Lonely Road

It can be a lonely road
to do the right thing,
to be a blessing
when cursing is all around.

To do the good thing,
even the best thing,
when most are
settling for less.

To go the extra mile,
to have a caring heart,
when others linger
at the starting line.

To have the kind word,
and share it too,
to go
against the general flow.

To make your voice heard,
your opinion known,
to have a point of view
and not waver to and fro.

To change your course
to help another,
even when it costs
you more than your money.

It can be a lonely road
to do the right thing,
but the call is always there,
if we will do what we hear.

Easter Baptism

For to me,
to live is Christ,
and to die is gain.

He stands with silted salt water
swirling around him.

I baptize you in the name of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit.

He is immersed
in the ocean,
clinging cold with winter current.

Fiery red hair submerged
for a moment,
identifying with His Savior's death.

Rising again with a shout,
and resurrection reality
wrapping round.

The seal of the Spirit,
and heaven's glad witness
of this sight.

The sacred sacrament
encountered by multitudes
around the earth,
revisited this Easter Sunday.

Repent and be baptized
Jesus said.
Obedient observance
the only right response,
and so he did.

Pause

An Easter art installation
draws me in.
Scores of white feathers
falling,
suspended in a spot light beam
by nylon thread.

Captured by imagination
as if frozen in time.
They descend each
on their own individual journey,
untouched by another.

One starts to spin slowly,
caught in an upward draft
caused by someone passing by.

Different feathers
turn
and
turn
again,
forbidden to fall
but designed for flight.

Beauty draws me in
and I do not want to leave them.
I pause
and become still
in my own silent space.

I know again the One
who loves me in all
my hurry and worldly cares.

The One who waits for me
to stop
and breathe
and say hello.

He is my treasure
and I am His,
but sometimes I forget
as the world presses in.

I am glad this art
has helped me take the time
at this great celebration of Easter
to remember what Christ has done,
to be deeply grateful,
and
to PAUSE.

Unity

Unity
brings the impossible task
to achievable reach,
and blesses more than
one soul
on the way.

Unity
is strength in togetherness,
recognizing our differences,
but not retrenching in them.

Unity
is arriving at a place
of wisdom and strength,
where I can honor another
without losing myself.

The Trinity
in perfect unity,
shows us it is
eternally possible
and highly recommended.

The Lord's blessing
rests on those in unity.
His favor cannot settle
where division rules.

Unity
is a precious treasure
to be sought for,
and fought for,
and preserved by humble yielding hearts,
to our Maker
and each other
for the blessing of all.

Unity
touches the heart of God.

First Love

I think about you all the time.
When I wake
I am already thinking about you.
When I sleep
You are my last conscious thought.

I replay the times we have together,
and I am there with you again,
in the midst of glorious life.

I repeat the words you have spoken to me,
and my mind embraces them afresh,
with joy and gratitude
that you are in my life.

I feel so safe when I am with you,
as if no darkness could touch me,
or anything go wrong with my day.

I find myself talking about you to others,
and catch myself smiling in the mirror.

My heart is full of you.
There is little space for other things.
Things that once seemed so important,
are sidelined and forgotten.

My heart is yours forever.

My Lord and Saviour.
May I never lose my first love for you.