DEAF DON'T DANCE

the DEAF DON’T DANCE

The stars all sing, with words unspoken!

But, how can we hear, with hearts so broken?

Create in us, hearts anew, and spirits aright.

Let us see, from our darkness, your blessed light.

In sullen quietness, the deaf cannot dance.

To hear the music, they have not a chance.

Alone, in cold darkness, they miss the sunrise;

Maybe sensing the warmth, yet blind are our eyes.

He heals the deaf; and, to the blind gives sight.

Now, they can hear; and, gone is their night.

“Open our eyes that we may see, and ears to hear.”

We urgently call out to you! Lord, draw us near!

Turn up the volume of the heavenly chorus.

Front row and center, the best seats for us!

Fill with your Spirit, with forgotten resurgence.

Raise us up to our feet; and Lord let us dance!


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knowing everything?

"you will know ..."

Knowing everything, and yet really, of value, nothing,  

Connected by technology, like never before seen;

but each in our own cave, peeking out in fear, whispering,

“what is out there?  So familiar, but so different, so mean…”

Valuing little of what has come before, from some sage.

Now trying anything, but really onto nothing we hold.

“Diversity and tolerance are the values of our new age!”

Yet, anger and/or apathy, grow in our hearts, ever cold.

Those born of ‘submission” are spiraling out of control;

Those born of “love” seem different, but somehow the same.

“I hate you and will take both your gold and your soul.”

I hate myself and trust you to be other than you claim?!

Of forbidden fruit we once ate, believing the lie.

Now, where is the voice we once heard in the garden?

Ever only we walk in darkness, soon surely to die.

Where is that tree with the healing for the nations?

Healing and harmony, honesty and honor,

Words and ideas that seem laughingly untrue.

We’re sinking into darkness, soon going under…

God help us, soon!  We know not what to do!

With You, there is light and there is hope;

No other option has a chance to deliver,

They only blind us, in darkness we grope.

You alone are the path, our way to recover.

Lost and alone, in deep darkness we often herd.

Touching, but distant, straining to desperately hear,

fellowship forgotten, conversations once heard,

that gave comfort from pain, and peace in our fear.

Come, Thou who art light and truth and life!

The Star On The Shelf

The Star On The Shelf

He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Psalm 147:4  

 

The celestial warehouse, full, with no room to stand,

Throbbed with Red Giants, cool dwarfs, and even some twins.

Then the doors rolled open; and in came His hand.

It was now Day Four, since it all started to begin.

Super and Magnus trashed and dissed who’d be last.

But His hand surely, quickly flung them out into space.

Into the darkness they all were exploded so fast,

Foreshadowing a day, called “the Fourth” by their race.

But, back in the warehouse on the shelf all alone,

Sat one little star with troubled confusion on his face.

Did He forget?!  I could only wonder, “what have I done?”

Why am I here, still, and not in my proper place?!

In confusion, I sat there, alone, forever it would seem.

I watched as He calmly, yet grandly continued his plan.

On one little rock, He spoke, the waters with fish did teem.

And in the sky all around it swarms and flocks did expand!

After night, when the stars all slept, came the next day.

He then filled the “Earth” with the beasts He did make.

Then He carefully took in His hands, a dab of the clay;

He lovingly formed a little “man” and breathed it awake!

The wicked little things, in the light of my brothers,

Sometimes, even they’d dare in the light of the “Sun”

They’d sneak about, and do awful things to others.

They’d boldly rebel, forgetting, ignoring the ONE!

Sometimes I would sense Him looking at me.

Then He’d look at the “Earth” with pain on His face.

Why was I sitting on the shelf with no better place to be?

Why did He endure the pain created by that race?

Off that shelf, with His hand He retrieved me nigh.

And in my ear He whispered, “it’s time; off you go!”

Though all the heavens surely wondered, “why?!”

“You now must go, and in your place must glow!”

All the others looked on with confused perplexity.

“What is he doing?  He’s going super-nova, maybe?!”

But I was determined that no eye would miss me.

Maybe the wise would then look for the Baby!

 

I had my moment, my place, to shine upon Him!

But, He is the Light, for all darkness the cure.

For but a brief moment, I shined over Bethlehem.

But, can you see the Light? Can you feel the allure?

