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

together

i know it’s been
a long
sad sad song
and it seems like winter
will go on and on
i’ll stay here with you
in the cold
in the dark
until we see
the new
and in this shadow of death
i’ll stay by your side
and if it seems
that spring is all around
but it's not in you
a colorless world endures
i’ll sit with you
cry with you
listen to all your angry words
until the shadows fall
and the flowers return
so if for you this day
brings sorrow upon sorrow
just another monochrome morning
let’s find Him together
and believe together
that on this
steep and narrow road
there is
tomorrow
and when you cry
i won’t ask why
and if you ask me how long
you’ll be in this sad sad song
i could tell you
but i’d probably be wrong
but i promise I’ll stay
and in the dirt
and in the dark
and in the cold
and in this timeless pain
we will find
new life
together

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

if i let go

what will happen
if i let go
stop pretending
i have this
under control
what would happen
if i released
and ceased
from all this
striving
and trying
to make it
all go away
what if
i choose to stay
in the waiting
in the long
and unknown space
called faith
if i fall
will i just
be absorbed
into the fear
and sadness below
or will
He catch me
enfold me
come alongside
and
hold me
still
it feels so safe
right here
i’ve got something
i can do
clinging to
my stubborn pride
not falling
seems
like a good use of time
but He wants
to continue
to write
this story
called
my life

so

i

let

go

and

then………

lead us home

hope bears the longing
of returning to the home
we’ve never seen
for deep within our hearts
eternity cries
and we see without eyes
our true identity
in Light
in Peace
in endless days
love beyond imagining
like a seed set in our soul
eternity calls us to let go
of little things
where the darkness grows
and desires too small
to carry the weight
of all our sorrow
rise and cause us to fall
we really must die
to the wrong inside
things we see
and all we hide
and live in the unseen
for this world
is not our home
the seed inside
cannot thrive
in the midst of pride
surrendering
we cry
and pray
heal us
break us
shape us
and
lead
us
home

a sleepy dawn

a sleepy dawn
awakens above
a gentle rippled river
colors dance
with clouds
azure meets crimson
i hush my soul
and listen
listen to
the voices
and the noises
trying to discern
which way to turn
to join this dance of light
and fight
the gravity
in me
so much to do
so i just choose
to be
put the camera down
enter the beauty
of all i don’t see
access doors are open
heart and mind
in loving union
in the losing
life is found
in the losing
life is found

i’ll choose being

a misty morning
a cup of joe
a reader's digest prayer
i gotta go
still doing
...something
still going
...somewhere
all this thinking
has got me
...swirling
...sinking
...unfurled
before unexamined winds

wait
i tell myself
to take it slow
to ponder
to wonder
do i know
who i am
am i present
in this moment
i'll choose being
let the doing go
and remember
to stay in
in the midst
of a misty
morning
and just
listen
to the music
of the stillness
i'll sing along
a wordless song
entering this
eternal moment
letting go
of shadows
as the light
rises in my soul
who knows
where this moment
will lead
if i listen
and trust
if i surrender
all that i think
i must do
and live in the light
and stay
right here
then maybe
i'll be
free
from the shadows
of doing
and going
i want to meet
my true self
and
just be
me

much more silence

hello sunrise
it’s so nice to find
you here
you’ve been on my mind
it feels like
such a long long time
and i’m kinda down
can you stay a while
and listen to this song
it’s not like everything’s wrong
but some dreams are gone
some tears are here to stay
a little older now
how will i find my way
the world is spinning too fast
looking for things that last
i am learning how
they can only be found
in the slowing down
and holy wondering
speaking less
much more silence
reflection
connection
surrender
and union
with my Maker
hello sunrise
such a nice surprise
sing along with me
i’m choosing to be free
detached to all
that pulls me down
standing tall
on my knees
please
Light of the world
oh please
help
me
see