Ocean swim, or kiddie pool? Beach, or box of sand? Lazy boy, or shaky stool? Christmas gift so cool… Or socks so bland?
Crème brûlée, or mud pie? Disney World, or tourist trap? Father’s House, or pigsty? Forty winks of shut eye… Or cat nap?
Roaring fire, or candle flame? Chess, or Tic-Tac-Toe? Honey sweet, or aspartame? Roses fresh for dame… Or faux?
Tie the knot, or “test drive”? Send a prayer, or “thought”? Joy that lasts, or quick dies? Trusting Him Who did rise… Or fretting-fraught… A lot afraid… Until that day the farm’s bought?
******
“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea.” -C.S. Lewis
What if the biopsy knocks down, then kicks me? Or what if the loan is refused? What if my landlord plays tricks and evicts me? Or mem’ry (or marbles!) I lose And I’m clearly… Confused?
What if, whilst bussing, the brakes bust at random? The sky falls? The world won’t go round? What if I’m fired, convicted, abandoned? The tiniest break I can’t catch? I’d be fixin’ to Break down!
What if, like Job, I lose all of my kin? Or drown in my mountain-high debts? What if I relapse? I’m sick of this sin! I’m ‘fraid I’ll forever be fraught With those relished… Regrets!
Even if every last “what if” I’ve listed So happened to happen to me Or Death, without knocking, popped in for a visit I’d never be parted from Love In Whose grasp…
One morn I donned my running shoes And scooted out to jog The sun was drilling hot and fierce To pierce the morning fog Mid run, a smiling lab burst out My route he jogged beside me I thought, “He’s friendly! God, I love You too!“
Next day, I drove and found a place (1) And raced its hilly trails I sailed by shrubs, round tow’ring oaks Evoking ancient tales Those leafy veils a Presence hid That rid my heart of sadness I said, “A perfect day! I love You too!”
A bird all decked in reddish brown Hard bounced a branch trapeze With ease, across a spring I sprang My bangs were brushed by trees Soon tuckered out from many miles A while I sat and snacked Refreshed, I prayed, “God, thanks! I love You too!”
Returned to car all sweaty; wished to leave So fished my pocket I caught no key! and thought, it likely Shot out as I rocketed Down forest trails! I knew this trial Had first passed through Love’s hands With trust, I begged, “God help! O Mary, pray!” (2)
As sun went down, I found an inn To sleep in (first, count sheep in) Next morn, I moseyed back to search As lurching clouds were weepin’ Retraced the muddy puddled path; at last I found that key Relieved, exhausted, drenched, I poured out praise
Reflecting on those hectic days I said to Him within: “The key to peace is, come what may Not fall to pieces; instead I’ll say ‘You’ll find a way! O God, I love you too!’”
***
(1) Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area, Waterford, MI
(2) I prayed St. Mother Teresa’s “emergency novena”- 9 Memorare prayers in a row
Note: if you see any errors, philosophical or otherwise, let me know…
*****
Think nothing of nihil-ism Deny it’s right to be Material-ism? Big mistake At stake is what’s unseen
Combat consumer-ism Or you it shall consume Through“adabsurdum”, you’d reduce Reduction-ism’s gloom
Relativ-ism wrecks The quest for what is true It breeds all rancid rac-ism Brews narciss-ism too
Rational-ism? Absurd Or Fide-ism? Boring Each one, a poor one-wing-ed bird T’ward truth and love unsoaring
Modern-ism muddles A cocktail of false notions Hedon-ism ends in puddles Of sad or mad emotions
There’s femin-ism pure And femin-ism crude All truthward “isms” will endure Yet laughed at, or eschewed
Capital-ism unmoored By morals, festers greed All systems which ignore the poor Will civic peace impede
A marx-ism turned fasc-ism Will smash religious strivings Yet end up as “religion” brash That dashes hopes of thriving
Aryan-ism errs Supremac-ism cowers All antisemit-ism bears A reputation dour
Great Britain underwent Debate on church and state Over antidisestablishment- -arian-ism’s fate
A “secular human-ism” Must stand on sinking sand The values that it values here Are from a heav’nly land
God’s Son, Who from the sod Took flesh to rescue earth Sad “isms” He will heal, at last When members of His Body dare to see…
And care to feel…
Their neighbor’s worth
*****
*Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave (Philippians 2)
My pal and I sprawled out, face up, the heavens analyzing Soft sandwiched ‘tween the un-mowed green and blue The impish clouds performed their acrobatics, mesmerizing We pointed, “It’s a horse!” or, “That’s a shoe!”
When ended that, up sat my friend and asked, “Will heaven be boring?” Tried keeping calm, but couldn’t, not one bit My inner eyes had pierced the skies to realms of light outpouring Therefrom, the unseen rays my face up lit
“Will heaven be boring?” he stated again Elated, I grinned, “Well yes, that is, if..
“Won’t it be passively static?” he asked Ecstatic, I laughed, then cried, “O no, if…
Kingdom-building; brick road-gilding
Thanking, praising, Love-embracing
For the hellbound, interceding, etc.…
Are not passive!”
