A man could not discern God’s will.
Alone, he determined to pray until he had clarity.
In the end, he realized he only said,
“Yes, but—” with this excuse or that.
He determined that from this step on,
He would practice obedience.
His first step felt like he sprained his ankle,
That ankle shot in war, permanently damaged.
The second step was pain-free.
“And going, they were healed.”
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Not Lost
I was only fifteen, yet I clearly remember my mood going from lost and frightened to safe and calm. Can you imagine what a sermon like that meant to us at a time of fear and despair? To be told, in church, that if the military situation had changed, our source of inspiration had not: it was still to follow in the steps of Jesus and the New Testament. We were not lost. We still had a direction.
When Germany conquered France
In World War II,
A pastor reminded his flock
That the call had not changed.
Love your enemies.
Show kindness.
Forgive.
Obey the Gospel.
Trust God, today and every tomorrow.
Do not grasp for self-preservation,
But share with those who come.
That community saved thousands.
Thanks be to God.
Friday, June 5, 2015
A Compliment
I have sent an email to a mother of sons every week for some months,
To let her know how her boy is doing.
A life change might mean that no longer happens.
Would another take over that task?
A friend said, “No, Amy, no one else will do that.
You are unique in how you care for people.”
And my husband said, “Amen.”
To let her know how her boy is doing.
A life change might mean that no longer happens.
Would another take over that task?
A friend said, “No, Amy, no one else will do that.
You are unique in how you care for people.”
And my husband said, “Amen.”
Watching
I watch those around me react to bad news
With despair and confusion and deep, deep grief.
And I feel none of those things,
So I wonder: am I at fault? Or are they?
With despair and confusion and deep, deep grief.
And I feel none of those things,
So I wonder: am I at fault? Or are they?
Delayed
My young friends, nieces by affection,
Spent this month living their normal lives.
When the day came for them to travel,
Their flight left on time.
On landing, they went directly to the hospital,
Where all six children spent time with their mother
For a few hours
Before she went on life support.
Spent this month living their normal lives.
When the day came for them to travel,
Their flight left on time.
On landing, they went directly to the hospital,
Where all six children spent time with their mother
For a few hours
Before she went on life support.
Covered
The call for twenty-four hour prayer went out
As I was baking a birthday cake,
Preparing to meet a guest for the first time,
Still recovering, interminably, from a cold and sore throat.
The idea of finding a half hour uninterrupted
Was beyond imagining.
A day later, I thought to check the prayer schedule
And there were no times that yet needed to be claimed.
And I could have cried in relief that this, too,
Was covered, that though I may be a derelict friend,
That God knows my frame, and that I could pray
As I go about my day, adding my prayers to the others.
As I was baking a birthday cake,
Preparing to meet a guest for the first time,
Still recovering, interminably, from a cold and sore throat.
The idea of finding a half hour uninterrupted
Was beyond imagining.
A day later, I thought to check the prayer schedule
And there were no times that yet needed to be claimed.
And I could have cried in relief that this, too,
Was covered, that though I may be a derelict friend,
That God knows my frame, and that I could pray
As I go about my day, adding my prayers to the others.
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