XL
it’s
well
it’s Sunday
and I could think Sunday thoughts by
Protestants and
Catholics
Anabaptists
independents
too
and what should be such thoughts
but an affirmation or a search
for
a belief
affirmed by what is formal
even with authority
though
from a voluntary organization
we may join
or
leave
or maybe we wander
while the sermon
(sorry
sermon
sermon’s sermonizers)
or
while the body is at prayer
our own
thoughts that could rise as prayer
as
Claudius agonizing
formulizes
though admits he cannot follow
or
before or after
or
without
what is an honest asking
an appraisal of anything there might be
more
then us
since we’re in this casing
sensing outward
to
whatever
and often the flesh fails if only
in parts for
a while then
well
all
what
is it
who is it
where
and how
and maybe if we answer these
or someone does
we might know
a why as well
and well the kind of well
that Julian
describes
and is the bird a spirit
and is there spirit in the wind
or in the floor of plants or
far
below
and if so
should we not be worshipping outside
as
am many are
and what of our own
the thing that moves the
flesh
by what’s inside
that is the foundation for our feelings
then thoughts upon
the feelings
then
everything expressed or otherwise
let go
and
yes
finally
let go
so
yes
Sunday thoughts
be in church or at temple or
obeisance in a mosque
whatever holy place
with
holy resources
and on one’s own or with
our trusted
to explore and figure things as far
as we might go and
with
the ministry of small things to keep us
going
at least hospitably
all
the time
c l couch
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
Hebrews 13:2
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
(NIV)
Hamlet and Saint Julian of Norwich are alluded to as well
photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash
pointed leaves pressing
dark on glass before pale sky
wind returning rain
c l couch
photo by Homa Amani on Unsplash
“Waiting with frozen eyes.”
Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran
ev’ry time
the Spirit of God moved
and there was
water
then a world
and God lives in each one
of
us
as we allow
fearful
creator God
yet also living inside
in
intimacy
which is the part of God
that should amaze
and
does sometimes in songs and
testimony
many and great
O God
are thy works
as
in the hand
that
planetwide presses out plains and
valleys with mountain ranges
rising
between fingers
and yet
God indwells
all
who want
and closely forever
which must be one of those
many
and great works
and is
c l couch
“Many and Great” is a hymn based on Dakota tribal understanding and language
the title is taken from the hymn “Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit”
photograph by Nick Moore at Unsplash
simplicity itself
something
short and simple
if not sweet
for
God is long and complex
but likes short and simple
too
I’m thinking
I love you
I made you
I made you out of love
and now for love
fallen
as the Calvinists propound
and sorry that
that happened though
not sorry
for the will in your
and so
love struggles
not in me
though I mourn
and
yes
and anger in perfection
that is mine
still hoping for love
each time
on Earth
as is
and as we might be waiting
all of us
‘til time
c l couch
photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash
unforgiven
like a gift
a benediction to give
and to receive
forgiveness goes this way
if much more
difficult
for if there’s unforgiveness
then
it isn’t given and it cannot be received
and both parts persist
in something wrong
won’t be fixed
until the math is broken
the straight line of hate or
scorn
leading to aggressive or indifferent
lines
as postures
offer forgiveness
then
accept it so that two people
or two tribes
might live in
the delightful curves of Earth
and in
a new math with each
other
fit with new equations
c l couch
photo by Frida Lannerström on Unsplash
the old anthem I can’t find
(but used to sing)
an old anthem
leads from Ecclesiastes
into James
a strange splicing
though it indicates progression
beginning with a celebration
and a caution
for youth to find joy
in being
youth
and also concern
since
one day there is judgment
James
then goes further
asking youth or anyone
really
to consider
the wrong aspects of desire
when we ask
we ask awry and even
kill
thinking to satisfy our wants
yet
there is the claim of the perfect law of liberty
that
whoever lives into this law
shall be blessed
and this law
what shall we say
what it
might be
if more context is required
the commandments
then
those
that Jesus cites
above all
and so a good place to begin
not only a life of faith
but that is satisfied
for through
these we know how to ask
aright and even get what we really
want
since
wanting is fine and it’s the twisting of want
that ruins it and
everything around it
I wish I could find that song
I used to sing it when a youth
and
as an anthem
it was loud
harmonious
and
true
c l couch
Ecclesiastes 11:9
James 1:25
James 2:4
(KJV)
Matthew 22:36-40
photo by Md Mahdi on Unsplash
This Day God
God
What do you think
I should say today
If anything
To share
For
We know that you are love
But we aren’t love
And you won’t fix us
Obviously
And we could follow you
By serving each other
Though
The world would only hurt us
Take from us
And should we all be ready
To lose that much
And
Maybe so
Yet
Sigh
I am weak
And unconnected
So what could I do to make
Things better
But
Maybe
On occasion to remind us that
You are
In truth love
And
Direct of us to be and
Do the same
C L Couch
Joshua 24:15
Photo by Magnus Östberg on Unsplash
[3 haiku about (coastal) land and water]
dawn in its first hour
gray hour at the ocean sings
gulls cry food for praise
knowing god looks out
from shore with the church folk there
looks back too through waves
gold rise red to blue
east coast sun sets into land
western sun in sea
c l couch
(3 haiku about (coastal) land and water, in part because I haven’t been to the ocean in a while; I mean for each poem to stand as each, though they are tied as well)
photo by René Molenkamp on Unsplash
(real) wrongway satisfaction
empty
how to be filled again
pearls cast
wise as doves
gentle as
serpents
which works the opposite
of the truism
though maybe doves have wisdom
and serpents may
have
wisdom
and things work upside-
down
or in and out of time
the way the faithful claim that
foolishness is wisdom
the backward
take
look another way
from the world into eternity
c l couch
1 Corinthians 1:21
photo by Fredrik Öhlander on Unsplash
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