“We’ll never feel badly or lonely, I reckon!” “Heck no!” I said gladly, “with umpteen new friends, like… Eve and Adam, garden-tending Noah, bird and boa-nesting Sarah, heavenly hostess-training Jacob, coaching angel-wrestling Paul and Peter, guiding, teaching Forbears, Saints and angel fleets Loved ones saved by grace-outreaching
She whose prayer the snare defeats Mother, Queen; with care she’ll mind us
Last to mention (but not least) The One, Who’ll, from our tears, unblind us…”
“You see, my friend? All loneliness and pain unseen– O Glory Be!-
Will be…
… deceased!”
We started hiking; neither heard the striking Parson’s bell Well lost in thought of celestial locales Is Larson’s humdrum heaven just as silly as Larson’s hell? (1) Heav’ns Yes! We’d glimpsed a Glory plain unboring
We’d felt a good despair that earthbound hopes could quell that pain That ache which points toward a higher story We’ll claim that tale in tandem since unclouded hope is gained By boldly looking heavenward… …As pals
May I retell a winsome tale A pal named Floyd told me? “My days”, he claimed, “are seldom great” “But always good, you see!” I balked, “Now wait!”
My doubt poured out, “You have no days Plum wrecked by Murphy’s Law?” Said Floyd, “I used to, but no more!” “How’s that?” I probed in awe He took the floor
“For many years I begged my Lord To form and make me wise To guide me in pursuit of Christ To splice His Heart with my own Heart of ice”
“I lived a pleasant peasant life Of wife and kids and farming One charming day I met a nun Whose sunny smile was warm Chock full of fun”
“Her sandaled feet and cloak of wool Were full of dust and crud ‘Good day to you, good day!’ I cried Can’t lie, t’was clear as mud What she replied”
‘Oh, thank you, sir, forwishing good But I cannot recall A single day that I’d call ill For Christians, after all Can will… God’s Will!’
“Oh Sister, how should Christians live? Please teach me now”, I pleaded “You radiate such joy, I see Your peace seems undefeated How could that be?”
She said, ‘By willing what God wills Not one bad day can pass When food runs out, I give Him thanks… Another chance to fast On beans and franks’
‘When persecuted for His Name I claim His great reward (Mt. 5:12) Affording me His Cross to share To bear it boldly t’ward The Lord in prayer’
‘If slowed by sleet or snowy banks I thank Him for such beauties When asked to cook or scrub or spin I offer God these duties For all my sin’
‘You see, all things- yes, all- that come First flow through loving Hands He’ll transform bad to greater good How could you learn His plan? Through love, you would!’
“With tears I thanked her, heart a-tugged She hugged me; made her way Her swayful words remained within Since then, not one ‘bad day’ Must say, I’ve had!”
Then Floyd stepped t’ward the door, and grinned “Good day to you, my friend! Today, the morrow, and ever more Good days that know no end!” Then closed that door
Yet Floyd had flung a door ajar Within me to the One Whose ‘Midas touch’ turns all to grace Whose Face shines like the sun
God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose… Romans 8:28
Strict justice would require that God will provide relief to you who are sorely tried, as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels… -2 Thessalonians 1:6,7,10
My Achilles is really a-killin’ me And my heel just won’t heal, what the heck! My stiff neck’s a real pain in the butt… but there’s more My sore butt’s a real pain in the neck (Since the day I survived that big wreck!)
I can’t stomach this unstopping stomachache Struck with gout I wanna pout all alone And I sigh when sciatic pain shocks me awake Diagnosed with Pneumonia, I moan (Sick at home, of my phone, I’m bored sick!)
Pins and needles! My knees need a healing Since my heart’s out of sync, I lose heart Got more docs than my clock could have time for! I’m feeling Quite dazed as my days fall apart (Why does rain make my brain start to smart?)
Does the Lord hear me sleeplessly weeping? My appealing for healing in full?
Then He whispered, I feel it all with you, Beloved
And I will heal as is best for your soul
Through these trials, My Child, I uphold you
And remold you to the Likeness of Love
Fear no harm! In my Arms, I enfold you
I will guide you to “Life to the full” (John 10:10)
*******
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” -2 Corinthians 4:16-18
*Note: this is a true story from my life, albeit slightly embellished and the camp name is changed
*****
The week dashed on for squirrelly scouts at summer camp “Be Prepared” New “chits” and badges by the dozen earned At night the “pyro” scouts lit fires, their match-less skills upflared While staring at the flames we “truth or dared” And scary tales were spun while mallows burned
My friend and I sat tuckered out from swamp walks and exploring Some grown-up hollered, “Bedtime! Not one peep!!” The tent and cots were spartan but exhaustion brought on snoring Resembling two Milwaukee chainsaws roaring No Hilton could bequeath a sleep more deep
In dark of night a noise awoke me just outside our hut Some prowling critter in the moonlight glow Recalling that the tent flaps were unable to be shut No zippers! Fear began to churn my gut I thought, “What if it creeps inside? Oh no!”
