When Time Ceases

When the time comes, we cease to see in fragmented
Pieces, the staggered recesses of our broken

Existence. But to see clearly, as in a mirror,
Through the clarity of a forever reality, the Truth

Speaking face to face with us, revealing secrets
And mysteries kept hidden from the foundation of creation!

How will I stand, given to preparation of that Day of Reckoning?
I am but a child, fed from the bread of my Father’s

Table, weaned from the sweet milk of spiritual immaturity,
Kept from the leaven of men. But who am I, but a child still,

Adorned in the robes of my Father’s house, contending
For my crown? Dare I ask to understand the severity of understanding

His Word, to suffer in the fullness of His suffering without fear
Of reproach of men, in fear and trembling of His promise

That to whom much is given, much is required? Is there a price
So great to pay that is greater than mine debt to Him?

But to hear those words! “Well done, wise and faithful servant!”
To be found feeding His flocks in His absence!

Is it not worth it? And what is my life to me but worthless!
Vanity of vanities! To strive against the tide of eternity, to fall

Aside to empty temptings of false comfort and security,
To fill my mind with idle thinking and my time with stagnant

Distractions! And what is the great deception of money
To elevate itself above the provision of my Father,

Claiming to set me free from worry and anxiety, but binding
Me to the cares of this world, slavery to a culture

That is fallen in its very nature, given of itself to the corrupt
Lusts of unchecked appetite and empty pleasures?

This is nothing more than the original rejection in the Garden,
And as for my part, I will have no part in this rebellion.

Lord, keep me in humility! Search my heart and refine me
In Your holy fire, that I may be found acceptable in Your sight!

The Widow

The widow waits patiently by the window, pacing back and forth
Into infinity until she falls back upon herself. Time is folded

Neatly, like napkins that line the table of her mind, or her hands
In preparation of prayer. The widow sees what I cannot

See, an open door into an endless room, the sky just a speck
Collecting dust in the distance. Just north of wondering,

The wind breathing softly as it does in the early hours of mourning,
And all the parish stands silent. Whose cross will you bear

When the end unfolds like a map shivering in the wind? The widow sees
What we all see, eventually, the sky stockpiling itself into eternity,

The earth opening up like a tomb, and One ascending and descending
On the precipice of heaven, whose tongue severs the ties between

The goat and the sheep, on whose right and left lie all of humanity,

And on whose back cling the weak and willing to be saved.

Prayer 2

I will worship You, Oh Lord! Your praise is the breath
of life upon my lips! How refreshing is Your word
on my tongue! In Your Tabernacle, You gather
me to Your flock, You lead Your fold to green
pastures, You make us lie down. With a shout,
You shake the heavens, You move the heavens
and split the sky. Oh Lord, Your voice is like the ancient

waters, the mighty rushing rivers of old; Your breath
is like the wind that flows from the tops of mountains!
Who is like You, Oh Lord? I will pour out my heart
to You; I will inquire of You at Your gates; I will set
my eyes upon Your throne. Your glory surrounds
You like royal robes, radiant as the sun; a river
of light flows out from Your feet. In the darkness,
find me and hide me, Oh Lord, in Your shadow.

Set me high upon a cliff, and keep my feet from failing
in the time of trouble. Speak to my soul and satisfy
my hunger, teach me the ways of Your restraint
that I may be radiant in the light of Your glory.
Clothe me in righteousness and gird my loins
with Your faithfulness; write Your name upon my heart
and set Your Word in my mouth, and I will sing
to the waste places. Yea, I will shout as one

advancing upon His enemies! I will praise You
and not be silent! In Your Tabernacle, I will sound
the alarm! I will lead the charge! Awaken, awaken!
The time spoken of from the ancients is upon us!
The battle field is set; the enemy ranks are lined
in formation; they gather in the valleys, they swarm
upon the cities. Their might is awesome to behold.
Who can resist them? Rise up, all you willing!

Put on the armor of your God and clothe yourselves
in the might of His Hand! Those that despise
the name of our God have set themselves against us,
and even they defy Him. Therefore, do not be silent!
Sing a new song! With the stringed instruments
and the beating of drums, proclaim judgement, His
righteous judgement! For His laws are perfect
and His precepts are without fault; His statutes
are unwavering; there is no darkness in them.
There is none who can stand against Him!

Prayer 1

When I come into Your House,
I am as a child once more, Oh Lord.
Though I turned far from You,
Though I spent my days wallowing

In the wasteplaces as a drunkard, a liar
And a thief, You never ceased speaking.
Though I fought to abandon You,
You sought to capture my heart,

To set me apart, to teach me to speak
Freely. Your arm was never far from me.
Like a rebellious child in need
Of correction, You corrected me.

You brought me to the place of breaking
And with my voice, I cried out.
I cried out, and You heard me, Oh Lord,
My Lord! You opened Your arms wide

And welcomed me as the wayward
Son, the one who was lost, but was found.
You slaughtered Your fatted calf,
Made cakes of fine flour; You called

Together Your servants and sat me
In the seat of honor at Your table.
But who am I, Oh Lord, that I would find
Favor in Your eyes? For I am despised,

Even in my own eyes, esteemed even
Lower than the dogs in royal courts,
And I have proven myself altogether
Worthless in the sight of the world.

You rebuked me; with a gentle word
You corrected me, and I saw myself
As You see me, a child seated at his
Father's table, washed clean and free

From the filth of wallowing in mud,
A new creation. How then could I return
To feeding on refuse in the streets?
And even as I sought You, You revealed

Yourself to me. Teach me Your ways,
Oh Lord, That I may never depart
From Your presence! And even now,
Do not hide Your face from me!

When I cry out to You in the night,
Do not be silent, And when I mourn
Before You in the morning, incline
Your ear to hear me! Like a son,

Reveal the mysteries of my Father's
House kept hidden from those wise
And prudent in their own eyes.
Speak to my heart, and I will not be

Silent; stir up my heart after Your's,
And I will praise You forevermore!