the handling of the mind
resembles more
twin squirrels
chasing each other
on either side
of a tree
than crashes of thunder
waking us at midnight
to Wagnerian lightning
GROUND FOR JOY
My past lies
in the merciful hands of God
my future
in his wise love
the present moment
in which I live
is of no duration
how then may fear win
mastery over my joy?
GOD LAUGHING
God laughing
me into being
and you too –
a joke to remember.
the mystery of light
GOD HAS CALLED US OUT OF DARKNESS
God has called us out of darkness
To the wonder of his light.
See your dignity, O Christian,
Rescued from eternal night.
See the glory of your calling,
Brothers, sisters of the Lord,
Calling God himself your Father
Through the love he has outpoured.
From the moment that he forms us
In the womb, until we die
We are his eternal children
With a destiny on high.
May we live by this great vision,
May we share this gift of sight,
May we serve beyond the darkness
All who hunger for the light.
Turn away from all corruption
Be a sign before the world
Of the love the Father shows us
In his gentle mighty Word.
Be the light upon the lampstand,
Be the city on the hill.
Be the men and women toiling,
Seeking but the Father’s will.
Father, hear your children call you
In the name of Christ your Son;
Send the Spirit whom he promised
That in him we may be one.
Then the world will come to know you
In the Son who came and died,
For your love will be reflected
In the mirror of our lives.
THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY
only a thin
film of glass
protects the moth
as it bangs
again and again
against the light
in the dark night
from the sizzle
of extinction
CONCEIVE
to bring
and to have brought
into being
through God
one called
to live forever
intimately
with God
what a stunning
mind-scalding
thing to do
and to have done
could anything
conceivably
be greater –
none
WOMAN
within her
and of her being
comes one to be
who will not cease
she speaks each day
God’s Word made men
uttered again, again
and again
into our silence
hers is a dignity
that none may measure
hers a patience
refined by fire
hers
