Compartments

The glory of hope
lures us,
makes cowards of us,
leaves us to squirm in darkness
and unbearable light.
Can we give thanks for such unease?
Can we be grateful for our need?

The choice is ours to make.
When we run out of options,
the next door
waits.

The Repairman
sands off the rust,
lubricates the handle --
are we ready?
What could happen
if we believe
that God will not
deceive?

The Mystery of Healing

We are designed to be
self-healing,
but results vary.

A macho man can die
from an infected thumb,
a cancer-riddled crone
may carry on for decades.

Sometimes God seems to take
a special interest.
When people get better
unexpectedly,
we ask:
Miracle -- or misdiagnosis?

There must be rules,
but how do we apply them?

Despite the propaganda,
"only believe"
is not a magic key.

Faith runs deeper than placebos.

Seek and ye shall seek some more

Gods that are seen
are illusions.
Signs and wonders puff us up.

What are we waiting for?
Nothing that is not already ours.

 Fruitless to strain our eyes
scanning the horizon:
the Kingdom is in me, in you,
in seekers and mystics and skeptics,
in all.

Grasp the moment, 

find eternity here.

Grace begets grace
while we limp,
lost and determined,
through mazes of distortion,
seeking ourselves.

Demand for Peace

ME: Your peace that transcends all understanding --
WHERE IS IT????

ABBA: Right here.

ME: Was Jesus frustrated like this?

ABBA: You bet.

ME: But He didn't judge.
At least, He said He didn't.
But I wonder.

ABBA: It wasn't his call,
and He knew it.
Humans are too frail
for such a task.
His job was to love.

ME: Judgement is more exhausting than love?
Really?
Could that be
why I'm so tired?

Recurring dream

I'm a student in an institution
of higher learning.
My curricular palette
will set me free
to swing on a star
or even two --
who knows, perhaps a whole galaxy.

However, there's water
in my rocket fuel.
For some inexplicable reason,
there's an essential course
missing.

Because of distractions,
conflicting priorities,
or simple stupidity,
I can't find the room.

I carry on numbly,
going through the motions,
knowing I will never graduate.
It's all for nothing
without that course.

WHAT AM I MISSING?

Is it just me?
Is everything in place,
but I can't see it?
Will I ever get it right?
Is it useless to try?