Practice
In the next life
I’ll be selfless
Always fearless
Always kind
Always true
I’ll be thoughtful
Always helpful
Always loving
and subdued
I’ll fly with angels
Smile at strangers
Give to others
and to you
All my time
All my treasure
At your pleasure
I will do
In this life, from now on
I will practice at these things
So I will never falter
when the Lord
gives me my wings.
-J
Blown Away
As orange petals fall
a lily, bright and tall
with stem, leaves of green
sheds its majesty
I watch the petals
before they wither,
each, still bright
and lying on a table
I set them
by the vase,
in a lovely bowl,
placed at its base
some, still showy,
some just about to go
their beauty, astounding,
nearly ending
the geometry, marvels,
these orange lilies
refusing to dim, still here,
not struggling to remain
another cascades
onto the table, I leave it
It’s beauty and color
to surely fade and then,
it’s simply blows away.
-J
Five Minutes
You struggle
You feel like you are on the losing end
Defective
Rejected
Uptight and scared
You can feel the hopelessness
The fruitlessness
The worthlessness
and then…
in just 5 minutes
it happens
it spins you ‘round
it restores your worth
it gives you hope
no longer bound
by the fear and the sound
of your racing heart
A miracle, no less!
This thing that restores
that comes about
without your trying
with all your crying
you realize that
your faith, so little
is rewarded at last
in just 5 minutes.
-J
Redemption
As I walk the straight and narrow
I’m reminded of a time
When the path was not so straight
It was crooked, it was bent
It was twisted out of shape
That path is now behind me
I wouldn’t have taken it if I knew
that regrets, remorse would find me
when I’m walking straight and true
If I could go back
I would have taken another fork
I would have paid attention to the warnings
Corked the bottle I uncorked
But now I am redeemed
by the blood of Jesus Christ
All his grace, all his glory
His forgiveness and his price
All my faults
I give them now
to the God of my own choice
Despite the path that I have taken
finally, now, I can rejoice
I trust in him and him alone
He loves and guides me where I roam
He forgives me for my many sins,
and all my thoughts and might-of-beens.
-J
I AM YOU!
The relief I have prayed for
More than a reprieve
A cancellation of my sins
To awaken anew
To look in the mirror
and comprehend a miracle
Who am I
I ask?
The answer narrow, clear
I am you
You are me
We walk together
Through forests scary,
over mountains high,
rough terrain
and cloudy skies
We walk the path
of human frailty
As we walk this path
and pace ourselves
we share challenges, heartaches
and triumphs
In all these things we are the same
The world, one great alliance
You are me and I am you
We forget our sorrow,
we forget our pain,
our human error
It’s all the same
We forget at our own peril
Don’t forget!
We all have stumbled
We have prices we have paid for
To reach out and lend a helping hand;
a kindness shown our fellow man
is just what God is there for.
-J
A Little Prayer
When your down and troubled
When the weight is heavier than you can take
When your mind is tortured and your heart is heavy
Say a little prayer
It doesn’t matter if your prayer’s unanswered
Take the action
Say it aloud and say it often
You might just find, the act is awesome
If no one hears, it doesn’t matter
As you have set the ball in action
Recognized the need for guidance
Allowed for God and satisfaction
Even though, you feel the same
A day will come when all the rain
Will all dry up, and all the pain
Will disappear and seem in vane
You’ll start to wonder
Though it took some time
If God has helped you
be just fine
There’s time you need to be all right
Time you need to quell the fight
Just let go with all your might
and say a little prayer.
-J
Last Leg
Careened no longer – afloat
my mind adrift
an ocean of thought
a shakedown cruise
with no room to swing a cat
a run, a voyage
a dead reckoning course
of faith and fear
almost drowning
in a sea of unknowingness
all squared away
at last exploring
the horizon wide
the past, my wake
great care, no crew
no trimmer I’ll take
last leg – I’ll make it a good one
from captains and comrades
I’ve learned the ropes
my rigging is sturdy
my bearing is straight
my life, my compass
my map, my fate
rough weather
no stranger to me
survived the great storms
on all the high seas
this one’s a doozy
my ship, it could break
from stem and to stern
the old man is awake
tossed and turned
barely escape
the wrath and the churn
of God’s might
terrifying calm
the crisp night air
my resolve out of trim
me and my boat
swaying with sea and with wind
leave me with worry, relief
and some gin
harbor sighting
a ship’s bell ringing
refuge at last, a port
or so seeming
the anchor lights
in good shape, redeeming
not one but two
soon will be gleaming
leagues of time and distance traveled
the journey soon comes to an end
my boat, a wreck, me much the same
nevertheless, I’ll state my claim…
the voyage is worthy
your boat, just the same
Avast ye young mateys
be sure you are so
for life can get stormy
this salty dog knows
great waves,
hard rain,
strong winds may blow.
