29 July 2019

around the curve


I have been frozen in my brokenness
dry, splintered, fragile
the road ahead and behind
rocky, rutted, slippery
hard to see signposts
in clouds of dust
my steps are small, painful
both in body and heart
yet surely the refreshing
the eruption of new life
is waiting, ever waiting
just around the next curve

For I will [fully] satisfy the weary soul, 
and I will replenish every languishing and sorrowful person.





13 July 2019

short hop

travel day
that's usually tiring to even think about
but this is a short hop
mere hours
not the multiple days
to or from Africa

no meals or movies
no free snacks

2-1/2 hours for our first flight
1 hour for the next

as always
we're in His clouds
in His hands

no better place

10 July 2019

slow to change


the seasons are slow to change
this year, uncertain
samples of heat, retreat
as cool returns
two weeks into July
and summer has no foothold

this blood, thinned
by African years, shivers
I see the shrugs, hear
the snickers, loud
from those already awash
in sweat and complaints

leaves me wondering
will I ever be warm
will I ever be home
again

03 July 2019

excavating

there's a leak in the water line on our street
water is shut off until the problem can be solved
this morning the heavy equipment rolled in

sometimes the only way to fix an issue
is to excavate, dig deep
a noisy, dirty process
exposing hidden things
buried so long ago
you don't remember
would prefer to forget, but
there is no longer any choice
if you want to stop the bleeding

the only way to healing
is down, opening new paths
to freedom