Vows

Vows

Covenants

Promises

Somehow my life 

Is more because of

The promises I've made

Otherwise,

What are we?

Just floaters

Floating through this world

With no connection

Otherwise,

What are we?

Just wild animals

Wandering to and fro

Looking for the next dead carcass

To feed on

Our vows

Our promises 

Make us who we are

They connect us to

The other

In a safe space

Called 

Love

Vows

Covenants

Promises

They make us 

Who we are

what is faith?

Faith

Gift 

Or response

What you do

Or what you are

Can I strengthen faith

Or is it just what it is

Mustard seeds

Grace

Moving mountains

And chosen from before the foundations of the world

Maybe faith

Is both

Gift

And response

Gift first

And then response

But always back to

Gift

for my brother

For my brother

Peace

Rest

Labor done

People loved

Work finished

Rest

The emerald green

Shiny coast

Calls your name

The shining city 

On a hill 

Rest

Darkness is done 

All is light

Feast begun

Fast over

Rest

In the arms

Of 

The 

One

Rest

Farewell my brother

Until we meet again

Rest

stones and things

Let the one who has never sinned

Cast the first stone

Am I sometimes 

The one 

Who casts the first stone of judgment?

Lord forgive!

Am I sometimes 

The one 

Who considers another "weird"

If they're not like me?

Lord forgive!

Am I sometimes 

The one

Who condemns

Even when I don't know the details

Of another one's journey?

Lord forgive!

Am I sometimes 

The one 

Who has unrealistic expectations of others

Expecting a kind of perfection 

That I know I'm not capable of?

Lord forgive!

Help me to see 

With your eyes

To understand with your heart

Help me remember 

That I've got too many faults

Of my own

To worry about someone else's 

Lord forgive!

Love is from God

"Love is from God"

It's not a human invention

It's not just a feeling

That comes and goes

Love is from God

That means it is 

Regenerative 

Renewing

Resourceful 

That means it is

Creative

Comforting

Confrontational

That means it is

Hopeful

Honoring

Heavenly

If love is from God

Then divinity surrounds us

When we love 

Divinity infuses us 

When we love

Divinity is in us

So the only failure in love

Is when we turn from divinity

To selfishness

Which is not truly us

"I know who you really are"

Says love

And it is divine

Love is from God 

Thanks

"How good it is to sing praises to God"

To be thankful

Full of thanks

You know humans

Love to be thanked

In fact they say

UnAppreciation is the 

Unforgivable sin

Does God feel the same?

Does God wonder 

When we gripe and complain?

Does it blow God's mind

When we are discontent?

O Lord of grace and bounty,

Help me celebrate you

And all your benefits this day!

Thanks!