Category Archives: Faith

Ask For The Ancient Paths

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I am not an all-terrain vehicle.
I am a one-terrain vehicle, custom-made for the
Ancient Paths.
I can travel on other paths, but it’s a quick mess of
Potholes and breakdowns when I do.

Ancient Paths are ancient
Like river beds and valleys are ancient; they
Don’t change.

But Ancient Paths aren’t old; they are timeless.
They are me walking this time timelessly, walking
Today’s stretch hemmed in by
Eternity. Breathtaking!

They aren’t weed-necked or hard to find. Open my eyes,
Open my front door – there’s the trail-head.

They aren’t hard to stay on. Thy Word is a lamp unto
My feet and a light unto my path.

They aren’t hard to be on. No matter the
Geography, or the weather,
They are restful, because thus says the Lord.

They aren’t crowded because ‘Ancient’ translates
‘Absurd’ when viewed from afar.

They aren’t deserted, either. Walkers from every
Far reach of the sun’s warmth know
They are on this path by grace, and
Line the curb when their walk is
Finished to cheer on those still walking.

Ancient Paths are my joy, the
Best meal around the table I’ve ever had,
The answer to the why question, the way of loving
All the people I am given to love,
Courage to call good
Good and evil evil,
Humility to sit low,
My language, my music, my perfume.
My way forward,

My way home.

“Thus says the Lord: Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.”  Jeremiah 6:16

dscn6568

And Did You See That Sky?

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The beatitudes are a loop I start over
Again and
Again.

A good loop, though,
Not a stagnating seether like when
The guy in the car in front of me has a
Brake-to-accelerator time that is so
Incomprehensibly SLOW he just ekes through the
Yellow light and there I am for another
Eternal cycle of cross traffic and left-turners,
And not just that, but one block east, a train comes,
Crawling through at its
City-limits pace that, correct me if I’m wrong,
Is either slowing down or teasing me,
And the graffiti is exotic, but let’s not be
Postive here,
And the caboose must be down in
Good Hope. So I’m caught,
Apoplectic. Because the guy.

No, the Sermon is an
“Oh, Yeah” loop, a start back at the
Beginning that isn’t a regression. An “Oh, wait, let me
Go back and pick that poverty up again and hang on to it
This time.  Seems to be key.”
A loop where
Starting over isn’t starting over.

Oh, yeah, I’m lower than you,
You, who I am
Scorning right at this moment.
Oh, yeah. Judgment turns to humility, right quick.

Oh, yeah, that despicable thing you are doing, I do it
First and worst. Lament. . .Patience.
Starting with, Oh, yeah,
The guy.

Meekness only happens when
I squarely face the
Oh, yeah, I was empty; now I’ve been filled.
“And this not of myself,” but flood waters from the
Sky after
Drought. More than I need, so I can say,
“Take your time, guy,
And did you see that sky?!”

And I hunger, hunger for the wholeness of no
Holes.
Oh, yeah, start again. I am

Destitute, but! The destitution is that
Bait-and-switch of heaven,
That darkness-draped gift of gold.
That one more proof of a love so stunning.
And the loop is a steady line
Toward wholeness,
Holiness.

Oh, yeah.