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The question Is not whether Fish sleep, But whether Fish sleep Standing up Or lying down. Combing the Shores (November 13, 1977)
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(to Florienne)
On the end of the public pier, I saw an old man crabbing In the hot afternoon sun. His face was worn and cracked Like the weathered railing His lines were fastened to With wooden clip-on clothespins. I moved rapidly, Showing off my youth, Carelessly pulling up my lines Whenever they drew taut, Netting some crabs easily And losing others. The old man moved deliberately With the patience of a lifetime: He stooped low and slowly netted Every crab that took his baited lines. Ten hours in the sun, He had caught almost a bushel-- One crab by one. My face was perspiring and sunburned. I glanced conspicuously at my watch And loudly mumbled something about being Late for supper if I didn't get home soon. I pulled in my lines, packed away my bait, And picked up net and basket to leave. "How'd you do?" asked a young girl Who had walked up behind me on the pier. I smiled weakly and showed her The eight crabs I had in my basket. "Ah, well, maybe next time," She sighed sympathetically as she began Walking out towards the old man. When I reached the car, I turned to wave goodbye, But she was no longer in sight. Out on the pier, the old man was smiling, Drinking from a paper cup of cold water. Then I smiled, too, For cold water doesn't Have to be given in cups To be refreshing. The Daily Banner (February 15, 1977)
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When I was very young And lived on Buffalo Street, I believed I saw an airplane Standing still at cable height Between the telephone poles In front of my house. I ran to tell my mother What I thought I'd just seen. We stood in the doorway looking, But the plane was gone as if No plane had ever been there... Two years afterward, I was still quite young, Though on vacation from Buffalo Street, I saw a rock I thought to be a toad-- Or a toad that might have been a rock. I wanted to touch it and discover what it was. But I was afraid to, and the next day it was gone... Much later -- When I was older and no longer lived on Buffalo Street -- I almost died once. There was no cure But the prayers of those who loved me... I lived. If I had dared to reach out And try to touch God and prove Him real, I could never have succeeded. But what does that matter? God reached out to me first -- And, touching, He proved. Event (March 1977)
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It's depressing sometimes-- Spending what one Really doesn't have To buy things that Really don't matter and Really won't last Past yesterday, anyhow. Things just aren't worth what they Used to be, people keep complaining; No one takes pride in his work anymore, And quality seems to be a thing of the past. Funny. It just wasn't like that when God made the world. God had pride then.... And a human soul is Still worth the price of God's life. Youth Leadership (Jan Feb Mar 1977)
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Lord, as You well know, I'm not one to complain, But I'd just as soon be Back in the whale's belly, Picking my way darkly Among those absurd bones I had to learn the names of Back in high school biology And wishing -- please, Lord! -- For a fillet next time And perhaps a flashlight, Than to have to forgive The people You're forgiving And forget their rottenness As willingly as You're doing. Here You sent me to Warn them in Your Name, But You never said they'd listen! Lord, they took me seriously! I never felt so self-conscious. And then when they repented, well, My nerves haven't recovered yet! Lord, I hesitate to interfere, But wouldn't it have been simpler Just to go ahead and wipe them out, You know, like You had threatened To do in the first place? Lord! Why are You letting The worms attack that poor Shade plant that grew up Over my head yesterday? It never did a thing to You. Don't You care about anything In this world that matters? Daily Banner (March 15, 1977)
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Blue jeans Faded soft (Doesn't he Uneasy in Have more respect The pew For the church Than that?) Army jacket Drab green (Doesn't he Restlessly Know better than Shifting To dress that way For church?) Leather sandals Miles old (Couldn't he Moving toward Have sat somewhere The aisle Inconspicuously In the back?) Long hair Pony-tailed (Lord! You're Coming to Not going to The Front Save him, Are you...) Event (July 1977)
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I wish I could collect all my feelings Like old photographs in a shoe box And choose those worth having To warm me time and time again. I'd leave the rest forgotten Gladly in the bottom of the box. Then I could dream without failing And attempt without fearing. I could climb without falling And aspire without becoming frustrated. I could rejoice without needing to grieve And accept without needing to question. But each feeling, like each old photograph, Has a necessary place in the shoe box of life. Better to have all feelings available to memory Than to face life unrealistically, Expecting only good. After all, Christ said I must lose to win. Encounter (April May June 1977) |
Lord, Why should I be pale When others are darkly tanned? Why should I be short When others stand tall above me? Why should I count calories When others are eating as they please? Why should I sniffle and sneeze When others walk in the rain In good health? Just joshing, Lord. But seriously, Lord, Why must I endure the bad When others are enjoying the good? Why must I struggle so hard When others just float and glide? Why should I lack anything When others have more than they need? Why should I be so tempted When others walk uprightly with ease? Why, Lord? What's that, Lord? Lord! You don't mean it! All those other people... This is the same prayer They are praying? Daily Banner (March 15, 1977)
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Lord, Are you sure You don't need Someone to build Another ark Or to lead Another people Safely through The wilderness To freedom? Surely there're Evil cities You want me To preach to Before You Destroy them-- Or giants You want me To slay with Small pebbles-- Or stone walls You want me To march around And shout at Until they fall? You see, Lord, I know my candle Isn't very bright, And sometimes A cup of water Given in Your Name Just doesn't Seem like much For me to do To serve You. Daily Banner (March 15, 1977)
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One morning I saw a crab Floating towards me On top of the water. I readied myself And caught him In my net With no real effort. But the crab just Crumbled to pieces In my net -- Dead and long decaying. That day I Ceased to envy evil men Who float content on top of life, For I know Whose Net they are already Dying in. Daily Banner (February 15, 1977) |
I walked outside today, Down to the river's edge, Where a dozen swans were Floating freely near the Shore without the bother Of bulky winter clothing And were swimming slowly Without the pressures of Rush-hour freeway traffic. As they stretched necks Into the chilly autumn air Without concern about the High cost of home heating, They honked joyously without Jealous backbiting or anger. Then they dipped their heads Deep into the cold waters Without the slightest fear Of coming down with the flu And came up stomachs filled And satisfied without having To count the caloric content Or to consider cholesterol. Then they begain to fly upward -- One by two by three by six -- Totally unconcerned over air Collisions or ground delays. My heart soared with them for awhile, But soon they outdistanced me by far. Daily Banner (February 15, 1977) |