Grampa

He sits at the edge of the table in my memory
his kind face and smile
they are not quite the same as the photos I see
but I remember him all the same

He was so big and so fun and loving
always there and close

I am sad to think the memories are so fuzzy
but I know he has gone to see the One I serve

My main thought that comes when I think of that man
is the questions I have that I'm sure he could answer
I think of the times he would have spurred me on
the times we would have talked for hours and hours

A great man indeed, a formidable mountain
he taught the Word in a difficult era
and was mocked by the world for his efforts
but I know that God smiles on his name

One day I hope to see him again
not that I know the nature of heaven
The One that I serve knew and knows him
and for that I am thankful

This great man's mentor is my own as well
we serve the same almighty
his time was too quick and a vivid reminder
that my own time may pass before I consider

I'm sure he'd be proud, that is what they say
but secretly I know, there is no doubt

Come Along on this Path

Come and walk the yonder way
Tis better than to waste the day

I've got my mark, I'm headed there
come with me, I'll show you the land

The path is tough, and fraught with danger
And yes indeed, there is none stranger

But I'll ensure your safe from harm
and you will find no better path

I don't always see beyond the next turn
And for my home I sometimes yearn

But in the morning light and break of dawn
I always feel our purpose driving me

So come with me, its quite the life
though indeed, filled with strife

for our journey is an epic
and the end is worth the story

Vivid Dream

My dreams they come and go like dust in wind
but in the morn I wake and find the lie
and sad my heart becomes, yes hard to mend
a dream too good, my God please tell me why

These things I wish were true in truth are not
and sleep I fear for dreams will go ahead
to take me to the place I have not caught
and stir within a hope that kills instead

Forgive me please for if I look adrift
Not I a man to live inside the dream
yet wish do I that this specific rift
were true indeed, alas, the perfect scene

Aha! I'll go and make the best I can
and in the end you cannot say I ran

Encounter

Sit close by and enjoy the sounds
the people, the sights, as they make their rounds
take a sip, sit back, and take it in
for today is a day to make things begin

Your eyes look heavy but bright
sleepy and quaint is this dim light
but there is much left to speak
and you are so close to what you seek

Life, difficult and fleeting
drives you to take this meeting
but comfort yourself now and slow
Here Now, in this ancient glow

Chase not the things which don't last
the people, the objects, even the past
discard your thoughts of being alone
more than a few walk the path you have known

The business, the troubles, you are not here to absolve
perhaps this is more than just a little resolve
forget your agenda, the tasks and the time
the tower is tall, too tough to climb

The moment is enough and will sustain
quiet and listen, the silent refrain
tomorrow will come sure and enough
but it is silly to think that it will be far too tough

So sit and be still, quiet thy heart
you'll soon see the motions and then how to start
but looking ahead in the now will bring cost
so dust off the snow, the flakes, and the frost

Words

Simplicity Sake

Come and take a trip with me
to a world that is now, a world of speciality
Sad to say, the renaissance is long gone to the past
such a shame, it would have been a blast

Age Old Game

What is the life, the true nature of the thing?
This question will haunt us all
till the day we see as our last
or the day which truly is

I will paint you a picture
that will come to life
a wonderful scene
and perhaps it will suit you

The image that comes to my mind
this quiet tyro, I may be
is the picture of a table and some cards
some drinks and laughter

The setting, the room, it is dark, moody
Yet persons at the table are bright
their faces lit merely by the smiles and chuckles
smoke filling the air

These are my people
this is what is like
to live in the now
and live for the greatest cause

Let me introduce you, my friend
for this is the greatest time
you look tired and worn
let us ease your mind

Come, have a seat at our table
we welcome you to learn the game we play
and join us as we jeer and cheer at the cards life has dealt us
for tomorrow could be the final hand

Spades we are dealt for this the fate of life
but we will play with what we have
and learn to find laughter amongst
the dark and the sad

Diamonds too, will show up at times
and together we cheer
for one has overcome
and there is hope for us all

Clubs, too will drift by
to remind us to notice our surroundings
to take life one step at a time
and flee mediocrity with every move

And finally, we have our hearts,
perhaps the most valuable of all
for we will give love and breathe it in
it is our calling, it is worth living for

So take a seat at the table
and play a hand or two
I think you'll find
our game is better

Dust Soldiers

There comes a time
a time at last
when I will come to find
that my time is last

Please don't think that my thoughts are crazy
I'm simply writing those fragments
that come and go like the whisping dust
like a swirl amongst an abandoned room
the wind stirs it and them

I feel there is a fire in my bones
that compels me to speak, to create
that which is unseen to all but myself

Truth is that life has a number of things
that are not particularly pleasant to do
there are quite a few of these ahead just now
and I will move them back even further
into the recesses of time to do another thing
a thing that is perhaps more important
time will testify

The nerves, the body it resists the now
the worry and heaviness, they are chains
but perhaps these chains are useless and already unlocked
we just have yet to throw them off

for we have forgotten the weight of our limbs
when they are unbidden

Why make life about something it is not?
Chasing the things which will fade
such a ridiculous fate
yet we choose it ourselves

Our task is simple
we will make it difficult

yet perhaps in glimpses the truth is revealed
the thing which we are actually here for
and not that made by man
and the glimpse drives us forward
to the do The Great Work
and turn a page in The Great Story

Incredibly broken
these silly toys are
six billion and counting

I feel the crank which should work
but does not
I feel the joints that are rusted
what worth am I

And yet, I am here!
and this statement does cry
that I have yet more to do
and so I will move my next foot
and the one after that
as I have done before

one raindrop after another
and eventually the flood

Heavy Snow

Weighted down neath the falling snow
the white obscures my way to go
I tread a path which soon is gone
my footsteps deleted fore the break of dawn

It is oft difficult to view
that which surrounds
I cut through a savage milieu
for The Love that abounds

With brolly in hand, the flakes slide away
the winter, it chills on the night of this day
my way seems lost, but on I press
on my way out from under this stress

The paths ahead are impossible to choose
but they are my own
and still it seems there is too much to lose
but I am not alone

I can taste the cold, it strikes my bone
but it comforts to know that I am not stone
the light on the porch is just up ahead
my walk and my feet, heavy as lead

Heavy and light, which one is life?
the eternal dialog must go forward
we must learn to live within this strife
yes, walk within the blizzard

I feel the snow, ice touching skin
beneath the wrap of my scarf