FATHER
MOTHER
PARENT
PROGENITOR
JEALOUS GOD
WHO WILL NOT SHARE
HIS CELESTIAL THRONE
WITH ANOTHER
WHO DOES NOT HONOR
RANK
WEALTH
POWER
BUT ONLY THE CONTENTS
OF ONE’S HEART
LIKE A PARENT
HE FINDS ALL HIS CHILDREN
EQUAL
MAY YOUR NAME BE KEPT HOLY
FROM PROFANE TRAFFIC
AND HYPOCRISY
FROM THOSE
WHO HAVE YOUR NAME ON THEIR LIPS
BUT NOT IN THEIR HEARTS
MAY WE APPROACH YOUR SECRET NAME
LIKE MOSES AND THE BUSH
WHERE YOU CALL YOURSELF
I AM
MAY YOUR KINGDOM COME
WE PRAY IT OFTEN
IF IT’S AN UNREACHABLE GOAL
WE SHOULD STOP DOING IT
WE DON’T NEED PIE IN THE SKY
BUT GOD HAS GIVEN US THE PRAYER
IT MUST BE TRUE AND ATTAINABLE
HE DOESN’T LIE
GIVE US TODAY
BREAD FOR TODAY
REMEMBERING
THAT WHEN ALL OUR NEEDS ARE MET
THE NEEDS OF THE POOR
SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED
AND ACTED ON
FORGIVE US OUR SINS
OF OMISSION
AND COMMISSION
IN RESPONSE TO YOUR GENEROSITY
MY WE FORGIVE
THOSE WHO HAVE HARMED US
DELIVER US FROM EVIL
CAUSED BY OUR PROPENSITY TO SIN
GIVE US GRACE
TO FIGHT OUR LOWER NATURE
WITHOUT IT WE CANNOT COPE
REMAND US AS A PARENT
LOVE US AS A FATHER
SCHOOL US IN THE RIGHT WAY TO LIVE
AMEN
SO BE IT…. AMEN
BEAUTY (Psalm 19)
FORGET IF YOU WILL
THE HAVOC CAUSED BY THE STORM
AND SEE A WORLD COATED IN CRYSTAL
TREES
SHRUBS
BUILDINGS
FENCES
ALL COATED IN CRYSTAL
AS THE WIND AND THE SUN COME UP
THE ICE MELTS AND DROPS
MAKING FAIRY SOUNDS AS IT LANDS
I WANT TO SAY
IT’S LIKE GRACE
COVERING AN UGLY TREE
BUT I’M PUSHING THE SIMILE TOO FAR
I DON’T BELIEVE IN UGLY TREES
BUT WINTER TREES
THAT SHOW THE SCARS OF SURVIVAL
A THING OF BEAUTY
IS A JOY FOREVER
SO SINGS THE POET KEATS
BUT THERE ARE OTHER BEAUTIES
THE MESS OF BIRTH
AND PROCREATION
WRINKLES ON A OLD PERSON’S FACE
A FAMILY GATHERED AROUND A DEATH BED
AND THE DEATH
BUT AS FOR NOW
THERE IS BEAUTY IN THE WORKS OF NATURE
AND I SEE THE HAND OF GOD
Ordinary People
WE ARE ORDINARY PEOPLE
CAUGHT UP IN EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS
EVENTS FOR WHICH WE ARE ILL PREPARED
EVENTS WHICH OFTEN OVERWHELMED US
AND WE BEHAVE POORLY
BUT THIS IS WHERE GOD CHOOSES TO MEET HIS PEOPLE
THIS IS WHAT GIVES JESUS HIS UNIQUE STATURE
FOR BEING HUMAN
HE KNEW WHAT IT MEANT TO BE TOUCHED BY LIFE
WHEN IT GOES TO ASHES
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
NO ROOM FOR A PREGNANT WOMAN
CHASED BY SOLDIERS OUT TO KILL BABIES
THE LONG ORDINARY YEARS
OF TRYING TO SUPPORT HIS MOTHER
GAINING THE RESPECT OF HIS NEIGHBORS
THEN LOSING IT
CHASED FROM HIS OWN HOMETOWN
HIS FAMILY THINKING HIM CRAZY
TRYING TO MAKE A KINGDOM OF SOULS
THEY WOULD MAKE HIM KING OF THE LAND
TRYING TO TEACH HIS SIMPLE MESSAGE TO HIS FOLLOWERS
THEY KEPT MISUNDERSTANDING
BUT WHAT HE COULD DO
WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE WOULDN'T WORK
HE COULD WORK A PIECE OF WOOD
HE MADE FARM IMPLEMENTS
AND HE COULD BRAG
