etcetera:

Poetry week 1

Please take a moment to meditate on this poetry, and consider the Father’s love for you.

Love (III) – George Herbert

Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,
            Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
    From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
            If I lack’d anything.

‘A guest,’ I answer’d, ‘worthy to be here:’
            Love said, ‘You shall be he.’
‘I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
            I cannot look on Thee.’
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
            ‘Who made the eyes but I?’

‘Truth, Lord; but I have marr’d them: let my shame
            Go where it doth deserve.’
‘And know you not,’ says Love, ‘Who bore the blame?’
            ‘My dear, then I will serve.’
‘You must sit down,’ says Love, ‘and taste my meat.’
            So I did sit and eat.

God Knocking – Noah Bartley

I come to these woods week after week after week and hear the tap tap of the woodpecker.

I imagine that each peck is God knocking on the door of my heart, asking to bid him welcome, to let him in so he can quell the raging wake of my aching soul —

“But Lord! Let me tidy up the mess I’ve made.”

In pity, he responds, “My child, the mess is why  I’ve come.”

“But Lord! You came this time last week, the mess is worse than before!”

“My child, this door hides nothing from my all-seeing eyes.”

In fear I cry, “Then you know what wretch you visit today. Turn away; turn away!”

His smiling voice responds, “To where shall I go but here? I knew your heart’s darkness before I knocked — I am here to stay, here to stay.”