The Test of Faith

I have often heard pastors and others look at someone going 

through a trial and say, "His faith is being tested."  It suddenly occurred 

to me that perhaps our faith is being tested in how we respond.

Her eyes have seen many miles,

Her lips have spoken wisdom,

With decades of marriage behind her,

 And children far away,

Alone she lives upon a hill,

While illness slowly claims her love,

Visiting him when she is taken,

As time slowly ticks away.

His eyes have seen bloodshed,

In defense of his nation’s pride,

He traveled overseas,

As there was conflict to be,

And over fallen friends he cried,

While at home the picture changing,

Financial patterns rearranging,

His own home no longer to see.

In a young woman’s eyes lived laughter,

In this young woman’s eyes lived joy,

Until the day turned the page,

An old enemy of health reappeared,

Taking her rest away,

Taking away all of her peace,

Not able to put her battle to words,

Her eyes speaking volumes of fear.

I have been told such are trials,

With pastors speaking of the tests of faith,

I would wonder why they are being tested,

With conflicts and pain like I never knew,

Some with friends and family of support,

Others sitting alone in the darkness,

I realized those witnessing the trials are tested,

All of us who see and hear are being tried,

With those we do or do not know,

Be it a stranger leaving a store to go,

Alone with tears in the eyes,

Leaving us each a faith question I ask you,

If your faith is strong,

What will you do?

Turn the Page

The breeze comes on the evening sun,

Lifting birds to the sky,

While people travel to and fro,

Where they are going,

I do hope they know,

Sounds,

Calls,

Noise,

Data,

Streaming…

Time,

Stress,

Nerves,

Mind,

Reeling…

With my mouth closed,

My heart is listening,

The voices of old friends gone,

Introduce new friends to come,

Family is togetherness,

Whether blood or by choice,

Together giving voice,

Joy in simple things.

Jokes,

Laughter,

Cookies,

Clearing,

Resting,

Testing,

Together,

At our best.

Canolli recipe passed down,

From mother’s heart to heart,

Kitchen to kitchen family,

Magic from hand to hand,

As the story keeps unfolding,

Life and joy continues,

For the heart continues yearning,

And so the pages keep turning,

Turn the page.

Who Are You?

Feel,

Fly,

Reach,

Try,

Stretch,

Yearn,

Grow,

Learn,

Speak,

Share,

Give,

Dare,

Laugh,

Cry,

Feel,

Why,

Reach to the stars,

Learn who you are.

The Ocean Above

Within the blue ocean,

Stretching endless above,

The crystal waters of warmth,

With sailing ships of white,

Looking down upon our heads,

While we are scarcely looking up,

To raise our hands embrace,

As our hearts confound the infinite,

For the birds and wild sing truth,

While we do not stop to understand,

Stop to drink the still waters,

From the eternal well,

Closing our eyes to the physical,

Our hearts might see the truth,

How our souls swim in the infinite,

Waters of overlapping worlds,

Colors singing in wonder,

Two streams crossing in our hands,

An impossibility we glimpse,

When the blue seas lift away,

And the stars confront our illusions.

Unfolding Magic

Magic is unfolding,

In the wandering of ways,

Following the spirit wind,

From the breath of God.

Perhaps aimless in appearance,

Like the fluttering butterfly,

Yet a straight and narrow path,

Kissing every flower.

Chemistry in spirit,

Follows faithful motion,

As souls are lit in the touch,

Like stars burning from God’s flame.

And so you touch my hand,

As my words touch your heart,

And the wordless meaning of life,

Strikes us crystal clear.

And so the song continues,

Heard loudest in the silence,

With no beginning and no end,

Bringing angels tears of joy.

A Prayer - In Celebration of the Life of James Sutera

 For the time I knew him, it was like I had the time

back with my own Dad.  For my wife, he gave the finest complements

to her driving as we went to the Sutera family picnics together.  For you, 

something entirely different and special.  And if you are not part of this family,

and have lost someone special, may this prayer apply to that life continuing through

your heart.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Grant me daily strength as you did for him,

The strength to work hard at anything,

To provide for my family’s needs,

And give my children a good life.

Dear Lord God,

Grant me the wisdom of discernment,

As you did for him,

That I can face problems without fear,

And those close could trust me to help them,

As I walk in faith with you.

Dear Precious Lord,

I am far from perfect,

Learning and growing each day,

Dealing with mistakes as he did,

Give me patience that I might fix my errors,

And be a better person.

Dear Holy Father,

Love is the basis for all things,

Though I try to remain strong as he did,

May my actions convey love as he did,

So that  my family and friends have hope,

No matter the circumstance of life,

Dear God,

I am not making Jim to be a saint,

For when he accepted your Son it was done,

And in his errors and attributes he was human,

And the best of that shown though his life,

So may his light shine on through our hearts.

Edie

Doctors told her she would not make it.

She lived to tell me they were wrong.

Never doubt the scope of possibility in faith!

Passing by the elevator,

Greeting us,

In meeting us,

With bright eyes,

She relayed a happy tale.

Unexpected this was,

Going somewhere,

To find her there,

With a smile,

God lifted up a veil.

Her name is Edie,

Though very quick,

She was sick,

The doctors there,

Painted picture grim.

Her heart was stronger,

Then illness come,

Wherever from,

And with faith,

She faced chances slim.

Her prayers were answered,

And from her bed,

Though almost dead,

She rose with force,

Joy to share a new.

For she was talking,

Heart to heart,

A brand new start,

Though doctor said,

Her life was through.

We never know,

Day to day,

Here to stay,

For each day we have,

Is a gift to share.

Like Edie showed me,

Living true,

Means coming through,

With a smile,

Showing all you care.