Love

“This is my commandment, that you love one another.”

So many rules

So many laws

So many directions

So much software

And apps

And programs

And forms to fill out

And Jesus made it so simple

Love.

Some days I forget 

That it's all about love

Some days

I'm satisfied

Just keeping the rules

Filling out the forms

Sticking with the program

And suddenly

My eyes open

And I see an opportunity 

To love, I mean to really love

To go the extra mile 

Lord help me!

I know there's rules to keep

But help me make loving others 

Number one on my agenda

Help me see the opportunities 

I have today to truly

Love.

Silence

Every word I speak

is an adulteration of

Silence

Every line of poetry

I write

is a tainting of

Silence

Like an artist

obliterates a sunset on the canvass

Like a singer

fractures the peace with her voice

Like an electric guitarist

pierces Tranquility with his notes

Silence is the most beautiful

work of art

in the Universe

Silence is what the poet

is aiming for

Silence is the goal of the artist,

using the full palate

and all the brush strokes

to lead one to silent reverence

Silence is the goal of the singer,

to sing a song that

creates so much tension that

one relishes the silence

Silence is the goal of the guitarist,

creating such ear-piercing noise

that the silence becomes more

of a gift than it was before

Silence is the goal of the preacher,

to exhaust the words

of the Text

and then leave all in the gift of

Silence

To contemplate the mysteries

of God

ready or not, here i come!

and the Holy Drama begins
am i ready?

no, of course not

was peter ready . . . nah

was john ready . . . nah

was judas ready . . . nope

it seems i’m never ready

for the high, holy days

but then, is anyone?

isn’t that the whole point?

that we’re not ready?

that Jesus IS

OUR READINESS

OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

THE HOLY SACRIFICE

THE SPOTLESS LAMB

THE GATE

THE WAY

THE TRUTH

THE LIFE

raise the curtain

and let the

Holy Drama

begin . . .

We wish to see Jesus

"We wish to see Jesus"

Said the Greeks

Strange that a Greek 

Would want to see Jesus

With their philosophy

And collection of gods

With their rationalism

And mathematics 

What were they hoping to see?

What were they lacking

In their world,

In their souls

That made them want to see

This humble carpenter

Who ministered in Galilee

Do you wish to see

Jesus too?

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!