Some scouts that afternoon had claimed a slinking skunk they’d scouted I wondered if the stinker had come back And might it like to bite? I thought, my mind with fright all clouded A bear I’d scare away if I just shouted? I bet it’s just a coon out for a snack!
Then suddenly, beneath my cot a rustling sound emerged The creature of the night had slipped inside I dared not peep and cause the bed to creak! My heartrate surged I froze since thoughts of fight or flight were purged I hoped to wake my friend, but courage died
Eventually I heard it leave and I could breathe once more I passed right out till moon and sun had flipped My friend awoke; I swore, “A scary beast came through our door!” It didn’t phase him, not one little bit And ever since that night I must implore “I’ll only sleep in tents that can be zipped!”
The lasting gifts our Father brings Ain’t “mockingbirds” or “diamond rings” Ain’t slick “looking glasses” Or quick “billy goats” (1) Or spilling sacks of crisp green notes
Not boxes boasting bows and strings But seeds that grow undying things These seeds will keep Our souls afloat And safe and sound in Peter’s Boat
First, FAITH- that gives our hearts great wings Then HOPE- for heaven’s “eternal springs” But the best (please ignore The lump in my throat) Is LOVE! A fact not up for vote
Bright LOVE for all, both bums AND kings For Christ, Who makes our spirits sing Three giftsever potent You’ll find me devotin’ To the matchmaking goals Of the “Bridegroom” of souls Whose love Is never Remote ***** (1) Hush Little Baby, by Mother Goose
My science teacher sat me down at lunch and said with pride “I’ve spied how hard you’ve worked… You’ve struggled, really tried!” He shared he’d like to tutor me in things not taught in class I said, “I guess, but will it help me pass?”
He grinned and said, “Of course! Let’s start. For elders and for youth Two wings are sorely needed… To soar and fly to truth!
Like Beatrice, or Morpheus, I’ll try opening your eyes So listen well”, he mumbled, munching fries
“The Matter-only Vision says what’s seen is ALL that’s real The things that you can sense Or measure, test, or feel It holds that all that matters is the matter you can hold On the Matter-only Vision, are you sold?”
I mused, “So if I understand, on science this view is founded The only things that count Are things that can be counted The view that all that’s valuable is viewable by eyes! But in the face of many Faiths, this flies?”
My mentor chuckled, stating, “You have grasped the concept clearly There’s more, please hear me out But first, what is your query?” I said with caution, “I’m a Christian, but I trust in science Could both beliefs be somehow in alliance?”
He jumped up, spilled his tea and cried, “Of course! They’re best of friends! They complement each other On each, the truth depends! A lot of famous scientists were also faithful Christians Like Bacon, Llull and Ockham, all Franciscans!”
I paused and posed, “I guess they had a different kind of vision?”
He nodded, “Yes! Passed down through looooong tradition!”
“The Sacramental Vision says that while what’s seen is real The unseen is as well This view makes sense, I feel It holds what matters most is that which eyes cannot behold When the heart learns how to see, new worlds unfold!”
I realized then the sandwich in my hand I hadn’t bitten His words were oddly filling Such wonders left me smitten I stated, “This is deeper than your class, but no offense!” “I see”, he laughed and said, “it’s making sense!”
I thought, “I just can’t wait to tell my friends about this stuff!”
He drew a breath, sat down, and on he spieled…
“The spirit realm’s unseen, yet by the stuff of earth, revealed Things visible are symbols Unveiling what’s concealed That realm is, in a sense, more real than that which senses sense Is this all clear as mud, or too intense?”
I wagged my head, and spurred him on, my breath held in suspense
He plucked his glasses, pointing to a lens
“A Matter-only Lens examines galaxies or Mars, while A Sacramental Lens Sees past the sea of stars The former says that love is merely chemical reactions The latter, soul and body interactions”
“The former claims our bodies have no purpose but to thrill, while The latter, that they teach us Our purpose, and God’s Will The former has a scope confined to scopes and human tools The latter isn’t bound by physics’ rules!”
The bell then yanked my head from new and mind-expanding clouds “May we pick up here tomorrow” I begged, “as time allows?” He cried, “Of course! And bring a friend who might enjoy this topic!” “I will!” I said, “It’s made me less… myopic!”
That night in bed I pondered, head upon the pillow pressing The Matter-only Vision Is flatter, dull, depressing! It claims that when I die, so dies my “I”; then worms lay claim But the other Vision… sparks my heart aflame!
That wise old bird! He shoved me from the nest to spread both wings
Of science and of faith
To help me find fresh things
To let me scan the heights with eyes of head and eyes of heart
And see the hopeful sights new Vision brings!
*****
“Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.” -Pope St. John Paul II, Fides etc Ratio
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
“He kept calling them to what was primary by means of what was secondary, that is, through foreshadowings to the reality, through things of time to the things of eternity, through things of the flesh to the things of the spirit, through earthly things to the heavenly things.” -St Irenaeus, Against Heresies
Rhymes for the Rejoiceful 