One person
priceless
connecting to another
It’s a gift
and a guard
against loneliness
We are fully alive
when connected
three ways
God, another, ourselves
We are not made
to live
in isolation
A delicate dance
space and solitude
with
community and unity
We each have
our own unique steps
still learning my part in the Reel
© 2014 Julie Clark
The big problem
of pain or illness
is it is constantly
screaming for attention.
It drives me away
from anything else but myself,
pulling me steadily inward.
This is no way to live
or die for that matter.
I want to learn
new strategies
of living and caring
in the midst of it.
I have a role model
to study and learn from.
I think of Jesus.
His last days of life
His suffering and agony.
He didn’t go inward
and far away.
He stayed with us.
He instructed his friends
to put away their swords.
He looked at Peter
at the rooster’s third crow.
He had a few words
for Pilate.
A few more for the woman
on the path to the cross.
He took care of his mother.
He forgave his tormentors.
He brought comfort to another dying man.
He looked up.
He gave himself to God.
© 2014 Julie Clark
Take a seed, any seed
If you didn’t know what it was
you would write it off as a speck of dust
blowing in the wind.
Yet,
the wind
the rain
the earth and sky
all together working
with the DNA
encased in the hard shell
and the far-reaching possibilities
of that seed are immense
as the stars in sky
and the sand
on the shore.
Each of us
a seed
blowing on the wind
falling then planted
growing.
The potential for good
is great
for making a difference
on the earth
among all people
to be peacemakers
lovers of God and man.
It’s all there from the beginning
locked away and waiting
to be released
in the right time.
Seed of David, Seed of God
Son of Man, Son of God
bringing peace on earth
We hear
heaven is coming
and we will see the King.
Even so
come.
© 2013 Julie Clark
Let me go here once in a while
Not often or too long
Only we mothers know
What we could have been
Had we been whole
What we missed
When we weren’t there
Spoke too soon
Or not enough
Over protected
Or neglected
Too harsh
Too lax
Too busy
Too tired
We know
So let us alone
To grieve for a while
I promise
I won’t stay too long
Or I might drown
I won’t medicate it
Numb it or
Meditate it away
Instead it’s good
To face it
Then super grace it
With God’s love
Move on
There are more
Children, teens or
Young adults
To love and care for
If not my own
Then another mother’s
We need each other
We mothers
We don’t have enough
Of all we need
For this job
© 2013 Julie Clark
I am in the middle
Of a long walk
With God
A journey
A pilgrimage
From those ahead
I receive these assurances
“Yes, it gets
Sweeter and sweeter
His face
Becomes clearer
His love
Thickens the air”
I have already
Tasted
That thickened air
And I give those same
Assurances
Back down the path
Behind me
A few warnings as well
Watch that curve
Slow down and rest
I have crashed right there
And stay clear of that
Mud hole
I was stuck there for a while
Don’t give up
It’s worth the climb
Green pastures
And still waters up here
The view is spectacular
The air is sweet
© 2013 Julie Clark
Arise O God
Come into your resting place –
Me
Holy Spirit come fill –
Me
Some mornings –this morning
Flat
A bicycle tire leaking through the night
Flat
Blank
A sheet of paper
With a few undecipherable pencil scribbles fading away
Blank
Life of God
Love of God
Fill my spaces
Contemplation, meditation
Remembering
You don’t sleep
You never leave
Your presence not dependent
On my feelings
But on your faithfulness
I’m waiting
Your waiting
Heaven touch earth again
As I pray
“Your kingdom come
Your will be done
One earth as it is in heaven”
© 2013 Julie Clark
God is present
So I come to His presence
In this present
And pray
Which is my response
To His presence
In this present
Yesterday, in-between watching CNN, I sat down and wrote a blog on building Parent/Child Connections: http://faithfullparenting.wordpress.com/ This was one of my responses to the unfolding drama in Boston. I know it is just one piece, the parenting piece, in the complex array of broken pieces in this tragic story.
Why did this happen? There is the emigrant story, the broken piece where the emigrant does not assimilate to the American culture and life. To understand this more Mary Pipher does an excellent job in her book: The Middle of Everywhere: Helping Refugees Enter the American Community
Then there is the broken piece of radical religion. How does loving God mean doing something like this? It does not. God is love and this is not love.
Perhaps another cultural broken piece is family loyalty trumping everything. An older brother influences a younger brother to join him in an atrocious act. We could find and name so many broken pieces.
It is important to work through these questions on the road to recovery. Along with this, in order to heal we need to choose our response. There is a lot of hard work ahead to do in order to heal. Will we become haters? If we choose that route we align ourselves with the same spirit that motivated the terrorists and they win. We become like them. Anger is a normal response to grief, but we can’t stay angry and let it poison our souls. We must move beyond it to the hard work of grieving, sadness, and the seemingly impossible process of forgiving. Hate, revenge, and bitterness are not the answers we need for healing. They never are. They will only destroy us and turn our hearts to stone.
Dear Boston choose the harder path of healing and recovery and you will find yourself surrounded by heaven ready to help. Our prayers are with you.
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.
Cause a raucous
Cause a stir
Stand up and let your voice be heard
No more low maintenance girls here!
Cause some drama
Shake us up
You have every right to be heard
No more low maintenance girls here!
Your thoughts are important
Your feelings count
Stand up tall and straight
Your gifts are needed
The world cannot wait
You too bear the image of God
Not just your brother or your mate
Brothers hear this cry:
“When you squish me
You are less
Than you are meant to be!”
© 2013 Julie Clark
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