-J
The Heart Truth
As we live, surely, we grow,
learn more than another
Our ignorance, our weakness,
and our happiness
Our enlightenment, our strength
and our demise
Our knowing and unknowing
Our mystery
Our truth, universal
Our difference, divine
Our purpose,
Our gift
that we have received
To comfort and give
Our time
Our effort
Our heart
as one must
uniquely and lovingly
as he would have us
Our worth, our heart
Ours to give
as no other truth empowers
nor gives reason to another.
-J
I Fall in Holes.
When you think you cannot bear any more
When you think it’s just too rough
Remember the times that you were there
Now you’re here, though times were tough
The road in life is filled with holes
We fall in, some wide and deep
Some take a while to climb out of
We’re strong but oh so weak
We scratch and claw and sometimes fall
We start again to climb the wall
although its long and steep
Remember that we fell before
We wept then crawled then leaped
Sometimes we just can’t do it all
and seek out a friend for help
They pull us up out of the hole
as we cry and sigh and yelp
When times are rough the thing to do
Is calm yourself and then
Reach out to one you trust the most
someone you call a friend
If you look up and, seemingly,
there is no friend in sight
Remember what a friend we have,
his power and his might
He’s with you everywhere you go
He’s right there with you in the hole
to offer a leg-up
He died for you, and loves you so,
He’ll help you get unstuck
When you get out and you’re on your way
be thankful that you did
Remember what he’s done for you
until you fall again . . .
-J
Just Enough
A friend misunderstands
Your car, it won’t turnover
Your rent is due again
‘bout to think that it’s all over
Then, on a rainy day
A bill you didn’t pay
The sink begins to leak
And your back begins to ache
Your tired and you think
That you deserve a little break
You pray and say amen
Then it starts all up again
Acceptance is the key
It’s all a part of life
The good and all the bad
All the joy and all the strife
Acceptance is the key
The key to all the rest
To let you feel all right
And to give it all your best
The sun begins to shine
And the birds begin to sing
You wonder ‘bout a friend
And the phone begins to ring
He asks you how you are
And you answer things are fine
Cause you know it’s so much better
Than self-pity and a whine
As your days go on forever
As the crap just piles up
Just remember that he loves you
And that, my friend, is just enough.
-J
Someone
Someone to listen
Someone to share with
Someone to walk with
Someone to pair with
Someone to cherish
Someone to adore
Someone to blow kisses
Someone to cook for
Someone to write letters
Someone to bring flowers
Someone to make tea
Someone to spend hours
Someone to go riding
Someone to wrap gifts for
Someone to enjoy the music
in our hearts, Lord
Someone to watch movies
Someone to pop popcorn
Someone to make dinner
Someone to look good for
Someone to sit by the fire
Someone to hold hands
Someone to desire
Someone to make higher
Someone to have faith in
Someone to wait-up for
Someone to spend time with
or simply to shop for
Someone to encourage
Someone to pillow fight
Someone to love as never before
with all our heart and all our might
Someone to photograph
Someone to admire
Some to watch a sunset;
a sunrise, doesn’t matter
Someone to trust
Someone to respect
Someone to honor
Someone to flatter
Someone to let go of
Someone to return
Someone to be more of
Someone that I yearn
Someone to burn for
Someone to be kind to
Someone to whisper
Someone whom to see through
Someone to touch
Someone to favor
Someone to taste
Someone to savor
Someone to understand
Someone to forgive
Someone to find peace;
that someone from within.
