Revolution

I wrote this a couple years ago and thought I'd share it...
It was written from a place of "I just don't get it" mixed with a hint of, obvious, sarcastic humor...

The common, simple
Cubans
paper-skin hands holding
ration books

yeah-- ration books
sweating, hours in line-
waiting. A gallon of milk (but only for 7, younger or dying)

A delicious ad in eye-catching colors;
The fresh cut deli-style, dripping, saucy sight....
Layers of savory meat,
nestled perfectly between aged cheese and
July's garden of veggies.
Senses halt to take it in.
"Cuban sandwich.."
Sweltering buds play kick-ball in my mouth.

Huh....Meat?
Most eyes have never seen.
Half a chicken [a week]for FOUR!
Is doled by luck itself.
So I have to ask,
What exactly IS a Cuban sandwich?

Wait--
It must be part of the green movement..

Irony stands proud over eco-friendly wasteland.
Waving red flags of peace-
[15% organic folks!]
While X-mart peddles "transitional cotton" wear
hand-stitched by children,
we sit with suction-cupped eyes to the tube,
in our non-toxic, biodegradable homes,
proud to be American, where at least we know we're free?
And self preservation devours Cuba
licking fingers as if each were--

"Cuban sandwich...."

Now that ladies and gentlemen...
....that is a glimpse of a Revolution.

From Dust to Doves

What do you think when you lie there for hours,
sleepless,
and yesterdays milk sits,
and curdles and sours,
while windowsill cacti birth flower upon flower,
and monochrome visions surrender their power.

Thoughts, dreams, cold whispers
hastily snare,
swift contemplation
leaves the soul bare.
And they shred and they tear
the flesh
which, at best,
is null, void and dead.

Dust in the end.

But His strength engulfs sorrow,
holding steadfast to hope,
through faith, I am hollowed.
And He mends fractured wings,
forming doves out of sparrows,
as He paints new tomorrows.

His golden hands hold the scars,
of the stars.
And I am new once again.

Meet me there

Daddy I'm weak,
Lord, I want to seek
your face.
Why won't my hands reach,
fettered members are
leashed..
Tears refusing,
confusing,
wanting, but not choosing.

He breaks when we don't.
Help me friend,
save me Jesus,
because my heart won't.

Will you catch me
if I fall?
If on my knees I crawl
to the ends of forever,
say you will meet me there.

Illistrations.

I had a meeting with God today..
It was strange,
but much needed..

I left the house with a small errand list.
It was a stretch because of the 100 degree weather,
and this headache/toothache I have been combating for the past week.
Needless to say, I was feeling very self absorbed in my pain, and in the fact that I leave tomorrow for a week..

I got the girls situated in the cart at Fred's and as I was heading into the store I saw a young man sitting on the ground.. He looked about my age, maybe younger, his head was full of long thick dreads and his clothes were filthy.. I usually get nervous and go the long way around beggers, I am kind of paranoid that they may be predators, and being the mother bear that I am.. But for some reason I walked by him and smiled, his eyes were soft- not shifty like most I have come in contact with.. I noticed he had a sign but I kind of acted like I didn't see it.. I couldn't read the words on it but my guess was that he needed money or something.. So I quickly made my way past and prayed that someone would help him in the way that he REALLY needed..

Well I got into the store and I thought "maybe I should get that guy a bible, he needs Jesus".. So I took the long way around the store and as I was walking past the water God told me to get one.. And I thought "Of course Lord! It's 100 degrees outside, he must be parched.." So I smiled to myself and asked, "what else?"... I really didn't hear anything else so I grabbed an apple and thought, "who doesn't want an apple.."

Then I grabbed the few things I needed and headed over to the book section.. Well, I got really frustrated.. All they had was a giant King James version bible and a bunch of self help books.. So I was looking through the books, thinking I would just get him one of those, and I found myself getting really irritable with my kids for grabbing at stuff and fussing...

So I said forget it and left the store..
But when I got back outside the man was gone.

WHAT?!

"Lord, didn't you tell me to get water?"
He said, "yes, YOU need the water and I NEED you to trust me."

It was only then that I realized HOW thirsty I was..
It's completely metaphoric,
In fact I'm second guessing as to whether that guy was even there to begin with.

So crazy what the Lord uses to show us we need to be filled with His spirit,
with His living water...

Redemption

Surviving troubles and trials,
through crooked smiles,
selfishness drains,
fear takes the reins.

Spirit frustrated, mind concentrated,
carried away, don't want to stay.
Condemnation burns within-
from sin...

Who are we but rag-dolls pulled to and fro,
by a seam ripping world, who tears at the soul.
But Daddy holds tender our hearts with His hands,
and grace falls like rain,
redeeming the land.

Thoughts-
captivated, manipulated,
by all the wrong things.
A hunger so deep-
unless on our knees
is just out of reach.
And tears fall down His cheek.

Daddy.

He speaks, He moves
mountains.
Every breath taking flight
to heights beyond arms reach.
Withering time, silver-gray lined.
Weary hands clasp,
knees crush the earth,
eyes birthing tears.
And mercy reigns, or rains,
restoring sullen hearts.

Bernie.

A friend died last week.. A man I was so blessed to know, a man who was so close to the Lord that his testimony brings me to my knees in humility.. I remember the first time I saw him- He was sitting, alone, at a small coffee house I quite often frequented.. He wasn't dressed to impress, in fact, his clothes were dull, he was unshaven, his head was down, and the way his hand curled his warm mug seemed almost hopeless.. I distinctly remember my first thoughts of him, "oh that poor homeless soul, it is so nice they gave him a free cup of coffee." It wasn't more than a few weeks that I started a volunteer job at this small cafe and within my first hours there I came to meet this man... He walked in very briskly, so quickly I thought he might forget to stop... I met him at the counter and he thrust a dollar or so into my hand and grabbed his own cup.. Again my thoughts were "homeless, hopeless"... I asked one of the girls about him "Oh, thats Bernie" she told me, "He is a disabled veteran whose dad passed away and left him a fortune and he doesn't work so he comes in here for coffee everyday- throughout the day." I was floored... I learned a huge lesson about first impressions that day... It didn't take him long before he started telling me stories about himself, his life... I came to see the beauty in Bernie, I saw a light that was only explained to be that of Jesus... I sat in the crowd at his memorial yesterday and could really only smile at the memories of him, the stories that were told about the impact he made on our lives, the lives Jesus touched through him...

Rest in peace Bernie my friend, enjoy the java in heaven, and tell Jesus hi for me....