delight

your law,

my delight

your law,

etched upon my soul

inscribed on my being

infused in my essence

encircling my existence

puncturing my apathy

directing my steps

pluming my walls

your law,

my delight

clean

create in me a clean heart . . .

clean?

spotless?

unspoiled?

what does it mean to have a clean heart?

how far is that from . . . “here?”

is it like taking a bath

or like growing a tree?

is it painful

or enjoyable?

does it cost anything

or is it free?

i’m not sure how

o lord,

only show mercy

or i will sleep the sleep

of death

clean me

sing!

sing my young child!

arch your back

and fill your lungs

with as much life and energy

as they will hold

take in

even more

and then sing!

sing with all your might!

let your youthful spunk

come through!

the joy!

the angst!

the heartache!

the power

the pain

the hope

the nervous energy

the love

the fear

the . . .

grace

walk out on that stage and

grab that mic and

sing, my little one

with all your might!

mumbling, grumbling

mumbling, grumbling

whining, complaining

enough!

confess, share

the burden

not the weather

or the what the cashier did wrong

but what’s really deep

confess it, share it

bear it

to the Other

only then

only then

will you get past

mumbling, grumbling

or not, the choice

is

yours

Your law

"The laws of the Lord are true

Each one is fair

They are more desirable 

Than gold,

Even the finest gold"

Your law is gold

It is diamonds

It is pearls

It is the finest stone

It is more precious 

Than rubies 

Or emeralds

Or pure silver

Your law

Guides my soul

It puts order

In a world of

Moral chaos

It gives boundaries

Against the wilderness

With its ferocious beasts

And unrelenting storms

It is a beacon 

In the midst of 

A dark stormy sea

It is all I could ever hope 

To learn

It is the very heart of theology

It is the compass 

Of my life

It is the guard rail

Of my heart

I delight in your law

O Lord

I think on it 

All the time

Day and night

Guard your law

In my heart

Keep it on my mind

That I may celebrate 

Your goodness

And grace

That I may 

Abound in your joy

That I may 

Find the narrow path

That leads to life

Eternal and abundant

Your law is perfection

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