DAD

he so loved me

THE RICH YOUNG RULER

you are young
and rich
in ways that cannot be counted
and rule over
all the things I have ever wanted

and like he
you have walked away
sad
and for once i can say

i am just like jesus

CHURCH

picture all of the people in your life
that you've lost touch with
people that you worked with
went to school with
met
and imagine them all
sitting in the same room
on the same page
and you can forget
all the differences
all the quirks that annoyed you
all the reasons you lost touch
and suddenly
you are glad they're here

ON 495N JUST BEFORE EXIT 23C

the green corridor
once leaning in winter
under the frozen strain
that glazed their limbs
gives way to a broad valley

open and willing
verdant and inviting
paved but not broken

for you for you for you

yours.

ONE WORD: TEAR

tear me up
shred me into little pieces
i can't be made smaller by your efforts
or little in your estimation

tear me down
knock me over with your disapproval
and i will come back up
over
and
over
and
over

again

http://www.oneword.com/

THE MONTHLY PLUNGE

Like a helpless jewel that has slipped from your finger
no plumber can stop the descent
or shut off the tears you cry

The swish down the bowl and the slime in the drain
makes it difficult to crawl up and out

When your heart is in the toilet
you just have to wait for it to fill up again
before you can flush it

CONSTANCY

the quality of being unchanging or unwavering, as in purpose, love, or loyalty; firmness of mind; faithfulness

perhaps it's a good thing
it means i'm loyal
and unchanging
it means i'm faithful
and firm

but it also means
that i'm constantly
fixated and obsessed
or that i'm living in the past
and unable to let go

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2).

A HEART CASHED IN

will you accept
a ticket that's already been torn
a token laid on the tracks
a heart cashed in

can you redeem
all the things I've done
and all the things I've lost
for all the things I want

because i need
acceptance
redemption
everything

i want it all

UNTITLED

desolate and aching
empty and swollen
as a womb that must be shed

I long to be filled
and hurt to be torn
and my pages they long to be read

WHAT MATTERS MOST

it's not your difference of opinion that matters
but that you disagree and yet respect me
with equal and opposing self-control

it's not your theory that matters
but that you do not in the same breath
deny the existence of God

it's not your creed that matters
but your willingness to put yourself
at God's disposal

2008