As I Lay Me Down To Sleep

As I lay me down to sleep
My spirit and body spent and beat,
May slumber come both strong and deep,
What dreams may come be fully sweet,
And all the while my soul He keep
As joy and hope my sorrows meet.

Beneath the Sails

When I look out to the sea
My heart grows sails and begins to flee to thee.
The clouds that stain the satin sky
Only increase my need to find affinity,
Eternity, the yet unseen, undone, long-decreed,
The answers and secrets in the hands that bleed,
I need to see the face of the man who sleeps,
who sleeps beneath the sails in the raging sea.

For The Daughter of The Melody and Light:

Someone brushed her arm with theirs, another’s strong cologne reached around her. She could feel people pressed close all around, yet her heart felt untouchable and her thoughts a million miles from any of these faces. She closed her eyes tight and tried again to offer all these thoughts up.

The night before she’d looked up at the stars, smiling and feeling wide open. Whatever this was in her heart, it couldn’t be shaken. She wished she could hear the stars. Standing at the car, head tilted back she’d become convinced that the constellations knew the song in her heart and if she could only listen to a star as it fell across the sky, she might be free. It would loose its hold on her. She’d be able to let go. She’d be known, and understood, a daughter of the melody and light.

A song could always make her cry, make her feel not alone, not an oddity. The right rifts could answer questions, for a moment. The music could always come so close to being right, but never really release her. Still, it was in the music she looked.

This morning she stood in the music, stood in the praise. And she begged herself to open to the King. She struggled within herself, all the while knowing the answer would have to come from outside. It would have to come from the King. She was postured to fight for it, her hands in fists, her eyes to heaven.

Just then the lyrics disappeared, and there was nothing for her to say. The instruments gave way and one sound rang out. The electric guitar let loose in the hands of a musician, the hands of a father creating the mystery in music that could loose the captive heart of one so small and hurting. She breathed deep. She let go. She didn’t even know the fullness of change, the melody of light flooding into her heart, her soul, her spirit. The song of the stars had escaped for a brief moment. She opened her eyes and with a smile said, “That’s my dad.”

God of the Winds

Part I

I'm laying in the sun soaking in the rays of Your presence. My skin's receiving the beginnings of that glow- what's left behind when I 'know' You. My eyes closed and my heart open, a cool breeze moves across me, tucks my hair to the side and gently touches my arm. You kiss my face, first warm then cool. God of the breeze, the gentle morning spring air. Your caresses are too much for the birds, they chatter and sing, laugh when You draw near. Time to play, to feel, to stand and know, to fly away.


Part II

We reached the ocean's shore early afternoon and ran to the waves, being thrown onto the sandy floor. The wind began to play with my hair- twisting and twirling in the an extravagant dance. Joy and beauty rose up in us all as we laughed and ran- splashing in the waters of Your wind.

We finished lunch and climbed the hills to the highest rock. Six adventurers, overcome by the strongest winds, letting it move us and free us from concern of looks, appearance, pretense, worry. We were being moved by Your wind, gripping the stone that we might not be thrown in to the crashing waves below. Fearful winds, and perfect delight in the terrifying grandeur of the God of the Winds.

You Sing

When you play the music, my heart hears and soars. You lower your voice in sentimental, dripping sounds and I smile. My left arm raises and my right embraces; my feet float across the floor.

Your notes turn, the tune trips off your tongue and my heart begins to mourn. My left arm veils my tears and my right embraces; my knees are dirtied on the floor.

You sing; I listen, it's never the same song as before.

Life in motion, life in color
waiting at the door.

Crying out, "Open wide!
I'm waiting just outside."

Behold the color of the veil
Ancient beauty you've to reveal

It's been waiting , moving
For your lens to catch it, midstride
Show the world this secret truth
That matches what's inside.
All creation waits in pain,
for the Sons of God to be revealed,
and unveil the Beauty that cannot be denied.

[I saw the picture above, taken by James, and I felt inspired to respond to it. Sometimes a picture just starts talking, and all you can do is pull out a pen and listen.]

Secrets in the Night.

I open my eyes, and I see the night rolling past. My heart quickens, I’ve won. I’m first to your feet, to your face, to your arms. No wonder the sun races to be near you, but before he can reach us, you whisper secrets in my ear. While the darkness conceals us you teach me, entreat me. The secret unsealed: You’re about to release us! Your glory will mark us, enlight us, and blind us. We’ll be blind to the fear and the “impossible” speaker.

When the sun finally rises, he fears us, for the glory of the Father heats us. With unveiled faces, we march out to meet them, the uncircumcised fools who dare to not fear Him! They cannot hear Him. But what happens when the world meets a people who dwell in the Cloud and follow the Storm, who step out of the crowd and refuse to perform? When the cloud raises, the crowd parts, we run out as fast and as far “Behold us and touch us for the God of Glory has fallen upon us!”

That is the secret: “When the darkness gets darker, the light grows all brighter. Daughter, oh daughter, come closer to my fire. Your face feels my burning, and your heart feels desire. When the sun rises to meet us, he’ll melt in the wonder, he’ll shine in the shadow of the children of the Mighty One. Soon, your faces will behold me then all creation will know you as “the children of Moses, the made-righteous ones." I have foretold them of you. By dawn, your face will glow brighter than the first birth of sun.

And I hear, I hear, and you are still here! A tear. I draw nearer. Please tell me Your secret again!