Butterfly Conservatory

A brilliant blue flew past

As the morpho butterflies chased each other

From leaf spiralling toward the windows

The flash of blue disappearing from sight

While the ricepaper butterflies simply putter along

Landing on leaves and fruit trays

Before two ventured onto a child

For a photo session with mom

Early Morning

Time spent outside in the growing dawn

Walking up a country road

Into possibility

Propitiation For Life

Jesus before us

Advocate and sacrifice

Blood carrying priest

Blood spilled lamb

So many pieces assembled

Into a whole picture

Of our Lord becoming our

Path to the Father and forgiveness

Abide In Him

Alive to more than common sense

Begins a walk of daily faith

Intent on resting in trust in You, Lord

Details emerge quietly

Experiences grow depth as the 

Inward flow begins 

Nurturing life radiates out as

Hope draws action

Instinct it seems; yet whatever the reality it

Makes the pieces work together as a whole

The Lord is My Shepherd

The stories begin so long ago when

Hope died in the land of

Egypt: a people enslaved, distrusted

Longing to be free

Once again, when their Shepherd

Raised up Moses listen to Him and guide them

Down country and across desert

In expectation of the Promised Land

Some grumbled along the way

Many rebelled even after amazing demonstrations

Yahweh performed to care for them as their

Shepherd moving them through

Hostile territory toward

Everything they needed and away from

Pharaoh and all

His chariots

Every single slave walked out

Relinquishing every tie to a land not their own

Doing what their Shepherd asked

A Story

A story to tell

As I used to tell the children's story

But now to be a church retreat?

During which we remember You, Lord

As we remember Your stories to us

The stories that captured our love

And provoked our loyalty

A time to refresh that simple childlike faith

A Time To Remember

A time to remember You, Lord

Our mighty God

The maker of all that exists

The sustainer of life and substance

The saviour of sinners

The lover of all You have created

The provider of breath and joy

The One calling us to unity with Yourself

And each other

But it becomes facts to list

So many facts

And theology to debate

So many words

But inside it all is the Living God

Whose story is intimately entangled with ours

It is time to remember

That moment when I threw my life in with Your's

When the common sense of culture

Was released for the free flight

Of life danced hand in hand with You, Lord

When the music began