Peace and Reconciliation

Daily Bread

Posted on September 17, 2013 by backfromtheborderlands

Bread for life

I ask for daily

Given more than I need

A neighbor comes

He doesn’t have enough

For his weary travelers

Just arrived

After mid-night

Ok, Ok

Stop your knocking

You are waking us all up

Especially the dogs

Here’s your bread

I don’t share well

But since you are such

A pest

And I want to go back to bed

I will give it to you

 

What if he didn’t have to ask?

What if I had given it to him

Earlier?

How was I to anticipate

His need of my extra bread?

Maybe if I paid attention

And asked

What am I to do with this extra?

I would have known

He was running on empty.

 

© 2013 Julie Clark

 

 

Categories: Faith, Hospitality, Life, Peace and Reconciliation, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Pass the Peace

Posted on August 24, 2013 by backfromtheborderlands

Pass the Peace

Mix in love

Pour on forgiveness

Add the yeast of the Kingdom

Now let it rise!

Categories: Faith, Life, Love, Peace and Reconciliation, Poetry | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

The Path of Peace

Posted on June 7, 2013 by backfromtheborderlands

Guide my feet

In the path of peace

May I do my part

That war may cease

 

Teach me how

To listen well

To refrain from judgment

Sending others to hell

 

It’s not my place

It’s not my call

Judgment stirs up strife

It builds a wall

 

May I understand

What it is to be

In another’s place

Not obsessed with me

 

Lean into You

Sit at Your feet

See through Your eyes

Everyone I meet

 

Invite the stranger in

Share a meal

Enjoy diversity

Let kindness heal

 

Fear will die

I can lay it to rest

When I choose love

It is the very best

 

Love will do the job

It will get to work

Root out the darkness

Wherever it may lurk

 

© 2013 Julie Clark

Categories: Faith, God, Life, Love, Paths, Peace and Reconciliation, Poetry, Prayer | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Love Challenged

Posted on April 16, 2013 by backfromtheborderlands

 There are some days when love is challenged.  Today is one of those days for many after the Boston Marathon Bombing. For some, every day love is challenged.  It depends on where you live or where you happen to be when a bomb goes off or a shooter shoots.  A personal tragedy or trauma can challenge love.

“In this world you will have trouble.” It’s a guarantee.  There is no “bed of roses” promised.  What is promised is His presence.  Emanuel: God is with us.

Anyone who has seen love chosen, love in action, knows it changes things.  The ripple effects of love grow wider and wider.  The “pay it forward” factor comes into play and not only one person is loved but many as the ripples continue on.  Love is powerful that way. But, there are days and times for us all when love is challenged. It is much easier to give in to fear, hate, revenge or hopelessness. We wonder if our world is a lost cause, or if our acts of kindness will make any difference? This is when we need to take some deep breaths and pray. Then get out there and do something good.  It might be to give blood, to pray for those hurting, to release anger and fear, to forgive someone, or to just step out your front door and see what good you can do today.

 

Categories: Faith, God, Life, Love, Peace and Reconciliation, Prayer | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Jesus Said

Posted on April 4, 2013 by backfromtheborderlands

Abraham

Pleaded for mercy

For a city full of brokenness

I hear voices today

Calling for judgment

Jesus said:

Don’t pull up the weeds

Wait

Wait for the end

When everything is ready

Otherwise

You will pull up the wheat

With the weeds

Who is wheat?

Who is weed?

We don’t know

Time will tell

Things change

People change

There is always hope

Lets stop judging

Or we will be judged

Maybe

When we judge

We are pulling up wheat

After his resurrection

Jesus said:

You follow me

Don’t worry about anyone else

Perhaps

If we concerned ourselves

With ourselves

In this way

There would be

Less strife and judgment

More love

And peace on earth

© 2013 Julie Clark

Categories: Faith, God, Love, Peace and Reconciliation, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Where?

Posted on November 16, 2012 by backfromtheborderlands

Where are the ones?

Who will lean their heads

Upon the breast of Jesus,

Listening carefully

To His heartbeat of love?

Instead many

Called by His Name

Are listening to other voices

Bent on destruction.

Instructing us to judge

Instead of pray

Condemn

Instead of lend a hand.

Don’t you feel your pulse race

As you move from fear to hate?

How many times did He tell us to love?

Love God

Love yourself

Love each other

Love your neighbor

And yes, love your enemy!

It’s time to take a deep breath.

Turn away from the voices

Stealing our peace and our souls.

It’s time to

Lean our heads, our eyes, our ears

And our hearts

Upon the breast of Jesus.

He might just tell us again

To love someone.

© 2012 Julie Clark

Categories: Faith, God, Life, Love, Paths, Peace and Reconciliation, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Everything

Posted on September 20, 2012 by backfromtheborderlands

Everything lost

Shall be found

Everything left behind

Catches up

There is a rhythm

There is a rhyme

A purpose

And a plan

A weaving and a spinning

Healing and redemption

When we see

As we are seen

And know

As we are known

When love reigns

In the air

On the earth

And in the sea

© 2012 Julie Clark

Categories: Faith, Life, Love, Peace and Reconciliation, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Conflict

Posted on May 16, 2012 by backfromtheborderlands

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

My Measure

Posted on April 11, 2011 by backfromtheborderlands

Let my measure be large

Not of cake or pie

Or gold or silver

Or stocks or bonds

Or oil futures

But of

That which I give away

Of love and mercy

Kindness and peace

Forgiveness and acceptance

Then I will be like

My Father in heaven

And what could be better

Than that

© 2011 Julie Clark

“Give and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Jesus

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

Listening is a healing solace

Posted on March 10, 2011 by backfromtheborderlands

Listening is a healing solace.

We talk about being God’s hands and feet

Can we also be his ears?

There are stories in need of telling,

Locked away for lack of listeners

Who will hear and not be judging.

It’s the first step to understanding.

With understanding grows compassion.

Listening is an act of peace.

If we listen to those who are different

We will get a new view

Of the world

Through their eyes.

When I listen to you

I stop hearing all my wants and needs

To give space to hear yours.

Peace can start

In the heart

Through the ears

When I listen to you

And you to me

And we both

Desire peace.

When understanding grows

Into compassion

I can give a little

And you too.

We can forgive

The wrong.

Start afresh

And be free

From the terror

Of hatred

And revenge.

© 2011 Julie Clark

Categories: Peace and Reconciliation, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Blog at WordPress.com.