Hidden Paths

during and after a hike in Great Falls Park

Far from the stony towers,
and the hardened pavement ways,
stand the watchers and rememberers,
'mongst whom light and shadows play.

For ages hidden in silent watch,
in beauty no man could contrive,
In joy they sang before our ways,
brought limits to our lives.

The same golden sun is shining
on the secret, hidden ways.
A golden blanket, kissed with sun,
light on the forest lays.

And here is still remembered
the time there was no man.
When the glory in these shaded paths,
was but a step of greater plan.

In moss hung and gold-lit castle,
all one can see is giving.
They give glory to their Creator King,
merely by their vibrant living.

At sight of this joyful living,
the heart with wonder fills.
To hear the joyous sparrow sing,
above yellow daffodils.

Worn and ancient boulders sit,
like knobby old men, gray.
See faces uncounted and every step,
that has tread upon the way.

And tangled trees remember
the ages long ago.
They've seen times of joy and laughter,
and times of tears and woe.

Some stand as silent sentinels,
and remember all they've seen.
They'll watch lives that have yet to pass,
after lives that once have been.

And the river still is rolling,
oer rocks now worn with age.
Now a roaring, deadly lion,
now a silent, pondering sage.

If such beauty lives in our world,
how much more will be hereafter.
When nature will wake in truest form,
at the word of it's great Crafter.

Battle Weariness

in times where it seems the battle cannot go on

Lord, I have been abandoned,
my friends are nowhere in sight.
Far off are any who might help me,
alone I stand against the forces of evil.

I stand alone against a sea of foes.
Even you have left me, my God.
My God, why have you forsaken me?
Why have you left me to struggle on my own?

My sword is notched, my shield riven, spear splintered.
My helm is dented and my armor battered.
I am weary in body and soul,
yet still my foes press in around me.

How long have I been fighting?
When will I gain respite?
When will I feel again the strength of the Lord,
and his love which upholds me?

Fighting constantly I long for peace.
Battle after battle wearies me.
How can I continue fighting,
if I am deprived of the strength of the Lord?

Yet still I live, in spite of battle,
in spite of many trials.
And as I live, then I am supported.
For only do I fight by the grace of God,
only by his strength do I lift notched sword and riven shield,
to continue the battle in his service.

Therefore, though my heart, soul, and body are weary,
I will press on in joyful service to the Lord.
Though my throat is dry and hoarse,
and all my tears are spent,
I will let forth a joyful battle cry,
singing a song of victory to my God.

God's Warrior

during one of the Spiritual Exercises meditations.

My God, My God, my loving Christ,
I put my trust in you.

Direct me Oh Lord in the battle to come!
Fill my soul with a spirit of fire and zeal!

From afar I heard the sound of your call
and it echoed in my breast.
I hastened to your side,
though often tripped by obstacles and fears.

Behold, I stand before you now,
willing to serve you, to give you my life.
With joyful heart I take up sword and shield in thy service.

To the battle I will go singing joyfully,
a song of praise to you will be on my lips.
Your strength will be in my arm,
your light in my eyes.

The joy of battle is upon me!
I am eager for the contest!
Let my foes fly before me
when they see the Lord I serve!
Wailing they will despair,
turn their backs and flee.
In their flight I will surely cut them down,
they will feel the bite of my sword!

Tremble, you enemies of the Lord, you fools!
You have set yourself against on too strong,
you are outmatched by God in me!
Fight or flee- to me it matters not,
I will hunt you down.

When your arm grows weary in the battle,
when your legs grow weak in the retreat,
still you will find me tireless, fighting, pursuing.
From me you will gain no respite,
for my strength is in the Lord.

Send me forth, my King!
I am eager for the war!

The Flame Within

Burning, Burning, Burning,
Ah, this flame is burning!
Bright it burns within my heart,
zeal and courage it does impart.
So intense it causes pain.
To live is Christ, to die is gain.
Ah, how this flame is burning!

Blazing, brightly blazing.
God how my soul is blazing!
Such love is too much to contain.
My joyful cries I cannot restrain.
More bright than king in gold attire
does burn my spirit with your fire.
God, how can I stand this blazing?

