Hearts

Together

Our hands have made

These four walls

And called it church,

As if we could contain

The glory of God

Within the corners 

Of a building.

Stained glass windows

Shed light

In its dark places.

Magnificent heights

Turn our gaze

Heavenwards.

We stand

Reciting hymns

And written prayers.

Side by side we sit

In neatly arranged pews,

Sharing little more 

Than a smile and hello.

When we leave these walls

We leave church,

With full hands

And empty hearts.

And still we come back

Sunday after Sunday.

And still 

Our Heavenly Father 

Stands and waits,

Knocking

At the door of our heart

Because that,

That is what he wants,

He wants our hearts.

Today

Be still,

Slow down

Sweet heart of mine.

The light is not yet gone,

The day is still at hand.

It Is Well

The sun shines on this day

Sweet melodies

Echo all around.

Still waters

Reflect the brilliance of these hours

Summer's breath

Lingers on, full of promise

It is well with my soul.

Troubled waters stir,

Doubt and despair

Create chaos in this order

Fortresses are shaken.

Through dark waters

You remind me

Of your constant steady gaze,

And in this moment 

Still I can say

It is well with my soul.

You are

 All the colours 
Of the rainbow

After a long night's rain.

Stranger

Before we were strangers

We were friends

Maybe something more.

You knew me

And I knew you

Almost completely.

Spring bloomed

Full of promise

Together

We anticipated our future.

We walked together

In summer

Your hand took mine

I think that's when we knew.

Autumn leaves fell

Your words began to tell

Of all the reasons

This couldn't be.

Winter turned cold

Along with your heart

Two strangers we were

Our friendship torn apart.

Burning

This feels a little too familiar
Tear stained face
Hands clenched into fists
Burning heart
Trying not to let it tear apart.

Eight Years

Today we sat,
I sat next to you
And you sat next to me.
We talked,
I talked and you listened.
But mostly
You talked and I listened.
You spoke of life,
Eight years
And yet you have known more heartache
Than I ever have
In all my twenty seven years.
You wept
At the pain of your father's hands.
Hands designed to love and comfort
But in his brokenness
He hurt and wounded you.
And then he left,
Leaving behind a gaping chasm
Between father and son.

So I pray,
I pray that one day
You would know the deep love
Of your Heavenly Father.
That the sting of pain
Made known by your earthly father
Would be soothed and forgotten,
Forgiven
In the sweetness
Of the knowledge -
The depth
The height
The breadth
The weight
Of Jesus' great love.
For you,
His child
His beloved.