Voter Rage

As this legislative session, of the U.S. Congress, drags on, I am, once again, disappointed by democracy.  My blood boils as I watch greed and stupidity running rampant through the bills being considered and passed by this congress. 

How can you call it free election

When you spend tens of millions on a single campaign?

How can you call it unbiased legislation

When you sit, with the lobbyists, sipping champagne?

How can you call it leadership qualities

When you make each decision by taking a poll?

And kept that thief, in your House, with no apologies,

When you found, in his freezer, money that he stole.

How can you call it compassionate virtues

When you divvy out a pittance to those who hunger?

How can you call it family values

When you cheat, on your wife, with someone younger?

I want a veto on this political process!

I want a veto on this political process!

Writer's Block

I labor in this field of fruitless times

Reaping only the accumulation of hollow hourly chimes.

Though I till a rich vocabulary of my witty rhymes

I harvest only a bushel of sour lemons and limes.

I miss my muse and her whimsical words.

Come with me to fly in the face of reality.

One of my favorite quotes is from David Wilkerson’s "The Cross and the Switchblade". When Wilkerson encountered Nicky Cruz, the teen gang member, Cruz pulled out a switchblade. To which Wilkerson replied, "Nicky, you can cut me into a thousand pieces and every piece will still say, 'I love you and God loves you.'"

I want to fly in the face of reality,

While still clinging to this spinning ball,

To find evidence of this simplicity:

That love can conquer all.

Is there not universality

To this repeated truth,

Not confined to eternity,

After God restores our youth?

I want to love angry young men.

I want to love hard hearted old.

I want to love exploited women

And children whose lives were sold.

I, now, have no debt to pay

Nor obligation to untie.

So, please, don't beg me to stay.

Just fondly wish me good bye...

Unless.. You want to come with me

To fly In the face of reality.

A Prayer for the Daily Struggle

Why am I constantly withholding from You, Lord?

Why do I choose not to do what is right?

What is the value of the temporal things I hoard?

Why is it so hard to see choices as black and white?

Remind me, Lord, that You're my shield and sword,

That You provide for me day and night,

That, in heaven, is where my treasures are stored.

Let me not be tempted by Turkish Delight.

Not Seeing the Whole Painting

The beauty of miracles in everyday life,

Is spread liberally throughout my day;

But even with vision as sharp as knife,

Too often I'm blind to God's display.

A spectrum of kindness from His hand,

Unrequited by my heart,

Is an intricate mural of painted sand

Whose observer must step away to see the art.

I labor in the details of the day

Too busy to appreciate the whole,

Like seeing each brushstroke of Claude Monet

But never seeing the sunrise in my soul.

The Riddle of the Sphinx

The Riddle of the Sphinx: What is the creature that walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon and three in the evening?

James 1:5-8 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

I once was a child

Crawling on all four;

Fascination running wild,

Wonders to explore.

Constantly, I would ask

Endless how's and why's;

You'd pour out your cask

Of answers, good and wise.

Then, I walked up right

With just two on the ground,

Proud of my reasoning might

And my own vocal sound.

I questioned Your wisdom

And boundaries that You drew

Only to be imprisoned

By my own world view.

Now, I humbly ask,

"What, Where, and How?"

With faith in Your answers

That I had not until now.

Today, I walk on three

With Your staff in my hand,

With my weight on Your wisdom,

Towards the promised land.

The Struggle to Find Joy in My Trials

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

I struggle to find

Joy in my trials

For envy remains my master.

Though I pray,

That You'd take it away,

It wouldn't depart any faster.

My faith is an eaglet

Nudged from the nest

Struggling to take flight.

Unable to see

My glorious future

I envy the tethered kite.

Please, set my sight

Towards Your rising sun

On the other side of eternity.

Then, blow Your wind

Beneath my wings,

And let my faith defy gravity.