Thunderstorms

God makes the sun to set, painting the sky with purple and orange - then deep blue and a few stars appear. Soon it is dark, and Nightime instills fear in the hearts of little babes, but up above, watching over us, are the stars that He has made.
In the morning before I wake, He paints the sky again, reminding me that each new day is a blank canvas free of all my sin. And in the wind, I hear a song that He sings over me; Love and Joy flood my heart for He has made me free.

In the Thunderstorm, I see a beauty fearsome, demanding awe; in the Fire burning to keep me warm, the power to kill us all.
The Ocean lapping gently at my feet, could just as easily wrap itself around my legs and drag me out to sea.

And at all of this, I stand amazed - incredulous at the power and creativity of my King, but I miss the creation He loves most of all, simply you and me.

We mess up, time and again, dragging His name through swamps and mires; yet, He looks at us, love in His eyes, filled with one Desire. That we should come before His throne and offer up our lives, that we should turn to Him alone with praises and heartcries.

He longs for us to love Him back, when all we do is sin. How this Love could even exist, I can't begin to imagine. Unworthy me, unworthy you...yet His Son He sent to die. And He is waiting with open arms for us to just realize.

The Wisdom of the Heart

Heart, be thou silent. I will bear your sighing no more.
The time has come for me to quiet you and show this Feeling to the door.
It was never my intention to let her in with such ease,
But Love has always been a crafty one, living to deceive.

She paints a picture, splendid, rare,
And fills you with butterflies and smiles;

I knew I should not trust her,
But you fell so easily to her wiles.

Heart, stop thy singing. Hope is not yours this time,
She has tricked us once again, and I'll no longer let her dine.
Love and Hope are fickle friends if Wisdom is not your name,
And they have beaten us once again in this horrid chess-like game.

Don't worry, Heart, for in some season,
When Wise we have become,
Love and Hope will entertain us,
And we will be as One.

Marketplace Change (A Magazine Poem)

Glorious Night, Rainsong mine,

Old child-game, standard spotlight.

Essential Friendship – Golden guide,

Musician’s Drug; dreaming thrives.

Capture mystery, Discover Rock friend –

Evolution treatment, Dragonfly Human.

Picture It whole, Gift of Silence,

Traveler train, Surface Music.

Last-Chance Move, Leader world:

Pure Designed, new and old.

Pen’s point Guest, hurting grow –

Burst new sound, Priceless Ode!

Ever Faithful

             A seven-year-old boy looked out of the window, but instead of seeing the trees and fields and a glorious sunset, he saw a battlefield. His eyes were wide with excitement; he heard a trumpet call his name.

            “Grandpa,” he questioned, “why’d ya ever wanna leave?”

            His grandfather chuckled, but a pained look suddenly came into his eyes. He ruffled the boy’s hair and sighed.

            “War’s not all fun and games, boy,” he said sadly. “I saw several of my buddies die, including my brother.”

            The boy’s eyes widened more.

            “Ya mean the enemy beat ya?”

            The old man laughed; he remembered what it was like to be a boy of seven.

            “War’s not really about winnin’ and losin’. We lost some, and the other army lost some. We were all the same; we just didn’t realize that until it was too late. No, sir, war’s not a pretty thing.”

            “But, Grandpa,” cried the child. “You foughted for what ya believed in didn’t cha?”

            “Of course, son. It’s all well and good to fight for what you believe in; I just wish there had been a way to fix things without a war. War should only be an option if there’s no other way.”

            The boy looked thoughtful.

            “But, you always say we have to be prepared.”

            “Well, yes, we can’t tell what other people are goin’ to do, so we should be prepared for war...if it comes to that.”

            The boy’s blonde head cocked to one side, reminding the grandfather of someone else.

            “Why are ya cryin’, Grandpa?”

            “I was thinking about how much you are like your father.”

            “He went to war, too,” said the child matter-of-factly.

            “Yes, he did.”

            “He died.”

            “Yes.”

            “Did you see it?”

            “No. He was in a different war.”

            “Did he believe in it?”