-J
Essence
As I think
I act
in fact
it’s my essence
I consult
myself
the result
more dependence
I feel that way
the way I do
transcendence, unlikely
unless I’m through
replacing the old
with something new
not with dope
or over-drinking
the thing to do
is to change my thinking
the same old thoughts
they lead me to
the same results
the ones I see
why not let go
if never so, if ever so
reluctantly
to change my thinking
a chance to be
a better sort
a better me
then my florescence
might I see
when I change my essence
just for me.
-J
Doin’ Fine
Made the bed this mornin’
I didn’t need no help
Kind of struck me funny
cause I did it by myself
Fried some eggs with some bacon
I put it on the side
This was kind of new to me
Had to put away my pride
Suddenly, I find
the things she used to do
in another place and time
I’m doing for myself
Guess that means I’m doin’ fine
I’m making my own coffee
Filled the sugar bowl this time
Put some milk in the creamer
and paper towels, I did unwind
I put a place mat on the table
the good china on the mat
I couldn’t help but notice
I was sittin’ where she sat
It seemed a bit less lonely
It’s a matter of some fact
I miss her but was doin’
all the things she had down-pat
Suddenly, I find
the things she used to do
in another place and time
I’m doing for myself
guess that means I’m doin’ fine
I think I’ll get the vacuum
If I can find out where it’s at
I’ll dust and let the dog out
I’ll just put her in the back
Seems all these things I’m doin’
I can do without a “knack”
I’ll just straighten out my sorrow
and might not even want her back
I’ll make my lunch,
perhaps, I’ll even have a snack
Do the dirty dishes
and I’ll put them in the rack
I sure do miss her packin’
Love notes, all in a sack
But I’ll be much better off
a just a rollin’ down the track
At dinner time, I’ll struggle
with that Betty Crocker book
I’ll make me some lasagna
just to see if I can cook
Then, I’ll get my slippers
and put ‘em on my feet
I’ll pour a glass of sherry
and then I’ll watch me some TV
I’ll light my own cigar
and I’ll find my favorite show
Put my feet on the table
Hell! cause she will never know
I’ll go to bed eventually
Maybe just to be surprised
that that empty space beside
doesn’t hurt this lonely guy
The moral of this story
if you should take an interest
Is much more than a song
It can really make a difference
Suddenly, I find
the things she used to do
in another place and time
I’m doing for myself
guess that means I’m doin’ fine.
Thanks, I’m doin’ fine.
-J
The Smile
Amazing
this life
It’s strife
Another day
just like the rest
Heavy
the stress
All the shit
All the while
giving it your best
Months
of no rest
Little done
nonetheless
you go on
Then, the day comes
somehow, prepared for
Unknowing
the therefore
you smile and relax
Worthwhile
the smile
knowing that
you’ve earned the
pleasure just to be
-J
What if…
What if I lose my job
What if the market crashes
What if she leaves;
leaves me to lie, in ashes
What if I get sick
What if I get high
What if I burn-out
or even worse, somehow, I die
What if I get accused
What if I’m forgotten
What if I lose a friend
or I’m merely treated rotten
What if my world is shakin’
What if I don’t get taken
What if I wreck my vehicle
or just swerve on down the road
What if I come in third
What if I come in last
What if my eyes are blurry
or, all a sudden, I lose my fury
What if I lose my wood
What if I get too lonely
What if I reach for you
then, you act like you don’t know me
What if it all runs out
What if I’m stuck
What if I try real hard
but in the end, don’t give a fuck
What if my hair falls out
What if there is no doubt
What if I’ve lived in vain
and there’s no room left for the pain
What if I just stop
What if I just drop
What if I just relax
and give up
What if, somehow, I know
What if I give up this worry
What if I’ve reached a point
a place without a jury
What if “now” is it
What if I’ve been carried, all along
What if God allowed these things to happen
and right here’s where I belong
What if this is my time
What if He brought me here
What if I stop the worry
and with Him, lose all the fear
What if I can finally see
the things that he has shown me
What if my eyes have opened
and see the truth, right here, before me
Has He brought me to this place
of surrender and of glory
Prepared a place for me,
so, I can tell this story
Of how, he let me wander
of how the blind can see
and He was there to guide me
to this place, that’s not of me.
-J