Feeding the Beast

Feed the beast
Ever hungry never full
Dress up; come as you are
Feed the beast

Three t’s a day
Are the beast’s delight
Time, Talent, Treasure
Feed the beast

Consuming, devouring, life sucking
Dehumanizing appetite
Spewing guilt and shame
Feed the beast

Ever growing spiraled horns
Meal bells toll
Flocks assemble
Feed the beast

Feed by guilt
Feed by love
All the same
Feed the beast

Hope and Despair

soft morning light

.........a bird sings
.......belief reborn
..................inhale

dew on the lawn
.......cool breeze
.........head high
..hope renewed

afternoon heat
back bent
glare obscures belief
desire melts




sun sets
sweat stained
flee to sleep
despair

On Being Invisible

I am invisible
Standing within
Unnoticed not shamed

I am invisible
Unseen, not blind
Unheard, not mute

I am invisible
The stench of my
Breath smothers you

I am invisible
The sweat of my
Back greases your path

I am invisible
My shadow chills the
Room I no longer dwell

I am invisible
Passing through cage
Bars forged by fear

I now invisible
Feel the breeze
Only a body knows.

I am invisible
Clothed by friends
Belief and trust

I am invisible
Sighted audible
Bound no more

A few days, Eric my personal trainer – or construction boss - asked me if I knew what a Haiku was. After giving a definition, and a few jokes, I suggested we only speak in haiku to each other. I basically accomplished that. As written before it helped me achieve a particular goal in life, presently.
But it also reminded me of this quote by Matsuo Bashō

Matsuo Bashō 1644 –1694 was the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan. During his lifetime, Bashō was renowned for his works in the collaborative haikai no renga form; today, he is recognized as a master of brief and clear haiku.

Do not seek
to follow
in the footsteps
of the men of old;
seek
what they sought.

Humility

tiptoed, reaching
striving for the hidden
straining, jumping
for the higher shelf

found a stool
brought a ladder
hidden just out of reach
the object I desire

a slip, a tumble
quite a fall
down on my back
looking at the bottom sill

What I sought
What I seek
always accessible
On the bottom ledge


Humble yourselves therefore
under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time;
1 Peter 5:6 (ASV)

Might As Well

Might As Well

I’ve been told that about the doorway from the Phoenix Suns locker room is a sign that says:

The Game is scheduled

We have to play.

We might as well win!

The phrase “might as well” is speaking to me.

I might as well live…

… covered by grace casting aside the cloak of shame…

because the grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (1)

… forgive, humbled by love, forgiven so I can forgive…

because as the Lord forgave me I can bear with others and forgive whatever grievances I may have against you (2)

… healed and becoming whole, physically, emotionally, socially, environmentally…

because I called to you O LORD my God, for help and you healed me. Jesus was pierced for my transgressions, he was crushed for my iniquities; the punishment that brought me peace was upon him, and by his wounds I am healed. (3) (4)

… as a conqueror, rather than as vanquished under the weight of daily toil.

because in all thee things I can overwhelmingly conquer through Jesus who loved me. (5)

… as a child of the king, instead of a ragamuffin in the alley of life

Because I am blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed me with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. (6)

… embrace the mystery, giving up my necessity of figuring it all out…

because he has made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ. (7)

… know a father’s love, no longer cold and alone …

because great is the love the Father has lavished on me, that I should be called child of God! And that is what I am! (8)

… Might as well!

(1) 1 Timothy 1:14
(2) Colossians 3:13
(3) Psalm 103:3
(4) Isaiah 53:5
(5) Romans 8:37
(6) Ephesians 1:3
7) Ephesians 1:9
(8) 1 John 3:1

knees

my name spoken
to a oak-wood floor
before I was
and now that I am
their voice now silent
but heard still

knobs, my inheritance
once my seat
forever a strength
too soon
gone
a memory felt

A Year and a Day

new born out of old
familiar yields, becomes adventure
take flight

change occurs slowly
then avalanche
take shelter

darkness succumbs to light
squint into the glare
take notice

forgotten, only a mist
recall as a dream
take memories

time is hasty
day-night flicker on a screen
take a breath

White Shoes

white shoes
never before worn

jump higher
run faster

lace 'em up
good and tight

jump higher
run faster

no mismatched pair!
no hand me downs!

mine, they fit
custum made

jump higher
run faster

or maybe just stroll

those who hope in the lord
renew their strength
they will soar on wings like eagles
they will run and not grow weary
they will walk and not be faint

Sisyphus Complex

Boulders
MY back is strong
Blunders
MY shoulders broad
Broken
I can take
Shove
all
Sweat
the guff
Sisyphus
Again, again, again…
(Small voice)
“my burden is light
my yoke is easy”
Groan
my effort
I do not hear.

checkout any time you like

The foolish woman is boisterous; She is naive, and knows nothing. she sits at the doorway of her house, On a seat in the high places of the city, Calling to those who pass by, Who are making their paths straight: Whoever is naive, let him turn in here; And to him that lacks understanding, she says, “Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” But he not know that the dead are there; That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Proverbs 9: 13 – 18

flamboyant persuasiveness
covering her shallowness
emptiness

significant, sanctioned
bow and cower before her
deception

smile of deceit
embrace of treachery
captivity

embracing, enchantment
holding decayed flesh
entered,

“You can checkout any time you like,
But you can never leave!”
Eagles – Hotel California

Coram deo

a sound,
no, a voice.
hesitant,
there is no voice for me.

a voice calling,
yes, I hear,
and my heart responds,
betraying my feet.

behind the sound,
beyond the voice,
wait, be silent.
His eye

for me,
toward me,
light flows out, not in.
capturing me;

ah,
behind the eye,
adjusting to the light,
His face.

for me,
toward me,
capturing me;
grace in a smile.

the sound of beating,
behind His face, His heart.
the voice first heard
His love is complete.

Stage Fright

See the man with the stage fright?
Just standing up there to give it all his might
He got caught in the spotlight
But when we get to the end /
He wants to start all over again
He wants to try it once again /
Please don't make him stop
Let him take it from the top /
Let him start all over again

-- The Band / Stage Fright --