            “No, but his country needed him, and he knew it was better to serve his country.”

            “Better than what?”

            “Well, son...sometimes, whether we agree or disagree with our government, it’s best to support our nation.”

            The boy looked back out the window, as his grandfather said, “This is a bit over your head, I’m afraid.”

            Silence filled the room.

            The old man leaned his head back, tears still gliding slowly down his face. He hoped that one day his grandson might feel a true patriot’s heartbeat as he had...as his own son had.

            The sun finally set, leaving the lonely farm in shadow, but in the little farmhouse, two hearts beat faithfully, and two minds went over the events that had brought them to this day; two men – one young, one old – promised to remain faithful.

The True Knight

I looked out my window one dark, rainy day
To see a tall stranger coming my way.
His hair flowed like silk, and His eyes held a laugh,
But I hid from His gaze; I turned my back.

Two Dragons whom I had known since my birth,
Snorted and growled as He closed in on our turf.
And so I assumed Him a man of evil intent,
And trembled and quaked when He began His ascent.

Up to my tower He climbed with swift ease,
And He found me stumbling on jellyfish knees.
One of the Dragons roared in rage,
And I knew I must do something myself to save.

So I ran at the man and clawed out His beard;
He didn't fight back, though His pain filled my ears.
I paused to look, when He stood there so still,
But something inside me kept me ready to kill.

So I hit Him and scratched Him, time and again;
I spit in His face and ripped off His skin.
Then at some point I began to laugh
As I flung Him out the window onto one Dragon's back.

I stood there and watched as they ripped Him apart;
It was then I felt mercy for this Man I had fought.
I began to wonder why I had so hated Him.
I could not understand why so vicious I had been.

I thought He had come to steal me away,
So fought I had, my life to save.
I had a good life there, monotonous true,
But I had anything and ev'rything I wanted, I knew.

Then suddenly, when I looked, ev'rything changed -
My clothes from silk to rags, in one moment, changed.
The food I had loved but an hour ago,
Ceased to satisfy my hunger or quench my parched throat.

I fell to my knees, understanding the truth;
It had all been a lie, it had all been a ruse.
I had turned my Protector over to my Jailers;
I had traded what could be for what never was.

And so I wept, both night and day,
Until, I thought sure, my Enemies would do me away,
When suddenly I felt a Presence in my cold cell,
Felt a hand touch my head, watched a tear as it fell.

And up I looked into the very eyes,
I had once seen and completely despised.
Those same eyes which had looked at me from far away,
Which had roamed the land for me to save.

He held out His hand and helped me up,
And in His arms was the greatest Love.
I almost asked about my Enemies
When I saw them chained, kept far from me.

So had He come - my Knight most true,
He'd been conquered by Death, then conquered it and Sin, too.
And on His stallion we road away,
Ne're again to see my tower of guilt and shame.

Though the Sun and Stars Should Fall

I see it, in the distance.

There, just over top of that hill.

Like a star of promise shining,

The sun reflecting off his silver shield.

But the valley is vast between us,

And the desert, treacherous far.

I long to fin'lly meet him;

To give him all my heart.

But the miles won't seem to fade away.

The more I long, the farther he seems.

And my heart begins to doubt the knight

Though he haunts all my dreams.

But I see him though he's far away,

Riding straight and tall.

And I know he's coming to meet me

Though the sun and stars should fall.

And so I keep on walking

With my eye on that distant hill.

Where my knight's shield is shining,

Riding, my dreams to fulfill.

Divided Heart

This treacherous Friend of mine is like a cancer;

Slowly, and sometimes without my knowledge, she eats away at me.

She does not belong here, for she has been dismissed,

But my faithful Enemy will not leave my side.

Carefully, she breeds in me that which I do not want -

Something which could destroy everything.

If she'd just go away, I'd have a chance to move on,

But my faithful Enemy will not leave my side.

She is the smile on my lips when he smiles at me;

She's the one who makes me laugh when he walks away.

I've asked her to let me go, time and again,

But Hope will not leave my heart.