"A Prayer in Searching"

I am longing to find deep within me,
A place where my mind, and my heart are set free.

I have searched through the past, for experience is meant to teach,
I have searched in others, whom that place they have reached.

Yet with all of the soul I invest in this journey,
The roads of my future remain daunting before me.

But when my all I have spent I can fall right back down,
For God’s presence will lift me to my true solid ground.

I know not where I’m going, only he knows the way,
And I ask that he guide me, and with him let me stay.

Glad goodbyes I do bid, to my worries and fears,
For when trusting in God...

The heart sheds no tears.

written '03

Devotional Writings from Lent '06

Dear Lord,

On this day and always, may the feelings in my heart, the thoughts in my mind, the words of my mouth, and the actions of my being not only be acceptable to you, but be guided and marked by your will, your wisdom, and your love.

With my eyes, may I see the presence of your greatness in all that I experience. May I find clarity as I walk with you, learning from the past, embracing the present, and not worrying about the future. And may I observe the wonders of your love as it permeates our lives and unites us all.

With my ears, may I hear the constant trickling of your river of life, the source of all that is good. May I listen to your voice as it speaks to me in times of sorrow, but also in times of joy. And may I hear the voices of others, and respond to their calls with compassion, mercy, and love.

In my heart, may I feel the powerful presence of your Spirit. May I be comforted by knowing that you are with me in my journey, guiding me with the light of your love; and may I find strength in the faith that your wisdom is infinitely greater than my own, but that it speaks to me through what’s written on my heart.

In my mind, may I overcome emotions of fear, anger, doubt, and regret, by knowing that you are with me in those times of struggle. May I be mindful of the many ways I experience you, oh God, and may this awareness help me to always be connected with you as I live each day to its fullest. And may I find the peace that comes from the soul’s openness to your will.

Finally, with my all of my being, may I do what is right, love selflessly and wastefully, face my fears with courage, be true to myself, and reach my greatest potential by connecting to my higher purpose through you.

Thanks be to God, on this day, and always. Amen.

"The world calls"--Poem from 3/05

In a train—

The rolling hills upon which I gaze
Their trees and fields and colors
Never restrained
Leaving me in a daze.

In a train,
The world calls.

In a church—
The overwhelming calm that opens my heart
Brings spiritual elevation for which I search
Yet leaves me at the start.

In a church,
The world calls.

In a museum—
The sight of life captured by the strokes of a brush
To be relived, and be questioned
Inspires and tells so much.

In a museum,
The world calls.

In a concert—
The music lifts me to higher grounds
Beauty inside me moves my soul
Life becomes sound.

In a concert,
The world calls.

In a bookstore—
The treasure of writing brought together in masses
So much insight for a curious mind to explore
My eyes need time, but it passes.

In a bookstore,
The world calls.

And in a train,
The world remains
On the outside while I’m looking in.

Questions abound
Answers seem few,
Each day my path begins anew.

When will this journey for me become,
A journey I stop learning from?

These steps I take will never stall,
For outside, and in,

The world

Still calls.

Beach Poem

The shaded silhouettes of the palm trees stretch out before me,
As the sun falls slowly towards the horizon behind.

Dark trunks painted on the sand, now elongated
practically reaching the ocean from where I sit a hundred yards back.

The light on these magnificent trees, as on my skin, becomes golden--
a soothing change from the day's harsh rays.

The breeze from the water drops a few degrees,
continuing its gentle caress over my body as I lay here enjoying the moment.

Every footprint in the sand has become a pronounced shape
and the beach becomes a field of tiny pyramids.

It's getting late, I should go,
but being here feels perfect.

And I want to see how far these shadows can stretch.
7-10-07