God's Pruning

God's pruning shears
are very sharp.
His surgical skill separates
off the dead wood,
not taking more than necessary,
removing the rot
fit for the fire.

He leaves the healthy wood,
to burst forth
with new season bud,
bearing good fruit
in its time.

It is painful
to be pruned by God,
our pride is
cut to the core,
but we remain intact.

Our ego
is lovingly chopped back.
God doesn't want
it getting in the way
of His bigger picture
for our lives.

Even in our wildest imaginings,
we cannot dream
the greatness
He can accomplish
through a fully surrendered soul.

So if you sense
He is ready for some gardening,
don't run away.
Allow God to prune you
so you can become whole.

Strange People

Strange people
with their idiosyncrasies,
their failures,
and flaws,
hurt
and causing hurt,
jagged edges
produced by pain
others cannot begin
to comprehend.

Selfish and
self-serving,
ignorant of heard heart cries,
longing for calm
to still their own storms.

Unable to safely settle,
or completely commit,
or clearly count their blessings.

Stirring trouble,
or resisting
those rallying
to help.

We come across
them every day.

Don't judge them.

They look a lot
like me and you.

Time

Time chased through
a weather-vane of grand illusions
and half seen promise.

I'm late for a very important date,
missing it by degrees
when it does appear,
through brightly clearing mist.

Time is fleeting,
running out,
a scarce commodity.

If there is a time for everything,
why do I not have enough of it?

I work from pressure,
not peace,
unable to give extravagant gifts
of time to others,
as I count my purse of precious minutes.

Is time really ticking away,
or do I just misunderstand
the truth about eternity?

Extrovert On The Inside

Extrovert on the inside,
introvert on the outside.
I've finally classified
myself out loud,
and wish I hadn't.

Denial is simpler
than responsibility.

Responsibility
requires action,
and probably change.

Change is challenging
and time consuming.

People are familiar
with the me
they already know.

They might be shocked
if they saw how loud
and exuberant
I am on the inside.

It might challenge
the masks they wear.

There could be
a chain reaction
of being honest
and fully real.

The inside and the outside
aligning,
and everyone
seen and being
who they really are.

Wouldn't that be something,
if I was brave enough to be me.