Category: Society

  • an open window

    After 50 years of evangelical prison
    and two years of freedom
    I can finally see
    the sun warms my face
    No more supposed to's
    and guilty penance
    for wrongs done
    in my life and somehow before
    Religion is the filthy rag
    trying to wipe clean
    a clear window
    leaving streaks of confusion
    Doing right, because it's right
    doing good, because it's good
    being love, because of love
    we don't need sermons or books to tell us this
    We can all see
    theology won't help you
    religion won't make it more clear
    just open the window and crawl through
  • betty june

    A cruel thief slipped in so suddenly
    And took a precious part of me away.
    It left behind a shell of what used to be,
    Now it’s hard to know just what to say.
    But the memories of the times I listened at your feet
    And the wonder of your faith so strong and free,
    Give me pearls of wisdom from God’s own heart,
    No thief can ever take those pearls from me.
    I see you when my children smile.
    When they laugh sometimes I hear your voice.
    It’s hard to see the purpose in the pain I feel right now
    Breathing in and breathing out is now a choice.
    But I’ll just sit here and talk to you a while.
    You taught me what it meant to live by faith alone
    And to search for the purpose in my pain.
    I listened while you dealt with others patiently,
    Looking for the wisdom I could gain.
    It’s hard for me to be the one I want to be,
    Sometimes I feel I just get in the way.
    I don’t claim to understand God’s purpose,
    I just pray for the strength to face each day
    I see you when my children smile.
    When they laugh sometimes I hear your voice.
    It’s hard to see the purpose in the pain I feel right now,
    Breathing in and breathing out is now a choice.
    But I’ll just sit here and dream of you for a while.
    The day has finally come to let go of you
    May the peace you seek be the place you find.
    The person that you were left many years ago,
    When the dawning of demise rose in your mind.
    After all the years of knowing that this day would come,
    I’m unprepared to let these feelings free.
    But the tears will flow every time I think of you,
    And the tender way you gave your love to me.
    I see you when my children smile.
    When they laugh sometimes I hear your voice.
    It’s hard to see the purpose in the pain I feel right now
    Breathing in and breathing out is now a choice.
    But I’ll just sit here and think of you a while.
  • green design

    Nature doesn’t need taming.
    Though it isn’t safe
    It was never wild, but
    Mature and wise,
    Seeking peace and balance.
    This is Green Design.
    Though from human thought
    It is not about points and politics, but
    Mature and wise,
    Seeking peace and balance.
  • jesus in the front yard

    A man’s house is huge
    As is his truck
    His job is steady
    As are his paychecks
    His equity is growing
    As is his waistline
    
    His life reeks of success.
    A smell others loathe
    
    He’s over housed
    Over booked
    Over taught
    Over read
    Over sold
    And almost dead
    To what is really going on
    And that which really matters
    
    It’s not one more hundred in his wallet
    Given hastily as the plate passes.
    It’s not one more check mailed away
    To some foreign country he won’t visit
    Much less pronounce
    Or touch
    Or really affect
    
    Jesus was in the man’s front yard this morning
    And the man asked Jesus why he let people suffer
    Jesus looked at his house
    At his truck
    At his wallet
    At his waistline
    Smiled a sad smile
    And walked away