blessed are those who hunger

Blessed are those who hunger,
Who feel a rumble and a stirring,
The spirit recognising a lack,
A need, but what quite for?

From others we hear, 'Be ye righteous,
Perfection is the condition for the blessing.'
But try as I might, my nature weighs like millstones,
And all I can muster is a longing for virtue,
For righteousness beyond sugary satisfaction.

But contrary as is Your irony,
You make righteousness the gift and grace,
And a longing for it our only requirement.
So in seeking we are ever aware of our lack,
And in Your promise to fill and fulfill,
We are led into the paradox that is a wonder,
Our blessing: always longing, always filled.

Matt. 5: 6

sč
Singapore, September 20th, 2007

poeima

Many times You speak,
Across the pages and across our lives we've heard.
Whether calling essence from absence,
Or speaking quietness to storm,
Your voice rumbles and pulses, never silenced.

But life is not always sound,
And looking around, I wonder,
Are we a comedy or tragedy in motion,
The destiny of our lives swirling around an alphabet soup?

In the Word, three times Your finger traced,
Across stone, wall and sand.
Each one to convict, instruct and invite.
But stone crumbles, wall falls, sand is swept away,
And to time, each message is lost.

Though You can wipe the slate, start anew,
You persist to write, choosing the hardest surface,
Redeeming the tragedy of our lives.
Not as one working through a chore,
But as an artist fashioning an epic.
May You not discard until we are complete.

Eph. 2: 10

sč
Singapore, September 14th, 2007

though He linger

I've been sitting in the twilight,
Waiting for the sun,
Looking for Your coming,
Listening for a word to point my way.

You desire not slothfulness,
And I seek not idleness,
But to every side a closed door,
To every path a dead end,
And every decline pushes me deeper into my seat.

Why do You delay?
Why are You slow to act?

The revelation awaits its appointed time.
It speaks of the end and will not prove false.
Though He linger, wait for Him.
He will surely come and will not delay.

And so though You linger,
I know it's not to loiter.
For what purpose I cannot tell,
Except to know none can put off,
The rescue You will bring into our lives.
And nothing done or undone,
Can delay You while You linger.

Hab. 2: 2-3

sč
Singapore, September 1st, 2007