The gift of tongues

Grant to me, O Lord,
the gift of tongues,
that I might speak a word
powerful and true.
Jesus.

Grant to me, O Lord,
the gift of tongues
that I might speak a word
to bring others peace.
Jesus.

Grant to me, O Lord,
the gift of tongues,
that I might speak a word
of illuminating light.
Jesus.

Grant to me, O Lord,
The gift of tongues,
That I might speak a word,
ringing loud with love.
Jesus.

Lenten struggle

Our times are filled to overflowing
with the staggering weight of things.
Frozen gazes locked to TVs,
wrists chained to computer keypads,
dragging behind chains of houses
stuffed with the debris of malls,
we lurch and strain to move.

Tonight I dream of deserts,
empty spaces where the wind can blow.
The Son of God sits on a rock
and looks up at the stars --
emptiness upon emptiness and yet
filled with the glory of God.

Lord, make us empty again
that we too may be filled
with your shining light.

Welcome, Lent

Lent comes wrapped in purple,
like twilight at the end of day,
sunset before eternal dawn.

Now all voices fall silent
and hidden stars start to gleam
in the darkening dome of heaven.

Lent Haiku

Spring plants reach skyward,
but humans bow low, sending
their roots in search of water.

I Saw a Vision Once

I saw a vision once

On an ordinary day
In my ordinary way
I was avoiding 
An urge to pray.

The Spirit kept tugging,
kept gently bugging
while I ignored
the voice of the Lord.

But He would not stop,
He would not quit,
Until I found 
A place to sit,
To open up my heart and say,
"All right, all ready, I will pray."

What happened then was all His grace.
He snatched me up to a heavenly place.
I saw His throne, I saw His love,
a thunderous river from above,
pouring down on us below,
an endless, ever-giving flow.

The years have come, the years have gone,
and yet the vision lingers on.
When days are dark and nights are long,
When the heart falls silent without song,
I let the vision rise once more,
I stand at heaven's open door.

Lift up your face
toward His throne.
The Spirit says "Come and taste!"
Listen! Go now. Make haste.