THAT HIS YOKES WERE EASY
THEY WOULDN'T RUB THE ANIMAL RAW
THAT HIS YOKES WERE EASY
HE COULD MAKE THEIR BURDENS LIGHT
IF ONLY HE THOUGHT
I COULD SHAPE MEN AS I SHAPE WOOD
WOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY FRIEND
MY PEOPLE MY PEOPLE
GIVEN TO ME BY MY FATHER
GIVEN TO ME TO BE SAVED
HOW I HUNGER FOR YOUR LOVE
IMPERFECT AS IT IS
HOW I HUNGER FOR YOUR LOVE
YOU ARE THE ALPHA AND OMEGA OF MY LOVE
BEGINNING AND END
ORDINARY LETTERS
GIVEN MYSTICAL MEANING
AS ALL MY PEOPLE
ALL MY ORDINARY PEOPLE
ARE RAISED TO A MYSTICAL LEVEL
BY MY DEATH
A DEATH THEY OFTEN DO NOT VALUE
NOR WILL THEY VALUE THEIR EXALTED NATURE
AND YET I LOVE THEM WHERE THEY ARE
AS I LABOR TO MAKE THEIR ROUGH WAYS PLAIN
THEIR CROOKED WAYS STRAIGHT
AS I POUR MYSELF OUT
TO FILL THEIR VALLEYS UP WITH ME
O THAT I COULD SHAPE THEM AS I SHAPE WOOD
WOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY FRIEND
THE WIND MUST HAVE SHIFTED
FOR SUDDENLY
I FELT A CHILL
THIS IS MY BODY
TAKE AND EAT
THIS IS MY BLOOD
TAKE AND DRINK
SIMPLE STATEMENTS
BUT SCHOLARS HAVE ARGUED
FOR TWO THOUSAND YEARS
AS TO THEIR MEANING
AND HOW
WITNESS THE SCHOLAR’S DEBATE
ROMAN CATHOLIC: SACRIFICE; TRANSUBSTANTIATION
EASTERN CHRISTIANITY: TRUE SACRIFICE AND OBJECTIVE PRESENCE BUT
PIOUS SILENCE ON THE PARTICULARS
ANGLICANS/EPISCOPALIANS: REAL PRESENCE WITH OPINION
LUTHERANS - THE SACRAMENTAL UNION: "IN, WITH, AND UNDER THE
FORMS"
METHODISM - REAL PRESENCE AS "HOLY MYSTERY"
CALVINIST REFORMED: SPIRITUAL FEEDING, "PNEUMATIC"
PRESENCE
ZWINGLIAN REFORMED: NO REAL PRESENCE
ET CETERA ET CETERA ETCETERA
WHY SHOULD IT TAKE A PHD TO UNDERSTAND GOD
GOD HAS SAID IT
I BELIEVE IN GOD
OR OTHERWISE
NOTHING MAKES SENSE
I LEAN MORE TO THE EASTERN CHURCH
TO THE INDWELLING OF GOD WITHIN ME
IN THE JEWISH TRADITIONAL ANIMAL SACRIFICES
PART OF THE ANIMAL WENT TO THE PRIEST
PART WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE
PART WAS GIVEN TO THE DONOR
FOR A FEAST IN HONOR OF THE SACRIFICE
IT WAS THOUGHT
THAT GOD ENTERED
INTO THE SACRIFICE
BECAME ONE WITH THE SACRIFICE
SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE
ATE THE SANCTIFIED GIFT
THEY FELT THEY WERE PARTAKING
OF GOD
NOT A STRANGE IDEA
IN THAT PERIOD OF HISTORY
IT WAS A COMMON THING
THIS GOD MEAL IN ANCIENT TIMES
THAT TAKING GOD
WITHIN THEMSELVES
THEY BECAME GOD-LIKE
SINCE GOD CANNOT BE DIVIDED
THEY BECAME OF GOD
BECAME AS WITH ONE NATURE
ALL THE FELLOW COMMUNICANTS
BECAME AS ONE
WALKING IN THE STRENGTH
OF THAT MEAL
FORTY DAYS
A FEW LINES ON A PAD OF PAPER
AND CREATION HAPPENS
LIKE LAZARUS COMING TO LIFE
NOT A PICTURE
BUT THE ESSENCE
THE TRUE NATURE
OF WHAT IS PORTRAYED
THE HEART SEES
THE FINGERS DRAWN THE LINES
WHAT IS LEFT OUT
IS AS IMPORTANT
AS THAT SHOWN
AND BOTH ARE LIKE A DREAM
THAT ONE REMEMBERS
AND TRIES TO PUT DOWN
IT DIDN'T START OUT TO BE A NOISY DAY
