Here I Am (Psalm 3)

My God, there are many who wish to undo me;

   many who want me undone!

   Many, who say,

   God is not on my side that She does not have my back

Indeed…

you are ruthless, my Lady,

   and seem not to care what happens to me

   as I go about your service.

So I cry out, “Here, I am,”

   answer me.

I am tired and need some rest;

   help me stay awake, help me rest assured.

I will not be afraid

   despite those who do not support me

   despite those who do not believe in me.

Rise up, my God

   and lift me up, my Lady!

Take the breath away of those, who would undo me;

   let them be undone without a vote.

Be on my side and have my back;

   let my prayer be:

   I have received many graces and blessings,

   give me more graces and blessings.

True Peace

God’s peace is not the world’s peace,

it is a true peace versus a fake peace.

The peace of God lives for the covenant,

the peace of the world lives for the transaction.

Peace pretenders grip competition.

Peacekeepers embrace cooperation.

They remain calm in adversity,

resigned to justice with mercy.

Peace pretenders make up opposition.

Peacekeepers are gentle and kind.

They remain humble in hardship,

with good will to their enemies.

Peace pretenders annoy allies.

Peacekeepers accept divergence.

They remain patient in service

soothing hurts and healing wounds.

The peace of God-is graceful and blessed.,

The peace of the world is empty and void,

World’s peace enables trivial triflings.

God’s peace empowers real freedom.

Freedom

I have truth on good authority;

but, it’s relative and incomplete

and it cannot be tethered or bought.

Truth’s way is lit by obedience.

To obey creates peace and accord

and basks me in gentle Love’s soft Light.

I’m careful to nurture this virtue.

Obedience begets harmony;

disobedience ends in discord.

Obedience is freedom’s fulcrum,

the hinge of fierce and free submission,

life swings from it and pivots on it.

The dictates of my conscience obey

a sacred will without remorse.

Freedom is righteous obedience.

Willfulness has no authority.

Obedience sanctifies self-will

by upholding a sacred resolve.

“Obedience re-directs self-will…

It gives strength to the soul…

It spiritualizes one’s actions.”[1]

[1] Father Judge Meditations p. 224

Cultivate

There are times to produce

and there are times to consume.

I am called to balance both

I cannot just create,

I cannot just devour,

the fruit is not the harvest.

Neither needs nor wants make it –

to give and give harms,

to take and take hurts,

the fruit is to cultivate.

There are times to produce

and there are times to consume.

If I spend all my time selling,

my soul does not profit.

If I spend all my time buying,

my heart does not swell.

Life and love are not transactional –

the hunter accepts what is found,

the gatherer embraces what is held –

cultivation enjoys relationship

There are times to produce

and there are times to consume.

Better Angels of Our Nature

the delusion of ownership can cripple

receiving and sharing is empowering

Who?

kindness and gentleness with each other

as we walk hand-in-hand and shoulder-to-shoulder

What?

spiritual gifts are not accumulated  

possession is zero tenths of the New law

When?

preparation is always in all ways

believing my opportunity will come

Why?

to have everlasting peace and harmony

to flourish while in dialogue with our God

Where?

Communion is not in another place

Oneness is right here and right now in this place

How?

“We are not enemies, but friends… passion may

have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection…”[2]

capitalism sees worth in the harvest

holiness achieves union with cultivation

[1] Abraham Lincoln (1861 Inauguration Speech)

[2] ibid

Be the Change

“Let us change

our lives, our minds and our hearts. 

Let us turn

our affections from wrongdoing to God.” [i]

To talk the talk,

I must

walk the walk

To be transforming,

I must

embrace being transformed.

Believe what I say,

because

it matches what I do.

I empower when I transform,

indeed

when I transfer, I transmit.

Take it personal,

indeed

be the change.

Let us strive

to satisfy Justice and Mercy

To make reparation and amend the way.

[i] Father Judge Meditations p. 97: line 18

Helper (Psalm 72)

Endow our leaders with your justice, O God,

   our children with your righteousness.

Judge your people in righteousness, and

   give the weak and vulnerable justice.

Bestow on us the majesty of the mountains,

   and the fruition of the orchards.

Defend the sick and wounded, and

   help our needy children

Her radiance will endure as long as the sun,

   Her presence as long as the moon,

   always in all ways.

She will nurture us like rain on a mown field,

   like showers watering the earth

   She will quench our thirst.

Long live God!

   For She is precious to us.

Pray to Her, and

   bless Her everyday in every way.

In Her days the just will flourish;

   prosperity will abound for all our time.

She will rule from sea to sea

   and to the ends of the earth.

Foreigners will bow before Her, and

   Her enemies will taste the sand.

Merchants from distant shores

   will bring tribute to Her;

Leaders of every nation

  will present Her with gifts.

Yes, the heads of nations will bow down to Her

   and all peoples will serve Her.

Alone Together

This new normal does not resemble

normal at all, it is abnormal.

We have been changed

and the way is different

Forced to be separate,

I long to comingle.

The stress of all alone,

makes me treasure being together.

I am not alone,

and we are not together.

A common threat,

creates unique responses.

My presence requires

careful listening.

My absence necessitates

persistent waiting.

Alone together spins

community.

Putting up with and taking care of

a different way

Leap

Change takes a leap, not a jump –

It’s a heartfelt process.

 

My reflection tells the tale –

my neighbor’s health,

my planet’s well-being,

my cosmos’ animation.

 

That is who I am.

My whole is greater

than the sum of my parts

being one with differences creates harmony

 

I am what I say –

my “yes” must be “yes”

my “no” must be “no”

I must do and not just try.

 

Every voice has a place

Every insight needs an ear

Every answer questions

Every question confirms hope.

 

Practice makes the leap possible

submissive kindness

tender mercy

dynamic compassion

 

My heartfelt leap makes us one

Alone together we are beloved