All in One, One in All

When I was born with a head of felt,
God gave me a utility belt

This wonderful gift means so much to me
It has a name -- family

I hope you don't misunderstand
My family has eyes, hearts, and hands

It's in using these God-given faculties
That my family does it all for me

My brothers have filled my life with joy
They give the gift of love I so often employ

And though we didn't always get along,
Their lives, to me, are the sweetest of songs

Sometimes in life, we push light away
With my sister around, the light's here to stay

Mom is a world-class problem-fixer
Her homemade bread is heaven's elixir

My dad brings the fun -- he rocks out and wrestles
We chase off the blues with a surf at Trestles

When plans fall through and friends aren't around,
Family movie night begins, and love abounds

And when my own prayers don't have enough faith,
My parents' pleadings keep me safe

I've grown up, and they have, too
But they're still with me in all that I do

My family will always stick around
Mom, Dad, Brother, Sister -- how sweet the sound!

       My family is happy because we live by this.

The Guide

The morning is crisp and fresh and pure

A peaceful breeze floats softly by

This must be the most beauty a mind can endure

A trail ahead catches my eye

So I embark with no sure direction

I just know I must move ahead

The train dropped me off and I missed my connection

So I'll explore this place instead

As I round a bend, there emerges a man

He's sitting quietly under a tree

He jumps to his feet like he has a clear plan

He calls out, "Come, follow me."

Whether my heart or my feet choose to join him

I don't think that I can be sure

A force stronger than chance and deeper than whim

Tells me I'm safe, whate'er may occur

"Storms often pass through here," he tells me

"But if you follow me, you'll be fine."

His words are quiet and strong like the sea

I trust in his feet more than mine

We walk along, side by side

And all the world is light

The bumps in the road seem more flat with this guide

All blindness has yielded to sight

But rocks in the road begin to appear

The path rapidly grows more steep

Each step I take becomes less sincere

My trust begins drifting to sleep

I see another path, so I slip away

I decide I can travel alone

"This path will be better and easier," I say

I put on a face like a stone

For the first few miles, I get along fine

The occasional rock is ignored

But I can't ignore the clouds in the sky and my mind

And I'm stumbling more than before

Sure enough, the rain starts to fall

And my spirits are doing the same

Sorrow and darkness become a cold, heavy shawl

I long to hear my guide call my name

Pride pushes my aching feet forward

I arrive at the edge of a cliff

Below lies the ruin of a thousand great songs never heard

Because lives were set adrift

I see the depth of my mistake

It's forward to ruin or back

I sit down and weep, for surely, I'm too late

To regain the company I lack

I long to return, but don't know the way

I'm in bondage and long to be free

I turn, and through tears, I see the sun at noonday 

My guide calls, "Come, follow me."

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." 

John 8:12

Letters and Prayers

A family on earth
And a Father above
Both are far from view

Both reach out
And span distance with love
And my troubled heart renew

A letter arrives
I break open the seal
And love envelopes me

If I will be still
And humbly, thoughtfully kneel
My heart feels what eyes cannot see