IN FACT THEY WERE TRYING TO BE INVISIBLE
HIDDEN BEHIND LOCKED DOORS
HE’D GONE AWAY
AND THE WAY A CHILD IS CONSOLED
BY THE SOUND OF ITS PARENT VOICE
WAS DENIED THEM
WHEN SUDDENLY THE SHUTTERS BLEW OPEN
AND KEPT BANGING BACK AND FORTH
THE ROOM WAS FILLED WITH A RUSHING WIND
THAT BLEW EVERYTHING LOOSE
AROUND THE ROOM
THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH WIND
THEY WERE FISHERMEN
WHAT THEY WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH
WERE TONGUES OF FIRE
THAT SETTLES ON THEIR HEADS
BUT DID NOT BURN
DID NOT BURN
BUT INFLAMED THEM
SO THAT THE ROOM WAS TOO SMALL
THEY RUSHED OUT TO MEET A CROWD
GATHERED BY THE SOUND OF THE WIND
AND NO MATTER
WHAT LANGUAGE
THE QUESTION
WHAT HAPPENED
WAS ASKED
THE ANSWER THEY HEARD WAS THEIR OWN LANGUAGE
AMONG THE CROWD WAS HEARD
WERE NOT THESE
THE COWARDS
THAT RAN AWAY
BUT NOW THEY SPEAK WITH ENTHUSIASM
LIKE MEN
DRUNK BEFORE THE NOON DAY HOUR
PROCLAIMING THE MERCY OF GOD
IN CELTIC TIMES
THE HOLY SPIRIT
WAS OFTEN PORTRAYED
AS A WILD GOOSE
A FITTING SYMBOL
FOR A RAUCOUS BIRTHDAY
NOT THE DOVE
COOING PEACEFULLY ON THE NEST
CONTENT
BUT A BOLD BRASH IMAGE
AN IN YOUR FACE BIRD
NO ONE HARMS WHAT IS MINE BIRD
A GET OUT OF THE PEWS AND DANCE BIRD
A MAKE YOUR VOICE BE HEARD BIRD
LET THE WORLD KNOW YOU'RE HERE BIRD
WE NEED THE DOVE
TO REMIND US THAT GOD IS GENTLE
WE NEED THE GOOSE
TO REMIND US
THAT GOD WILL BE HEARD
WE NEED THE GOOSE TO REMIND US
THAT THERE IS NEVER A POLITE TIME TO BE HEARD
IF YOUR BROTHER CRIES
TAKE CARE OF HIM
WE NEED TO LIVE LIKE THE WILD GOOSE LIVES
TRUE TO HIS NATURE
AND NOISY
DEBT OF LOVE
FRIEND
YOU ASK FOR NOTHING
YET IT IS IN THE NATURE OF LOVE
TO BE GIVING
BUT THEN WHAT TO GIVE
WHAT IN ALL I SAY OR DO
CAN EVER EQUAL OR REPAY
THE DEBT OF LOVE I OWE TO YOU
BUT THIS I GIVE
THAT NOTE WELL SUNG THAT MAKES A SONG
THAT WORD WELL SAID THAT MAKES A PLAY
THAT DEED WELL DONE THAT MAKES A DAY
IN ALL THESE THINGS THAT I SHALL EVER DO
YOU LIVE IN THEM
I SHALL REMEMBER YOU
FRIEND
YOU ASK FOR NOTHING
YET IT IS IN THE NATURE OF LOVE
TO BE GIVING
BUT THEN WHAT TO GIVE
WHAT IN ALL I SAY OR DO
CAN EVER EQUAL OR REPAY
THE DEBT OF LOVE I OWE TO YOU
BUT THIS I GIVE
THAT NOTE WELL SUNG THAT MAKES A SONG
THAT WORD WELL SAID THAT MAKES A PLAY
THAT DEED WELL DONE THAT MAKES A DAY
IN ALL THESE THINGS THAT I SHALL EVER DO
YOU LIVE IN THEM
I SHALL REMEMBER YOU
ONE OF THE WONDERS
ONE OF THE WONDERS OF THE UNIVERSE
IS HOW BY STUDYING THE RULES OF NATURE
ONE CAN DETERMINE WHERE A PLANET WILL BE
AT A CERTAIN DATE AND HOUR
ONE CAN ALSO TELL THE QUARTERS OF THE MOON
HOW ELSE TO EXPLAIN
HOW I MET YOU
THE OTHER HALF OF MY HEART
YOU MADE AND MAKE ME COMPLETE
CALL LOVE GRAVITY
AND SAY IT HAS
AND STILL DOES PULL US TOGETHER
WITHOUT YOU I WOULD SPIN OUT OF ORBIT
I AM THE MOON TO YOUR SUN
YOUR BRILLIANCE MAKES ME GLOW
