11.17.2013

"Give us this day! "

(A meditation on each word(s)
of the Lord's prayer)

Lord,
Give us this day
to live and share our love.

Lord,
Give us this day
to take delight in You.

Lord, 
Give us this day
to be peacemakers in this hostile world. 

Lord,
Give us this day
to be patient in this "me-first" world.

Lord,
Give us this day
to show kindness to strangers.

Lord, 
Give us this day
to value our friendships.

Lord,
At the end of this day
may we surrender all back to You
and petition You, 
our heavenly Father
to grant us one more day.

"Give us this day"

(A meditation on each word(s) 
of the Lord's prayer)

The Hand You’re Dealt

Every day
God deals us
our hand
for the day.

Some of us
fold
in resignation.

Some of us
bluff
our way 
through the day.

And the rest
play the game
the way the Master 
taught them.

"...our daily bread"


(A meditation on each word(s) 
of the Lord's prayer)

The people of the Empire
wonder why 
the God of abundance
parcels out
His Providence
in daily packages,
while 
the rest of the world
utters a 
grateful
alleluia. 

The Vast Ocean Begins Just Outside Our Church: The Eucharist


Something has happened
to the bread
and the wine.
They have been blessed.
What now?
The body leans forward
to receive the gift
from the priest’s hand,
then the chalice.

They are something else now
from what they were
before this began.

I want
to see Jesus,
maybe in the clouds
or on the shore,
just walking,
beautiful man
and clearly
someone else
besides.

On the hard days
I ask myself
if I ever will.

Also there are times
my body whispers to me
that I have.

Mary Oliver

11.10.2013

Happiness by Carl Sandburg

I asked the professors who teach the meaning of life to tell
     me what is happiness.
And I went to famous executives who boss the work of
     thousands of men.
They all shook their heads and gave me a smile as though
     I was trying to fool with them
And then one Sunday afternoon I wandered out along
     the Desplaines river
And I saw a crowd of Hungarians under the trees with
     their women and children and a keg of beer and an
     accordion.

“On earth as it is in heaven”

(A meditation on each word(s) 
of the Lord's prayer)

Christian Nation

How will the
people of the Empire
who value
freedom
and 
individual rights
be able to
comprehend
an eternal life 
under
the singular rule 
of a 
King
and 
a world
based on
serving
community
rather than 
self-interests?

"Be done"

(A meditation on each word(s) 
of the Lord's prayer)


Why can't 
Your will
be done 
like mine?

Just
cross off
another
task from
the to do list.

Instead
Your will
is accomplished
by the faithful
doing its best
to follow 
Your path
with their crosses
in an 
eternal march
You lead.

"Thy will"

(A meditation on each word(s) 
of the Lord's prayer)

I hate clichés.

But 
where 
there
is a
will,
there
is a
way.

And
we don't need
to search for direction.

For 
You 
declared:
I AM
the 
Way.

Teaching us Your will 
by
 following You.

Lord,
may we 
fulfill Your will
by 
moving closer
to You
each day
in Word,
Work,
and Worship.

Amen.

11.06.2013

I'll Be Your Mirror

Songwriters: Reed, Lou / Lang, David

I'll be your mirror 
Reflect what you are, in case you don't know 
I'll be the wind, the rain and the sunset 
The light on your door to show that you're home 

When you think the night has seen your mind 
That inside you're twisted and unkind 
Let me stand to show that you are blind 
Please put down your hands 
'Cause I see you 

I find it hard to believe you don't know 
The beauty that you are 
But if you don't let me be your eyes 
A hand in your darkness, so you won't be afraid 

When you think the night has seen your mind 
That inside you're twisted and unkind 
Let me stand to show that you are blind 
Please put down your hands 
'Cause I see you 

I'll be your mirror
I'll be your mirror
I'll be your mirror


"Come"

(A meditation on each word(s)
 of the Lord's prayer)

On the second Christmas,
When He comes.

Not as a baby
But as the King.

No star directing those to see Him
But He who is the Light in the darkness

Not escaping to Egypt
But reclaiming those who kept the faith.

No gifts from the wise men
But reviewing what the faithful and unfaithful
did with theirs.

On the second Christmas,
When He comes.

“Thy Kingdom”

(A meditation on each word(s) 
of the Lord's prayer)

I agree.
This is Your kingdom.

Where Your Presence
permeates the
place like
a mustard tree
annihilates a
garden
or the 
yeast that goes
throughout the 
loaf.

A kingdom that
has a declaration
that every ruler
has dreamed of -
A kingdom that will
never end.

A kingdom
whose citizens are
the ones 
who found the pearl
and knew its
true value.

The ones who 
kept their hand
on the plow
without looking back

Where
good thieves
tax collectors
prostitutes
the childlike
are allowed in.

While the rich 
desperately hope 
for their
advocates
to show up.