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No Answer

August 25, 2010 in Faith, Life, Poetry with 21 Comments

Monday night as I was writing yesterday’s post, I was reminded of a poem I wrote back in 1994.  I think it was the first poem I ever wrote.  It was written out of a desperately empty heart.  I debated sharing it here because I was not sure it fit.  It is in some ways highly personal and after sharing it with one person they told me it was depressing.  Despite that, it’s remained close to my heart.

As I said I wasn’t sure about posting it until today (Tuesday).  It was this comment by a dear friend that was confirmation.  I’m still not sure how it fits into my post from yesterday, but I felt the undeniable pressure to post it here.

No Answer

Dry and fragile, like the fall leaves,
my spirit finds no satisfaction, no relief.

I cry out “Oh my God, where are you now?”
Yet, still this emptiness lingers with no relief.

My heart finds joy and is soaring,
like an eagle on the blue.
How then, my heart then finds
no joy and comfort to ease my aching soul?

I cry out again, “Oh Lord, my God?
Where are you now?”
But still no answer to this loneliness I feel.

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I Long For Eden

August 18, 2010 in Faith, Life, On Mission, Poetry with 7 Comments

I used to write poetry often, but I haven’t written a poem in a minimum of nine years.  Talk about a dry spell, writers block, etc.

The other day as I prepared to round the corner that would nearly drop me on our door step, it tickled.  A few lines.  I dropped my stuff as soon as I walked in the door and made a dash for my Moleskin and pen.  I had to take these images and put them to paper.

Most of the time my poetry is based off of circumstances in my life.  This one is no exception.  God is performing Extreme Makeover: Heart Edition on this 35 year old soul.  He’s teaching, purging, tearing down and building anew.  He is whetting my soul’s pallet for what a life without sin is.

I’d forgotten the process.  The wrestling through it.  How the words of a poem take shape and then morph into a different shape.

How the lines give voice to my heart’s whispers.


I long for Eden

Where sin did not destroy
Where perfection reigned

Where jealousy did not infect
Where pride did not stage civil war

Where death had not yet stolen
Where greed and selfishness did not take possession

Where separation did not exist

I long for Eden

Where communion was a walk side by side
Where joy was in the rise and fall of the sun and moon

Where worship existed in every breath

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Graphic by Shawn Landis

Sustaining

May 27, 2010 in Faith, Life, Poetry with 5 Comments

I used to write poetry.  It is something I miss doing, but the creative words that would pour from heart & mind to pen to paper don’t seem to come anymore.  It is something that I’ve asked God to put back into my life.

Here is one I wrote nearly ten years ago.

Only by You am I sustained.
By Your right hand you uphold me.
In disappointments and shattered dreams,
You are the shoulder on when I lean.

You wipe away my tears!
Your peace overwhelms me!
In sorrow I am filled with joy!
By your grace you have kept me!

(August 03, 2000)

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