Old Poems

Libraries

Jesus met me in the library.

I was afraid to go into the aisle where the bearded man was.

He was wearing a bright green shirt.

I was afraid to listen to my friend

Or to take the time to tell her how I really felt.

The girl with brown hair,

Who wasn’t really there,

Was there in my dream.

I was unafraid, and Jesus’ name broke the silence

As I proclaimed it and praised it in the parking lot -

Who He is: the Holy One, the Savior.

Why can’t I, don’t I, yell it in real life?

Why am I so careful to hide from others, that I hide it from myself?

Why don’t we die from forgetfulness?

Why do we forget that the universe is controlled

By God?

Why am I knotted inside?

Jesus, Jesus, the Holy One, the Savior.

The only name that should be yelled

In libraries.

If This is Learning Love

Keeper of my heart,

I want so much to be loved

By what I love

I want what I love

To love me

I want what I love

To love me.

Keeper of my soul’s keys

You must know what I mean

Isn’t all You’ve known with us

Wanting to be loved

By what You love,

Wanting to be loved

By what You love?

On the Heights

Hold me by my right hand

And take my fear away

Guide me with Your gentle words

And lead me in Your way

For what desire have I on earth?

There is nothing here but Thee

For You have called me your loved one

And set my spirit free.

Hide and Seek

Where are You hiding?

Are You hiding?

I am faint

For want of You.

One moment I am glad,

For Your hem brushes against me as You

Walk by

And I am warmed and

Comforted.

But now I have become

Cold,

And sadness settles on me like dew.

It is as if I see You

Only to lose sight of You again,

And to doubt whether it was really You

At all,

Since the emptiness remains.

You have passed by me

And the breath has left my lungs

To cling to You

So that I will not breathe again

Until I find You.

Branded

Come to us

Brand our backs with your Name

And the pain will draw us out of this complacency

These lies, this inconstancy.

Our hearts will flame and burn for You

All fear will fade

And love be true.

Draw us out of this numbness, this death

The truth is what we long for,

For passion, purpose, and for love

And righteousness…

Oh, for righteousness.

To battle like a warrior

To wash feet like a servant

To give You all we have

And find You gave us more in return.

So come to us

Come to us

Jesus.