Note on the poetry

Just in case I might cause alarm, the "crises" mentioned in the just posted poem are all in reference to others, not to myself personally, with gratitude to Jesus. Life has been challenging enough being the "support staff" for several friends and InterVarsity folks under serious spiritual, physical and emotional attack/diress. Please be praying that while amidst equally many joys (new babys, new staff, great student leaders, another soon-arriving SLT summer) the Lord would stave off the attempts of the enemy to hinder good ministry and lives of obedience to Him.

May Jesus be praised!

Lament at the Gathering Clouds

I begin wondering on days like this when the rain will come—
How swiftly, how forcefully---
And I don’t pray for rain.
I pray instead that it will not drown us out,
Run us like the rivulets down the curb to the city sewer and sweep
Us away into the unknown with its torrents and
flowing currents.

I begin wondering how much rain I can swallow if I am caught
Beneath the sky’s fire hose—seeking to sip just a drop to
drink in. The refreshment is lost when you begin choking
on the powerful stream.
How intense, how much volume—
And I stop wishing for a taste.

Too much news of rain—the forecasts all around for sunny
skies seem a cheap scam when outside the window and inside
my heart the thunder crashes—divorce…divorce and the lightning finds
its mark—cancer…cancer. The next thunder clap—rape, assault…followed
By it’s partner strike…car accident.
How thoroughly, how violently--
We are drenched. And I start to pray for relief.

Then comes the break in the clouds—
Your light pours out,
How brilliantly shining—
And I soak in it.
And then I pray this breaking
Hope will remain, with
or without more rain.



~MCP June 4 and 5, 2007