“Our Longest Days”

And that, my friend’s as far as sun can go –
Now it swings back in endless to and fro,
Just like our lives, as group, and ones we know –
Excessive ends exhaust – the middle’s glow.

I asked You, Lord, “What evil is, in fact”;
For writing books revealed the view I lacked –
A grasp of evil deep within our hearts;
A glimpse is all I brought to novel’s art.

“You pray like that, you’d better duck”, she said;
God answers prayer – into such paths we’re led;
He opens eyes of blind where e’er you stand –
Then you will know of it, for all’s at hand.

For God’s not scared of “Knowing” what He sees
Each waking moment we’re not on our knees –
How evil’s snake glides silent in our world,
Just like at Eden’s start to present swirl.

The tempter’s power to mimic and persuade,
Perceivers see; despair of man’s parade
Of blinded mess (“For the evil one’s a myth”)
“Yeah, right, says he – not from the place I sit.”

And then we see – that darkness hates the light;
Light penetrates and brings with it our sight;
“Kweh-keen!” They called to child out on the ice,
“Just turn around – don’t let the lure entice.”

What’s that you say? “Let go and give Him room
To turn things ’round, bring light into such gloom?”
“Let not the darkness be as light to thee”;
“For in My light reality you’ll see”.

Lord You are good – yield not within this swirl;
You walk with us as fiery darts are hurled;
We think it’s us – “Folks, see what I have wrought
Within this peaceful land forefather’s brought”.

Were partly right, but attitude’s informed
By data skewed, as ’neath each flag we’re born
Into a world so bad we’d not survive
Without protection – lets us be alive.

But as I turn, with others on this day,
To shorter light, as world tilts back its way,
Be with us now – our social world’s a mess,
As we are too, with hearts far short of best.

Thanks for Your patience with our blinded side;
Thanks for Your good; and evil which you hide
Lest we despair, for selves and those we love,
As we press on – join in the push and shove.

“Lead us”, You said to pray, as we arise
Each new-found day which brings before our eyes
A world of wonder, marvelous indeed –
Temptation now to yield to inner greed.

But when we ask, You’re quite prepared to show
The larger context of the life we know;
Not just its surface – deeper yet, within
Each aching heart, torn up by inward sin –

Rebelliousness – from You; like those two trees –
The tree of Life, and knowing which will please;
We draw our life, or what we think life is
From tainted fruit, engaging evil’s biz.

A thousand, thousand flavors of that crap
Rolls out from hearts attuned to savor that;
And yet we long for life e’en while we strive
To blend it in with what we most despise.

How little’s seen here on oasis-shore,
Where good prevails as surface, covers gore
And slime beneath – pretense the best we can
Produce ourselves – ersatz our good as man.

I know there’s more – it’s deeper yet by far;
I think, “Enough I’ve seen – no more, by Gar!”
And yet what’s more is what perceivers see –
The dark ahead, while others dance with glee.

Can’t say I like “Discernment’s other side”,
Or casting out, in You, what folks would hide,
To keep pretense as shield before their ways;
Preferring dark to light – this gospel says –

Is ours today if we would simply turn
And face the shore, deep lessons having learned
Out on thin ice, as short-cut now gives way
To icy bath, here, on remorse’s day.

“Kweh-keen” they call from solidness of rock;
“Turn ’round my friend, you’ve stopped – no longer walk
Across thin ice; turn ’round; then walk to shore;
Forswear such paths, this day – forevermore.

Lord, You have shone in darkness of our homes;
Enhanced the flavor of our food; we’ve roamed
In danger’s path, false estimates beyond
Reality, or magic’s winsome wand.

Restore Your vision to its rightful place
Within our hearts; empowered by Eden’s grace
From tree of life; drawn daily, mana’s feast
In wilderness – we pray to be released.

Lord, thanks for this, and journey’s paper trail;
Thank You that light o’er darkness still prevails;
Thanks for new chances when the ice grows thin;
Thanks for those calls from shore – “Life now begin!”

Thanks Lord for this.

Navigation