ONE OF THE WONDERS OF THE UNIVERSE
IS HOW BY STUDYING THE RULES OF NATURE
ONE CAN DETERMINE WHERE A PLANET WILL BE
AT A CERTAIN DATE AND HOUR
ONE CAN ALSO TELL THE QUARTERS OF THE MOON
HOW ELSE TO EXPLAIN
HOW I MET YOU
THE OTHER HALF OF MY HEART
YOU MADE AND MAKE ME COMPLETE
CALL LOVE GRAVITY
AND SAY IT HAS
AND STILL DOES PULL US TOGETHER
WITHOUT YOU I WOULD SPIN OUT OF ORBIT
I AM THE MOON TO YOUR SUN
YOUR BRILLIANCE MAKES ME GLOW
NEWTON'S LAW
IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE
THAT EACH STEP WE TAKE
UPON THE EARTH
IS RESISTED BY THE EARTH
WITH PRESSURE EQUAL TO OUR WEIGHT
OR ELSE WE WOULD SINK
AS IF INTO A MUDDY PLACE
INTERESTING
THAT THE GOD OF NATURE
WHO MADE ALL THE RULES
PUSHES BACK
WHEN I WALK UPON THE EARTH
A CONTINUAL REMINDER
OF MY NEED FOR HIM
LEST I BE LOST IN A MUDDY PLACE
LEAN ON ME LORD
I NEED TO KNOW YOUR PRESENCE
LEAN ON ME LORD
I LIKE THE THOUGHT
OF HAVING YOU
PUSHING BACK
IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE
THAT EACH STEP WE TAKE
UPON THE EARTH
IS RESISTED BY THE EARTH
WITH PRESSURE EQUAL TO OUR WEIGHT
OR ELSE WE WOULD SINK
AS IF INTO A MUDDY PLACE
INTERESTING
THAT THE GOD OF NATURE
WHO MADE ALL THE RULES
PUSHES BACK
WHEN I WALK UPON THE EARTH
A CONTINUAL REMINDER
OF MY NEED FOR HIM
LEST I BE LOST IN A MUDDY PLACE
LEAN ON ME LORD
I NEED TO KNOW YOUR PRESENCE
LEAN ON ME LORD
I LIKE THE THOUGHT
OF HAVING YOU
PUSHING BACK
THERE IS A TREE IN THE SAHARA
IN THE MIDST OF THE SAND
AN ACACIA TREE IN THE MIDST OF THE SAND
BY A POOL THAT WELLS UP FROM A HIDDEN STREAM
THAT ONE DAY MIGHT HAVE RUN ON GROUND
HOW IT GOT THERE NO ONE KNOWS
PERHAPS A BIRD OR WIND
OR ANY ONE OF NATURE’S THOUSAND WAYS OF LIFE
BY CHOICE IT DID NOT WANT TO LIVE IN SUCH A LONELY PLACE
BY CHOICE IT DOES NOT SCATTER SEED
TO HAVE IT KILLED BY SAND AND SUN
BY CHOICE IT WILL NOT WITHER OR DESPAIR
BUT THRIVE AS BEST IT CAN
A WITNESS IN A BARREN LAND
BUY CHOICE IT TAKES THE CHALLENGE OF THE DAY
THE AIR NOT RENT BY MIGHT HAVE BEENS
BY CHOICE IT SOMETIMES WATCHES STARS
AND KNOWS THE LONELINESS OF SPACE
BY CHOICE IT WILLS TO LIVE NOT DIE AWAY
DISEASED BY DISCONTENT AND GRIEF
BY CHOICE IT TAKES THE PROMISE OF THE MORNING
AND TRIES TO MAKE IT LAST THE DAY
TO MY FATHER
I DID NOT ALWAYS LOVE YOU
THERE WERE TIMES WHEN YOUR PARENTAL CARE
CHAFED ACROSS MY FREEDOM DREAMS
LIKE A CAGED SPARROW I BEAT AGAINST THE BARS
NOT KNOWING I WAS TOO YOUNG TO FLY
BUT THEN I WAS MARRIED
AND THEN I GREW UP
AND MY CHILDREN HEARD IN MY VOICE THE ECHO OF YOURS
I SAW THE SAME BIRD BEATING IN THEIR EYES
I FELT THE SAME SAD BEWILDERMENT OF A FATHER
WITH HIS CHILD
AND I LEARNED TO LOVE YOU
IT IS PROBABLY IN THE NATURE OF THINGS
THAT A MAN SHOULD ONLY KNOW HIS FATHER AS HE AGES
AS HE HIMSELF BECOMES FATHER TO THE CHILD
IF IT WILL COMFORT
KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU
