plain or fancy
what did he
say
and this is so
the Bible says that Jesus loves us
when we’re weak
so
he is
strong
always weak
always
strong
everyone seems called to both
weak to
hear
strong to act
call weak gentle or easy
or
withholding
openness to listen
and
to heed what he should say
we have the story
and the help of spirit
and
of angels
strong to act while strong is faith
and
otherwise
to
take great care
for anger destroys
and
pride
as vanity shall fall
every time
with
consequences to learn
if not yet
experienced directly
and that is plain
I hope
for me to learn
for you to be loved by God
and Jesus and the
Spirit
loved by God and in that book
find it affirmed
and
by our instinct as we grow with God
by Jesus
and the Spirit
and by the Bible
and with each other
as
we’re faithful
and even when
we fall
the love’s not over
anymore than faith or hope
though love’s
the
quality and entity
the strength
the practicality
that
remains
the theologian was asked
and
responded
Jesus loves me
this
I know
for the Bible tells me so
may it go so simple
and
so strong
if not perfectly not yet
by us
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the song “Jesus Loves Me” was written by Anna Bartlett Warner, published in 1859 (the line breaks above were by me)
the theologian in question, at least so goes the story, is Martin Marty, asked to sum up his theology, responding with the beginning of the hymn
photo by Lauren Mitchell on Unsplash
I hope the other side of the shirts says “The Now”
knowing how to live
O God
on a sunny day
I could wish I were
in
Bible study
I know
some would say I don’t know how
to live
much less how to prize a sunny day
but
I don’t know
clean room
a group of us
we
act clean
the words of Scripture clearly on the page
and we hear and we
discuss
kind interaction and somehow
authentic for
our
loves
and for our growth
for the beauty of the Earth
glory
in the skies
we will see through the window
sorry
there should be a window
and
feel after when we take part
in the outside world
God had
made
and about which we have the story
with
a gospel
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(“For the Beauty of the Earth” is the hymn cited and to which alluded; the author of the hymn is Folliott Sandford Pierpoint)
Earth Day
photo by Dima Serafin on Unsplash
“A Bee in Snowdrops”
what kind of day
what kind of day
to look outside
‘cause I can
see
there is sunlight
easy allowing colors and
shade
in relationship that’s agreeable
as if
sun and Earth had worked it out
in a process
before dawn
and this is today
with all
the hours ahead and for all the plans
or
maybe apprehensive with no plans
what shall happen like
the Spanish song
with
surprises along with what’s expected
founded on what’s ancient
and what’s yesterday
entering new
time
with what we have and are to bring even
to a table
to negotiate with each other
like the sun
over
what should change on Earth and what
remain
the same
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photo by Spenser Sembrat on Unsplash
say it’s dawn (I have trouble telling)
love gives
what shall
love provide
but
everything we need
food
something safe to drink
families
of
all sorts constructed
homes
and peace
and if our loves won’t do this
won’t provide
then
person to family to
tribe we haven’t worked it right
not yet
and if work sounds blockish
or
exploitative
then let’s ask ourselves if
we wouldn’t say that
on an easy
day
love still requires labor
for
the loved also
receiving the same
and if
followed
by rest
for all those
loving
loved
sometimes
to hope rarely called for
except something Christlike required
then
even loving and not loved
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photo by Balint Miko on Unsplash
shall we let the shofar call
Sunday
sun rests behind the gray
while the rain
considers working
even
if Earth is called to rest
or call it Saturday
or Friday
night
the call to rest is there
cessation
take up each things
don’t drag the chair across
a dirt floor
not
for fear of retribution but because
of the gift of love
and
yes
there’s room for interpretation
as time and we have changed
though God
has not
and yet seems to meet us
where
we are
as we could track the visitations and new
miracles
a day
and if we turn recreation into a business
infested with the mock virtue of
busyness
then we should drop
those
occupations for another form
of work
and play without the need to win or shop to win
to take the rest
as we smart people
know
how it goes
an honest sabbath
day
that’s all
and should we have it
is
we know
so much
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photo by Leon Kohle on Unsplash
intimate grandeur
how nature gives then displays
graces for senses
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I’m thankful for Literary Revelations Publishing House (https://literaryrevelations.com/) that will be publishing haiku of mine with those of others, a book on the theme of soulmates
I am in pain evidently from compressed nerves, better from medication, though still hurting
I have an operation set for 6 May; the device implanted and connected to my heart will be replaced, at least the electric part will be, as it’s time
I’m still breathing bad in my place that is infested and in the long and complex process finding and affording somewhere else to live
and how are you today?
the haiku above to me seems a little rough but says what I mean to say; what’s more important is what the verse might say to you
thanks
all of you
so much
photo by Natalia Luchanko on Unsplash
dreams
mine are vivid
brought on my insomnia
helped
by
medication
and tend to dream of people whom
I know
or knew back then
and
back then was now and is now
in the experience
details
and personalities made up
with
guesses at responses
and typically there’s wandering
place to place
or
to look out in the distance sometimes
and sometimes
to see
as one might see in dreams
light upon a ridge
who knows
a city
on a hill
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photo by Alexey Demidov on Unsplash
stand as it’s delivered
look at the yellow
paling
the blue
pasteling green branches look lighter
too
and if we’re waking take it easy
while impulsively receiving
everything that
happens
stand as may
as all the selections might
in
the paint-washed and more sensoral day
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photo by Alvan Nee on Unsplash
see and taste
can and may
the light is back
spring flowers
now
seen
red in the distance
small white palms just outside
the window
offering
like open hands
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Psalm 34:8
photo by Aamyr on Unsplash
Spring in Kashmir.
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