The seeds of tears
growing impossibly
as a harvest of joy.
You did this.
The storms of disappointment
yielding impossibly
to the radiance of blessings.
You did this.
The long winter of fear
thawing impossibly
for a spring of solidarity.
You did this.
May all that You’ve done
be so again
and over again.
on Psalm 126:5
I bless the earth
for nurturing the daffodil
in secret until the robins are ready
to herald its cheery bloom.
I bless the spring peepers
for freezing solid in wintery woods
to wait faithfully until the early spring thaw
beckons love’s chorus.
I bless the sun
for biding its time through the night
without fear of shadows or stillness until the dawn
has its shades of blush ready to paint.
I bless the soloist
for lingering over and letting go of
every note so reluctantly until even eternity
holds its breath with longing.
I bless the Everlasting God
for abiding beyond hours and seasons
with mysterious patience until the rigidity of chronos
yields to the miracle of kairos for life.
My God and my delight,
my rock and my blessing:
you who can grow a daffodil
where a thorn has been planted,
you who can dance with new life
after death has decreed its sentence:
help my spirit watch eagerly for your love
though my mind expects your absence;
tune my heart to the mountains’ song
though my ear expects their silence;
open my eyes to your unfolding purpose
though my feet tremble on unknown paths;
by your mercy I too will become a sign
of your unexpected, eternal faithfulness:
a crocus in winter, a waltz in the street,
a testimony to your glory, God willing.
In the name of the One who knows all
and the One who can accomplish all.
on Isaiah 55:13
Come, Lord Jesus!
For three days
and an eternity
we have been
languishing —
come, Lord Jesus!
Set among us
your rich feast
where all are fed
and comforted.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Do not hide in the
tomb or the garden
but be unrestrained
& boldly marvelous.
Come, Lord Jesus!
We have missed
your face — truly
failed to see and
to love you in all.
Come, Lord Jesus!
By your grace, let
life not be a vanity
nor our discipleship
an idle daydream.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Be our motivation
and morning star,
our deepest root
and loftiest poem!
Come, Lord Jesus!
Our sure foundation,
our impossible way
out of no way, our
only hope & savior!
Come, Lord Jesus!
Tell me a story
of butterflies and daffodils
of thin places and reassuring angels.
Tell me a story
of miracles and love
of strolling through gardens with lions and lambs.
Tell me a story
of resurrection dawning
of rains refreshing, of tombs bursting with life.
Tell me these stories
when the clouds droop low
when grace is short-fused and fragile.
Tell me these stories
when lovingkindness seems absent
when kinship is withdrawn and understanding hindered.
Tell me these stories
when the world feels tired
when God’s patience grows weary.
Let the story continue
with stones still rolling away
with roses blooming where tears fall.
Let the story continue
with untold surprise endings
with dancing and singing and laughing.
Let the story continue
with joyous wonder repeating
with fellowship extending by every breath, every hand.