In the Blink of an Eye
She watched him with
curiosity,
wondering when he would
muster the courage
to stand up and say
hello.
Just one little word,
was all she needed;
five letters, a simple –
“Hello.”
Startled, she
took a step back
and froze.
Was this really happening?
Was her waiting
finally over?
Before she could think,
before she could speak,
he was saying his name
and asking for hers.
What should she say?
What could she say?
Her voice had
already gone.
So all that escaped
her dry parchéd mouth,
was a raspy and
ugly old
“Hi.”
But of course that was not,
her actually name,
and her face flushed
furiously red.
She wanted no more
than to run out right then;
she wanted no more
than to die.
But die she did not,
and her voice did return,
and she managed to
tell him her name.
And from that moment on
they were never the same,
for everything had
changed.
True Beauty
Sometimes I’ll sit
in silence, and wonder
what life would be like
if everything were
perfect.
If everything went
according to plan,
if every plan
was perfectly done,
and if every person
was beautiful.
And sometimes
I wish it were so…
but then, I realize
how wrong
and tragic
and terrible
that would be.
Because life is not perfect.
Life is chaotic,
and messy,
and unpredictable,
and painful,
and tragic,
and lonely,
and yet it is so
very, very…
beautiful.
Beauty is not found
in perfection;
Beauty is found
in the flaws.
Beauty is not
a perfect smile;
it is the glowing warmth
of joy underneath.
Beauty is not
flawless skin;
it is the ageless sparkle
of life in your eyes.
Beauty is not
a perfect physique;
it is the depths of love that
pours out of your heart.
And beauty is not
great physical strength;
it is the spiritual strength to
admit that you’re weak.
We all have our own
self-perceived flaws,
but when we focus on those,
we then become blind
to the simple fact that
we have all been created
in His image;
in the image of the
most beautiful being
in existence.
And if He can love us
for who and what we are,
are not we then,
all of us,
beautiful?
The Calling
Close your eyes,
open your ears,
open your heart,
and listen.
Quietly.
Intently.
Secretly.
Listen.
Hear the noise that
moves through silence,
but listen for the
hidden cries
of the voices that are
too fearful to speak,
of the voices that are
not strong, but weak.
Help them.
Lift them up
with prayer and song,
lift them up
and help them along.
They need you more
then you’ll ever know.
They need you to help them
flourish and grow.
So nourish their hearts
and uplift their souls,
and tell them that God,
will ne’er let them go.
For they are the chosen,
they are the ones.
Can you hear them
calling?
Tired
I’m tired of all these walls,
of being too scared to let you in,
of being too frightened to trust.
I’m tired of all these games,
of standing by idly, watching as
you sing and dance and smile and laugh.
I’m tired of being all alone,
of feeling this empty void in my heart,
of wishing for something more.
Oh, how very tired I am…
Woven Anew
Once I was lost in the noise of this world,
suff’ring a life filled with pain,
until You uplifted my heart and my soul,
and broke off my shackles and chains.
Woven anew with the threads of Your Grace,
You stitched up what was torn apart;
Filled with compassion and mercy and love,
Your Hands held me close to Your Heart.
I am now free from my grief and despair,
from the curse and the pain of my sin;
Quickened to life by Your Spirit of Peace;
By grace, I have been born again.
Lord, Shelter my soul and safeguard my heart
from the toils and cares of each day.
Hold to my hand and strengthen my step
to walk in Your Holy Way.
Once More
Once more, I fear,
my heart has been snared
in the grips and the pain
of this love – this love
that should not be spoken.
My heart, it weeps,
for now it is broken.
Torn are my feelings
of want and despair;
whispers of should-nots,
longings to dare;
lingering feelings
that litter my heart
of a love that was pure
but is now torn apart.
To keep it a secret,
to deny life to live –
they are one and the same,
for this is not a game –
this love, my love,
that is only for you.
Let come whate’er may;
I will wait here for you.
When Will I Find You?
I long to be wrapped
in the warmth of your arms,
to feel your touch
against mine.
I long for our hearts
to flutter as one,
for our souls to be
e’er intertwined.
I long for your presense
to be next to me,
to hear you breathe
as you dream.
I long to see you
smile and sigh.
I long for my mind
to be free.
I long for your heart
for your mind, for your soul.
I long, my Love, for you.
When will I find you,
when will you come?
I long to say,
“I love you.”
When will I find you,
Love?
Mistake Not My Love
Mistake not my love for thee,
dearest of friends,
a love all encompassing
that shall last till the end,
when all the World fails
and Time destroys men –
but never, dear friend,
will this love begin
to wane or fade or trickle away.
This love is a bond,
and forever I’ll say:
Mistake not my love for thee,
dearest of friends,
and know that I’ll be here
until this life ends.
Serenity
Have I ever told you about my dream?
It starts how dreams always start, or at least how mine always do (I’m not sure about yours), but it starts with me standing alone in a park. You may find such a start to a dream strange (in truth, most of my dreams are strange), but I’m not standing long. Before I know it, I’m walking along a cobblestone path while spinning a crooked old cane.