AND I REGRET
IT TOOK SO LONG
I DID NOT ALWAYS LOVE YOU
THERE WERE TIMES WHEN YOUR PARENTAL CARE
CHAFED ACROSS MY FREEDOM DREAMS
LIKE A CAGED SPARROW I BEAT AGAINST THE BARS
NOT KNOWING I WAS TOO YOUNG TO FLY
BUT THEN I WAS MARRIED
AND THEN I GREW UP
AND MY CHILDREN HEARD IN MY VOICE THE ECHO OF YOURS
I SAW THE SAME BIRD BEATING IN THEIR EYES
I FELT THE SAME SAD BEWILDERMENT OF A FATHER
WITH HIS CHILD
AND I LEARNED TO LOVE YOU
IT IS PROBABLY IN THE NATURE OF THINGS
THAT A MAN SHOULD ONLY KNOW HIS FATHER AS HE AGES
AS HE HIMSELF BECOMES FATHER TO THE CHILD
IF IT WILL COMFORT
KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU
AND I REGRET
IT TOOK SO LONG
THE SEA
THE SEA IS ANGRY TODAY
MADLY IT THROWS ITSELF AGAINST THE SHORE
BEATING ITSELF UPON THE BREAKWATER
SPRAYING FOAM AND SEA HORSES IN THE AIR
THE WIND SCREAMS IN AGONY AT THE MAYHEM
AND THE SEAGULLS ADDS TO THE SCENE
WITH THEIR CALLING
THEIR MANIACAL LAUGHTER
ODD THE WAY WE GIVE TO NATURE
MAN-LIKE SYMPTOMS
ODD THE WAY WE GIVE TO GOD
SYMPTOMS OF AN ANGRY FATHER
THOUGH IN MANY CASES
HE HAS HIS OWN WORDS TO BLAME
BUT I PREFER THE IMAGE OF LOVING MOTHER
WHO FORGIVES HER WAYWARD CHILD
WHILE ENCOURAGING HIM TO DO BETTER
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE SOUL FINDS PEACE
NOT OFTEN
BUT THERE ARE TIMES
WHEN THE MOTHER
HOLDS YOU TO HER BOSOM
THEN SETS YOU DOWN
SAYING
GO PLAY
GO WORK
GO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER
GO MAKE YOURSELF BETTER
AND KNOW THAT IN THE STRONGEST STORM
I CAN SAY
PEACE
BE STILL
THE SEA IS ANGRY TODAY
MADLY IT THROWS ITSELF AGAINST THE SHORE
BEATING ITSELF UPON THE BREAKWATER
SPRAYING FOAM AND SEA HORSES IN THE AIR
THE WIND SCREAMS IN AGONY AT THE MAYHEM
AND THE SEAGULLS ADDS TO THE SCENE
WITH THEIR CALLING
THEIR MANIACAL LAUGHTER
ODD THE WAY WE GIVE TO NATURE
MAN-LIKE SYMPTOMS
ODD THE WAY WE GIVE TO GOD
SYMPTOMS OF AN ANGRY FATHER
THOUGH IN MANY CASES
HE HAS HIS OWN WORDS TO BLAME
BUT I PREFER THE IMAGE OF LOVING MOTHER
WHO FORGIVES HER WAYWARD CHILD
WHILE ENCOURAGING HIM TO DO BETTER
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE SOUL FINDS PEACE
NOT OFTEN
BUT THERE ARE TIMES
WHEN THE MOTHER
HOLDS YOU TO HER BOSOM
THEN SETS YOU DOWN
SAYING
GO PLAY
GO WORK
GO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER
GO MAKE YOURSELF BETTER
AND KNOW THAT IN THE STRONGEST STORM
I CAN SAY
PEACE
BE STILL
FRIEND
YOU ASK FOR NOTHING
YET IT IS IN THE NATURE OF LOVE
TO BE GIVING
BUT THEN WHAT TO GIVE WHAT IN ALL I SAY OR DO
CAN EVER EQUAL OR REPAY
THE DEBT OF LOVE I OWE TO YOU
BUT THIS I GIVE
THAT NOTE WELL SUNG THAT MAKES A SONG
THAT WORD WELL SAID THAT MAKES A PLAY
THAT DEED WELL DONE THAT MAKES A DAY
IN ALL THESE THINGS THAT I SHALL EVER DO
YOU LIVE IN THEM
I SHALL REMEMBER YOU
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