Faith

More Borderlands

I am finding the borderlands here.

The place I came from and call home, where I have never been a foreigner, so my passport tells me.

Even though I am an introvert, I really love this place of getting to know others who are different from myself, once I get past my shyness.

Pressing out beyond the familiar helps me keep growing, learning and loving.

Last month at the Bosnian Mosque on the Day of Remembrance, I could remember with my neighbors and help just a little to carry their burden.

The Arab young men my husband works with have been a delight.

Who would have thought that one of them knew how to make raspberry cheesecake!

Yet, I have known for a long time that this is not my true home.

My heart tells me there is so much more beyond this land I see.

Because daily I am there at the borderlands of heaven and earth,

Every time I pray.

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The ache in our hearts

The ache in our hearts

Is the call

To come deeper

Come closer

To the One

Who sees us

Knows us

Loves us

And satisfies us

Beyond all measurement.

 

We don’t always

Recognize

The voice

In our pain

We run

To another

Temporary comfort

That leaves us

Hollow and unsatisfied

Self-hating and

Aching for

The true source

Of all that we need.

 

It is a learning

To be turning

Towards that faint sound

Of the rushing river

To be seeking

In desperation

For that Living Water

Like a deer

Panting

A matter of life or death

To find and

To know that

We have been found

And we are known

And brought safely

Home.

 

© 2012 Julie Clark

 

Categories: Faith, God, Life, Love, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Taking This with Me

I cannot see it

But I am taking it with me

It travels well

Lasts forever

I’m hanging onto hope

Not letting it go

Even though

Hope stealers

Stand on every corner

In my mind

“Just give up!”

“You’ll never make it.”

“Life is too hard.”

No

I am not listening

Pushing past

Because

I have done this before

And I know

Life and Light

Are just beyond

The corner of my pain

Hope packs well

Into my heart

Fits snuggly next to

Faith and Love

© 2012 Julie Clark

Categories: borderlands, Faith, Life, Love, Paths, Poetry | 5 Comments

Taking These with Me

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Change

Pressure all around

Chaos in the air

I don’t know which way is up

Which is down

It must be time for change

Again

Now to see this dark

In the light

That is my challenge

That is my goal

To cooperate

With the forces at work

To change me more into

The person I long to be

The one I was breathed to be

So much is out of my control

Yet so much is in my power

To say yes

And let go

To watch this fire

Burn all that is not gold

 

© 2012 Julie Clark

 

 

Categories: Faith, God, Life, Poetry | Tags: , , , , | 2 Comments

Room

I.

Is there room in my heart

For the ones excluded, tossed out, forbidden to enter?

Can I scoot over

Just a bit, move my junk

So another can lie down and rest

For awhile

Until it is safe again to venture out?

It’s a stretch

I like my privacy

My quiet my space

I’m tired and weary

But they more so.

II.

So here I am

Trying to live the life

I believe in

Yet, struggling to do so

Something in me

Just wants to be left alone

To be quiet

To have some space

To get well and strong again.

But there are too many

Who have far less

Peace than I

Who need something

That I have plenty of.

Can I just share and be glad

Because I know it is all worth the while

To give away my extra

To another

Somehow it multiplies

And I end up with more

Than I had to start with

With joy beaming on top

Like a shiny red

Cherry smiling

From a hot fudge

Sunday.

© 2012 Julie Clark

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Fractals

Pieces of God

Treasures

Hidden in all the earth

Until we see them

And wonder how we had

Missed the evidence

Of their existence

 

Am I one?

With His DNA

Hidden like a diamond

To be discovered

In my heart?

© 2012 Julie Clark

 

Categories: beauty, Faith, God, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments

Traveler

I am the traveler

On a journey

You are the gate

To the path, the way

That leads to life

You are the light

That shines in the dark

Illuminating my way

You are my strength

When the road is steep

And my hope grows dim

You are my shade

When the sun bears down

You are the song

The birds are singing

To cheer my heart

When it becomes heavy

My companion

When I need to talk

My GPS

When I lose my way

You are the strong love

That keeps fear away

When wild things

Rage and roar

The sword that flashes

When danger nears

You are the fresh water

In the stream

When I grow thirsty

You are my home

At last

That I am forever

Longing for.

© 2012 Julie Clark

Categories: borderlands, Faith, God, Life, Love, Paths, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Through the Cracks

There are just times

When beauty is not in full display

But only to be seen when hunted for

Showing through the cracks

 

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Conflict

Time to grow again

Head for the woods for a walk

Look for the log

That fills my eye

Coming from my heart

It distorts my vision

Of the other

Puts them in the worst light

And me in the best

Help me, Father

Take this log

So that I may turn and love my brother

© 2012 Julie Clark

Categories: Faith, Life, Love, Peace and Reconciliation, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment

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