Friendship

When you are busy or blue,
or something makes you stew,
friendship is key.

When your thinking is in a tangle,
or you look like you've been through a mangle,
friendship is key.

When you are over the moon,
or you hope you'll be soon,
friendship is key.

When you need a good grumble,
or help making a crumble,
friendship is key.

When you don't want to be alone,
or sit all day in your home,
friendship is key.

It is good for the spirit,
good for your soul,
good for your health,
and good for your goal.

It is good for your heart,
and you don't have to pay,
look around you and know,
you can have friendship today.

Jesus Wept

Jesus wept.
Heaven
dropped
down
tears of tragic loss.
Death's devastation
reigning in the lives of men.
Torn out dreams
from the pages of lives lost,
too early,
too suddenly,
without time to say goodbye,
without time to fulfill calling and purpose.

Mankind's greatest pain,
loss of loved ones,
Jesus tasted for Himself.
He felt the tearing sorrow,
the irretrievable absence.

And yet,
as heaven's pain rolled down His face,
He saw His future victory over death.
Emboldened by His Father's love
for these created creatures,
He pulled Lazarus back from beyond the brink,
from death to life,
with one command
so steeped with all authority,
that the universe stared in silence,
and creation understood death
would soon see its final day.

Lazarus came forth,
as Jesus looked heavenwards,
and smiled.

God Be My Refuge

When troubled times befall,
and I can't do my all,
God be my refuge.

When the future looms ahead,
or illness confines to bed,
God be my refuge.

When responsibility seems too hard,
and my sense of strength is marred,
God be my refuge.

When others cause me pain,
or loss through dishonest gain,
God be my refuge.

When I forget I need to trust,
or I'm driven by should or must,
God be my refuge.

When the light is dim all day,
and memory fades away,
God be my refuge.

When I can't see the forward way,
and have lost the strength to pray,
God be my refuge.

When all I know is gone,
and I can no longer carry on,
God be my refuge.

Walk On By

She sat slumped
in a jumbled heap of clothes,
in cold late evening air
on city pavement edge.

Elated and joyful,
I walked past with my son
at my side.
I glanced at her
for a single second,
my heart hardened by countless
beggars already encountered,
waving paper cups for loose change.

She didn't ask me for anything,
just looking straight ahead.
I didn't want to look for longer.

How could I respond to so much need
on city streets?
I had no home there to take her to.
I had no significant money to give.

If I gave anything,
would it feed an addiction?

Her image burned into my mind,
as I choose in that second
not to respond at all.

I was not the Good Samaritan,
or even a slightly open hearted one.
I failed in my humanity.
I judge myself to have fallen short
of Christ's call,
but I don't judge her.

God spoke to me
through her silent form.
How do I truly show His love,
and not just walk on by?