glows bright
through the day
and through the night

healing
mending
making all things right
like they were meant to be
weightless melodies
singing endless songs
free to sing along
redeemed from all that's wrong
you see i’m finding life
is letting go
of all the why
and it’s okay
to cry
to mourn
to feel
every lament
so i can fly
towards the light
not just a leap of faith
it’s accepting grace
and shining bright
swimming in
eternal light
finding the story
of me
in the Way
the Truth
the Life

stay

would like to see a few things stay
the untroubled giggles of a child
a sunset that kaleidoscopes for hours
an embrace that fills my heart with peace
a haunting melody that sinks into my soul
and reminds me that there is love
would like to see a few things stay
the knowing when our eyes connect
the crashing waves and their rhythmic balm
the birdsong soaring through the sad sky
colors leaping from a flower
spilling on my heavy brow
reminding me that there is life
would like to see a few things stay
a tree that shades me from all harm
a crystal river of understanding
shadows stretching through deep green woods
the Light that helps me see the Way
a hand to hold that guides through the pain
reminding me that someone’s there
to share a lonely road
oh stay with me
lover of my soul
let me see
the calm before
i lose myself
nowhere to go
the words of life
spoken long ago
an anchor for
an old old soul
reminding me
that You are here
in the mess
in my tears
reminding me
that
You
are
rest