You see, I’m searching for something… no, I’m searching for someone – it always alternates between the two, you know, and I can never quite place it! But I’m walking along the winding old path, tapping my crooked old cane on the ground, searching for signs of the mysterious being. And as I am searching, I can’t help but admire the beautiful park. Pausing a moment, I take a deep breath of the cool evening air as the sound of the gentle breeze tickles my ears, and then I find myself staring up at the stars peeking bashfully through the treetops.
It really was quite serene…
Suddenly it catches my eye!
Dear, Love…
Dear whoever you may be,
I am waiting here,
for you to come and hold my heart
and banish all my fear.
I’ve been waiting every day
for you, my only one,
but with each day my heart grows faint -
my Love, when will you come?
If only you could know how much
my heart does yearn for you.
To look into your eyes, your soul,
and know, my Love, just you.
Dear whoever you may be,
I’m still waiting here.
But please don’t keep me waiting long -
my Love, I need you here.
The Girl and the Sea
“Don’t you trust me?”
The moment when I first heard these words, the anxiety in my gut twisted into knots and my throat became dry. The question was innocent enough, and it simply required a simple answer, but simple is simply subjective.
Her blue eyes shimmered in the starlight, watching me with slight amusement as I wrung my hands, trying to knead out my thoughts like dough. I don’t think she realized it, but her loving smile only distracted me further… no, now that I think about it, she probably knew it would.
She was always trying to make me try new things. I don’t know if it was my sheltered upbringing or my undaring disposition, but she knew I feared change and new things and all they entail. There’s always a risk of failure, always the chance of getting hurt.
I had been hurt too many times before to count.
But… she still had faith in me, my sweet, blue-eyed girl. I was the luckiest man in the world when I found her. Oh, who am I kidding? She’s the one who found me.
“Darling…” she spoke softly, resting her hand on my shoulder as I stared out across the star-riddled horizon, her fingers warm against my bare skin.
I turned and gazed into her eyes, her breathtaking eyes, and smiled as the crisp breeze of the night blew her long, auburn hair into her face. She tried to brush it away, the strands getting caught in her eyes and mouth, but the wind kicked up again, sending her hair into a wild tantrum.
Laughing, I curled her frazzled locks behind her ears.
She placed her hands on mine. Her smile faded and her eyes filled with concern at my silence.
Leaning forward, I kissed her forehead, my lips lingering against her flesh. She rested her head on my shoulders, and we wrapped our arms around each other. And for a moment, just a single moment in time, all was silent. Everything was still.
There was no wind.
There were no birds.
There was no rolling ocean.
She and I were all that existed, in the silence on top of that cliff. And in that moment of silence, as my heart beat next to hers, I found the strength I had lost.
My hands curled around hers, our fingers laced together, and I kissed her on the lips.
“Of course I trust you.”
Beaming through tears, she kissed me twice, and then turned to face the sea.
“Don’t let go of my hand,” she said to me.
And then, together, we jumped.
This Heart
Once I was lost
in an ocean of fear,
sinking with grief and despair;
I tried to climb out,
I tried to find rest,
but solace eluded my heart.
Languid Love
What love, my Love,
is this that possesses
my heart, this heart,
that swore ne’er to
love thee again?
The Tree
Lord, didst Thou die upon a tree,
enduring pain and agony,
to save this wretched world below,
to save Thy precious, wand’ring sheep?
Eternal light and endless joy,
amazing grace sublimely sweet –
were these the objects of Thy sight
as nails pierced hands and wounded feet?
“The King of Jews!” they didst proclaim,
a crown of thorns upon Thy brow;
they tore Thy flesh, yet still Thou cried,
“Forgive them, Lord, they do not know!”
Oh, Gracious God, oh Spotless Lamb,
forgive this wretched, wayward soul!
Restore unto me a tender heart,
unbroken – Father, make me whole!
Grace Eternal
Behold the Lamb of God
who purged away the stain
of sin from off our souls,
that we might be again
How Could You?
How could you do this to me?
How could you just
throw me aside like trash,
filthy garbage,
stale leftovers?
Let Me In
Why won’t you let me in?
Why are you shouldering
this life all alone?
Do you not see
that I love you?
Do you not see
that I want to be
there for you?
What if I Told You?
What if I told you
that your dimpled smile
is the prettiest that
I’ve ever seen?
That it glows like the sun,
a brilliant grin,
and melts my buttery heart?
Somewhere We Stumbled
Drowning, my heart is
flooded with tears
as memories come of
all those great years
we spent with each other,
together, a team
that could conquer it all –
but not all, it seems.
Do You Remember?
I miss you.
I miss the times we used to sit
huddled together, side-by-side,
imagining
all the things that we would do,
all the places we would go;
we promised ourselves,
you and I.
Do you remember?
I miss you.
Forever
Emptiness
Tears roll down the
contours of her cheek
as she sighs with sadness,
cries with grief,
trying to fathom
the emptiness inside
trying to reconcile
her own disbelief.
It cannot be true,
I can’t be alone,
I can’t be alone.
But she is.
Silent and Secret
So badly this heart
wants to whisper these words
that are forming, my Love, for you.
But try as I might,
they fall out mid flight;
my song remains silent,
unheard.
