Paradox of Christ

Black is everything, white is nothing - black is nothing, white is everything.
Contemplate deeply, glance at the surface.
Truth lies in this contradiction.

Just look at a keyboard, a starlit sky, a soccer ball, a bride and groom, a charred marshmallow,
a newspaper, a panda bear. Ponder, wonder; see over and under.

The earth is a grey area, hiding the truth in a rainbow.
Colors absorb us - blue, green, yellow, orange, red - multiple shades in between.
     A variety of fruits to satisfy our senses
     Delicious
     Paint mixed to bring life to a picture
     Artistic
     Rolling hills with scattered clusters of wildflowers
     Magnificent

Look beyond these golden treasures to
     A family shivering outside their burning home,
     An old man with an empty stare on a park bench day and night,
     A young woman who is thrown around relentlessly,
     A child whose silent cries are ignored, left alone to starve,

 And God, who was nailed fast to a tree,
 That all may choose the path of the free.

by Julie St. John   Fall, 1987
   

Come to the Water

Come to the water; we will swim side by side.
   I know you are thirsty; this you cannot hide.

She comes to the edge and slowly descends,
   Clings to the ladder tightly. I encourage her again.

Come to the water; we will swim side by side.
   I know you are thirsty; this you cannot hide.

She peers at the still water, fear lies deep in her eyes.
   Will the darkness pull her under if she decides to try?

Come to the water; we will swim side by side.
   I know you are thirsty; this you cannot not hide.

Taking hold of my hand, we slowly float out,
   Enjoying the cool refreshment as she forgets her doubts.

She came to the water; we swam side by side.
   Splashes of laughter echo all around; her joy she cannot hide.

by Julie St. John, summer of 1987

To Glory Mooring

To Glory Mooring I travel this sorry road,
There a certain Gospel Ship is destined, I am told,
For a great metropolis with streets of gold.

Early set I out to catch the morrow's evening ride.
It was no later than noon when I was joined by
     A stranger at my side.
"Fellow, why follow this difficult, wretched highway?
Know ye not that down yonder town, one may abide
Assured of his income and living with monetary pride."

"My good man," quipped I, "diverted I must not be.
For should I dawdle to gain earthly spoils,
Sorrow I shall straightway see.
Lest without me my ship should surely flee.

Onward I trekked ignoring hunger, exhaustion, and pain,
Stooping down occasionally to drink from a stream of rain.
Nearer I drew to a somewhat cozy cottage-inn,
Where rest is given to the weary soul of such migrating men.
Since established by the Comforter,
To this haven I gratefully came after.

Next morning I again pursued my mission
Til accompanied by a man of carelessness and sinful submission.
"Why not take the shortcut to pleasure, young man?
Mind not your future nor your present condition.
Would it not be easier just to have fun disregarding the end."

"Have I come this far just to give up when my journey shall end with evening light?
Family and friends?  My heir and my hire?  Possessions and position?
Naught are these to such a fairer and grander sight.
I will run this race, and I will fight this good fight,
To obtain a garment of snowy white."

Now, over yonder escarpment shall I shortly arrive
To board the ship that will set us free captained by the Prince of Life.
Do journey here with effervescent haste,
To the only glory-bound docking place.

By Caleb Calcine,  Sept., l997
   

To Know My Lord

My heart longs to know You, Lord.
   You, Lord, created the universe and all it contains.
   You, Lord, led the Israelites through wilderness wanderings.
   You, Lord, love the widow, fatherless, and stranger.
   You, Lord, sent Your Son to earth.
   You, Lord, rose on Easter morning, Alleluia.
   You, Lord, fill us with Living Waters.
   You, Lord, are wonderful to behold.

Bring me back to my first Love, my Lord.
   You, Lord, fashioned and nourished me.
   You, Lord, guided me through desert times.
   You, Lord, gave me love for the elderly, orphans, and foreigners.
   You, Lord, are my Good Shepherd whom I follow.
   You, Lord, are my Resurrection Joy, Alleluia.
   You, Lord, brought me to rushing mountain springs.
   You, Lord, have shown me Your Majestic Love.

All praise and honor to the Lord, God Almighty.
   You are Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

by Julie St. John  1987

Yesterday's Rain

The rain that fell a-yesterday is ruby on the roses,

     Silver on the poplar leaf, and gold on willow stem;

The grief that chanced a-yesterday is silence that encloses

     Holy loves when time and change shall never trouble them.

The rain that fell a-yesterday makes all the hillsides glisten,

     Coral on the laurel and beryl on the grass;

The grief that chanced a-yesterday has taught the soul to listen

     For whispers of eternity in all the winds that pass.

O faint-of-heart, storm-beaten, this rain will gleam tomorrow,

     Flame within the columbine and jewels on the thorn,

Heaven in the forget-me-not; though sorrow now be sorrow,

     Yet sorrow shall be beauty in the magic of the morn.

By Katherine Lee Bates

The Morning Walk

The early morning rise of sunlight

Gently entwines itself around my limbs;
Taking root deep within my eyes
Flowing fluid nourishment for my skin.

The early morning frame of earth
Gently entwines itself around my goal;
Taking it's brush of field and flower
Paints fluid colors upon my soul.

The early morning music of water
Gently entwines itself around my toes;
Taking unhurried paths within my mind
Flowing fluid nourishment for my growth.

The early morning scent of air
Gently entwines itself around my face;
Taking it's brush of wind and praise
Paints fluid thoughts of a Holy Place.

by Nathan Dunlap

Ascension Day,  May 29, 2005

    The Swing Man

Quicker that a cat snatching

Mice from a corncrib

I’m up on a limb

High where blue eggs are warmed

And squirrels glare at the

Invasion.

Watch!   Don’t get dizzy tilting

Your head back to see

This is a good limb

High where the air is clean

And the view!  You ought

To see it!

Like a spider that’s sliding

Down its web I go

Underneath the limb

High where no man has been

Since its creation

Don’t worry.

Braced to drill a hole, turning

The lag deep into

The flesh of the limb

High where inchworms will inch

And little acorns will grow

Little caps.

                                                                                                                                     

Hook the cable on diving

In slow motion down

I’m leaving this limb

High where leaves clap their hands

For joy of Him who

Made us both.

Tie on the rope attaching

A seat with a knot

Don’t be impatient kids!

I am almost done!

Tarzan himself

Would be impressed.

Take the leap of faith joining

The birds in their flight

Trust the limb go up

High where the wind can catch

Your laughter and bring

You new life.

Nathan Dunlap 9/19/98

    I wrote this poem to describe my experiences of helping Bill Anacker , “The Swing Man”,

 install swings while our family lived with and near Bill and Margaret in the late 1990’s.