The angels are singing; the stars still yet declare,

Always, as in that first noel, “gloria, in excelsis deo”

Come find the peace, the grace in His heart so fair.

Be as the wise men;  To the Light you must go!

* * * * * * * *

I’m sure that you’re aware, by now, full well.

Rhythm and rhyme, the evade me.  Do tell!

I’m no poet; and of this I surely know it.

Off the shelf, from my heart, the Light shines a bit?

Merry Christmas!

and, “… let your light shine…”!

(this seems to fit here?!)

the Starkindler 




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BOY SCOUT POPCORN

BOY SCOUT POPCORN

                I dropped her off at the door and I went to the gas pumps to fill up the CRV.  I was not really multi-tasking; I was avoiding, evading, … I just did not want to be bothered to  buy some over-priced popcorn, twice the price as the GV popcorn inside the store!

                I am sitting about 15 spaces from the “hawker” scouts, watching them raise money for their group.  But, I know that scout leader and his son.   “Why is he doing this …?” is my question!  What is he trying to accomplish?  (why am I writing this?!)  This is a man who has his boys on weekends, at best.  His wife ran off with his co-worker that they befriended and housed during a rough spot in his life.

                This man is trying his best to keep it together, spending time with his boys, however he can, teaching them how a true man acts?!  His wife may be a trollop.  His friend may have betrayed him on the deepest level.  His co-workers may whisper and glance away from him.  But, he keeps on.  He is showing his boys – the world is not totally dark!

                I might have shot him, the “other guy.”  As for his wife, I am thinking “Hosea and Gomer”?!  I need to respond to life with faith, and with hope, and with love.  That scoutmaster is teaching this disciple!

                Well, let’s go home and watch Bama play ball while we munch our popcorn!  "Roll, Tide, Roll"

IN THE DARKNESS

IN THE DARKNESS

                Surely, this journey did not begin this way?!  When did it get this way?  Why?  Did I do something wrong?  Where are you?  Why is it so dark?  So cold?  So loud?  I cannot hear you over the howling noises.

                Are we moving towards the end?  The exit?  I dozed off and you were gone.  I cannot see you!  Just call out to me!  Answer me!  Sometimes I think I can almost smell your aftershave?!  I just stumble onward.  But it is tough in this cold, dark alley.  I call your name and listen; but, I hear only echoes!  Maybe that was your answer back to me?  It was so far away and indistinct.  But, I will walk on in that direction.

                Let me put on my headphones.  The music helps.  When I turn up the volume, it drowns out the howling.  And in the music I can almost feel your presence!  Hallelujah!  Maranatha!  If I can find a street light that is working, maybe I can figure out this map you gave me.

                O.K.  --  So I did not just doze off.  I wandered off.  The city lights were so dazzling!  Then the power went off!  Darkness.  Screaming.  Sirens.  The noise!

                What’s worse is that the others have given up.  They think it is useless to go on.  They have just stopped off in some bars and clubs, dark as they are.  Couples are calling it quits as the wolves and cougars move in.  Children are wandering around in the streets in a daze, angry and confused.

                When will the power come back on?!  It seems like an endless night with no sunrise ever coming.  But, I will keep looking to the East.  I just hope my compass is working.  The app on my smartphone is dead, with the power out everywhere.  I would look for moss on the trees; but, this concrete jungle is green nowhere.

                Memories of brighter days walking along calm waters to pastures green keep me going for now.  If nothing else, revive and refresh these memories!  But, they seem like places I have seldom, if ever, been?!  The writings speak of them.

                It helps when some of us sit, albeit in the dark, and reminisce and wonder and speculate.  Some declare they hear you; but, I am reticent, maybe even skeptical – not that you are there, but that they are only wishfully thinking, imagining?!  But, I still enjoy their company.  Thank you for sending them my way!  Surely we are more than bird-brains flocking together?!  The singing helps!  And, yes, even the song birds sing your song  But, a sunrise would help the song.

                I sometimes see lights, in the distance.  But there is smoke rising above them and I suspect they are hellish blazes, not the fiery-cloudy pillar you gave Israel, nor the burning bush on the hillside that Moses saw.

                Sometimes I catch myself howling, in my head, with the pack.  Then I come back to myself, and hum one of the songs of Zion.  I just want to be closer, the way it used to be!  I want to walk in the light.