when spring comes

When Spring comes,
flowers can’t help but grow
and let go of the winter.

When a leaf falls in the stream,
it can’t help but follow
the pull of the water.

And when the sun
shines down on me,
I cannot help but quiver.

I shake off
who I used to be
and jump into the river.

bubbles

This afternoon, I was strolling through
an unfamiliar neighborhood,
when I walked past a long driveway
where a kind grandmother stood.

She stood outside her little home,
blowing bubbles through a bubble wand
for her grandson to chase- how he ran!
But some escaped his grasping hands,

then accompanied me to the end of the street,
'til they finally disappeared in defeat.
I watched them float against the blue sky.
They traveled slowly, and so did I.

Serenely spending all my hours,
watching days unfold like flowers,
talking to invisible people,
praying under an invisible steeple.

Who can tell what a day might bring?
I shed my cares and start to sing,
a bubble, small with fragile skin,
death's palm ever o'er-shadowing.

I will follow you to the end of the road,
of life, that unknown neighborhood.
And when I vanish and am no more,
I will, shining, arrive at heaven's door.


day 6 prompt: hour
day 8 prompt: long

a conversation

Is God still in control?
Yes.
Is God still good?
Yes.
Does God still love me?
Yes.
Does God still care about me?
Yes.
Will He ever stop caring?
No.
Does God know everything about me?
Yes.
Does God know everything that will happen in the future?
Yes.
Does He have good plans for me?
Yes.
Can I trust Him completely?
Yes.
Can I praise Him, even now?
Yes.
Could things get hard?
Yes.
Will worrying help?
No.

Okay.

God, you are in control.
You are good.
You love me.
You care about me.
I can't sit here and say that no one does
or ever will.
You will never stop.
You know me completely,
you know each moment of my life
before one comes to pass.
You have good plans for me.
I can trust you completely,
and that is why I can praise you.
Even when things get hard,
you are still in control.
You are still good.
Your love never fails.

If I fear you,
I have nothing to fear.

Forgive me for being jealous and envious of others.
Help me to be content where I am right now,
to praise you where I am,
to follow you where I am,
to trust you where I am,
to let go of shame,
to let you grow me where I am
and not compare myself to others
or where I think I should be.
God, be near to me.

storm

Light streams in through my window
pressing on me like a stamp.
I draw the thick blue curtains
and turn on a lamp.

Rolling over on my side,
I write a letter to the sun.
I tell him that I miss him
and can't wait for him to come.

Then, lying in my dim bedroom,
dream of light and love and warmth,
tuck the letter under my pillow,
and wait for it to storm.


day 5 prompt: window

exit

anxiety,
my constant companion,
scans every new room
for the nearest exit.

marriage is a room
with no doorway but death.
i don't think i'm ready
to step into it yet.

flatten the curve

some days i wish
i could flatten the curve
of my feeling.

when the curve swings so low
i wish that my heart
would stop beating.

sweet chariot,
swing low to scoop me up,
to carry me home.

i don't really want
to be flattened.
i want to be known.



day 4 prompt: curves

measure

I could measure every part of you,
calculate every dimension.
I could count each hair upon your head
and determine how fast it lengthens.
I could give you the most thorough
physical examination.
Tell me, friend,
Would I truly know you then?

I could look into your family tree,
to understand your history.
I could explore your town, your school, your home,
to see the different sights you see.
I could come with you to work
and put it all into a spreadsheet.
Friend, tell me
Would that cover everything?

I could put down all my measuring tools
and sit inside your silence.
I could listen to your poetry
and put away the science.
I could stay up with you all night
and slowly gain your confidence.
I know I can never know you,
but tell me,
Would you like to dance?


day 2 prompt: measure

marble machine

My tears roll through
a magical marble machine
of your design.
Stained with swirls of grief,
spinning, sliding toward relief.
I know this sadness will be brief,
but it’s all mine.

practice

I choose to view this challenge 

as an opportunity to practice patience.

And instead of drowning in worry,

or wallowing in self-pity,

I will say "Thank you, God

for giving me this opportunity."

And I will practice.

Just like learning an instrument

or multiplication tables,

I need a lot of practice,

and it's not always easy,
and I don't always want to,
and sometimes I fall flat on my face.

But the more I practice

the better I get.

and the more I get to enjoy the good fruit

that it produces.

The more that I taste that good fruit,

the less I desire the bad fruit,

the comfortable, familiar, deadly fruit

of my past.

Lord, you have washed me clean

and made me new.

You have set me free-

now I'm free to follow You.

I am not auditioning

for a part in your kingdom.

I am practicing a part

I've already graciously been given,

and I want to perform it well.

Thank you for these opportunities

to rehearse and retell redemption,

to remember where I came from

and where I'm going.

pearl

My hand is curled up in yours

like a little white pearl inside an oyster.

You hold my hand as if you clasp
the key to some curious treasure.

But smooth and round, the pearl slips out

and drops into the sea.

She sinks deep down and speculates,

Will he dive in after me?

day 1 prompt: hands

strong enough

My heart is wide, and like my eyes,
boasts the brightest shade of blue.
If it's big enough to hold the sun,
it's big enough for you.

My heart is wide, and like the sun,
it needs to be held too.
If you're strong enough to let me go,
I hope you never do.

march

The sun is a heavy glory,
weighing me down with delight.
The trees slowly gain freckles
of light green life.

My face is a crowded forest,
soaking in each drop of sun.
My heart quickly loses interest
in barren winter months.