Consuming, so consuming.
God, this flame's my soul consuming!
Burns away all sin and vice,
devouring me like a sacrifice.
Oh flame that dwells within my core,
consume me til there's nothing more,
but you, oh flame of love, consuming!

Transforming, all transforming.
Christ, in your fire I'm transforming!
Like an offering that is burnt away,
may I burn a little more each day,
and offered share this burning love,
that appeared like fire tongues and Spirit dove.
May I share my soul's transforming!

Prayer of One Burdened

My heart is aching, dearest Lord.
At night I water it with my tears,
at day I feed it with my sorrows.
Will you remain far off forever, Lord?

Do you not hear me crying in distress?
How long has this burden been upon my soul!
I have sought to lift it without success, my strength is not enough.
I have sought the aid of others, but they cannot help or will not.

I turn to you, oh God. You alone can help me.
Will you not aid me,
comfort me in my sorrow?

This burden is so great that I can barely speak, barely move.
Alone I sink beneath its weight, struggling for every breath.
My cries come out as panting gasps.
How can I endure this, my Lord?
How much longer will this burden afflict my heart?

Yet if this is your will, Oh God, who am I to stand against it?
Who am I to question the ways of the Lord?
Truly it is by his grace that I walk or move at all.
Every step, every rise after every fall is by his power.
In my misery his strength sustains me.

Though the Lord appears far off, how can I trust my senses,
The senses of a weak and human body?
Will they tell me that the Lord is present,
or the purpose of this burden?
No, but faith shall tell me the purpose of my sorrows,
shall tell me where the Lord is in my distress.

He is in me, lifting me, aiding me to walk.
He allows my burden that I might turn to him all the more for succor in my troubles.
Therefore, though my heart aches and this burden weighs upon my soul
I will not despair.
Sorrow shall never speak the last when God is at my side.

Let Go

from a time in prayer

Let go of everything but me.
Cling only to my Spirit.

Let go of fear, of all anxious worry.
My Spirit will fill you with courage and trust.
Let go of hatred, all resentful grudges.
My Spirit will fill you with love and forgiveness.
Let go of pride, foolish self attachment.
My Spirit will fill you with humility and sacrifice.
Let go of doubt and lingering uncertainty.
My Spirit will fill you with lasting faith.
Let go of tears and sorrows remembered.
My Spirit will fill you with unbridled joy.
Let go of timidity with it's hesitant steps.
My Spirit will fill you with zeal and passion.

Only by letting go will you find,
in emptying will you fill,
in giving you will receive,
in dying you shall live.

Behold, when you forget yourself you will remember me,
and I shall not forget you.
I will fill you with my Spirit.
Your weakness is no match for my strength.
Turn over all to me and I will cast out all that hinders you,
all that has caused you to weep bitter tears of anguish.

Yet I warn you, nothing must be kept back.
If you fully desire my Spirit, then you must fully give all that you are.
But I tell you, do not be afraid.
For when you fully give yourself,
fully empty, fully lose,
you will become, fully, the person you were meant to be.

Prepare For Battle

My brethren, steel thyselves against temptation
I say unto you, the battle is before us.
Truly our doom is at hand.
Therefore, gird on helm and breastplate, sword and shield.
Prepare yourself for battle long and arduous.

Indeed, our enemy is at hand.
A tireless general who never sleeps, never tires,
with legions like him at his command.
Their thirst for blood cannot be quenched, cannot be slaked.
They will not rest until we fall.

Therefore oh lovers of truth and beauty,
those of you who defy the armies of hate,
shore up your defenses, make firm thy walls.
For the time is upon us when they shall be tested in the fires of war,
for the enemy marches upon us. He is at our gates.

Prepare your defenses with fiery hearts,
for not all hope is lost, nor are we forsaken.
Our commander will not desert us, but will lead us to victory.
In him let us put our faith.
Before him the craven hordes of the enemy fly,
at the sound of his horn they quake with fear.

Woe to them who call not to our King,
who in pride or foolishness follow him not in the coming battle.
Surely they will fall like sheep to wolves.
The faint hearted will not endure this time of trial,
but will wither like ash before the onslaught.

But those who trust our King with zeal and courage,
they will surely be victorious, he will lead them.
In the coming battles and trials he will triumph,
Leading his followers out of darkness to a new dawn.
He will plant his banner of victory on the field of battle.