Poem: Song of the Stones

Song of the Stones

Your steps are stone, unchanged,
sure of themselves, self righteous,
incapable of growth,
incapable of transformation,

locked away from humanity
or hope, capable only of hardness
able only to slowly decay
into dust.

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These words were inspired by a post by my dear friend and pastor at the church I last attended in Virginia, Welspring Presbytarian. In his note he wrote: The thing about self-righteousness is is that it doesn't believe in deep personal transformation - I mean it doesn't believe in the gospel. It doesn't believe in grace. It just simply thinks it can measure up on its own. It says to Jesus, "You can come this close to me... and no further."

The photograph was taken in Rome. You can click on it for a larger version.

Tom

Poem: Psalm 103

Psalm 103

You stand in the dark sanctuary,
gazing towards the door, focused
not on the dark halls,
but on the baptistery,

white marble and glistening
with promise and hope, lit
by a gentle sun that believes
in the promise of our wholeness,
that believes

we are more than our sin,
more than our failures,
much more than we are allowed to believe, for

we are loved tenderly,
made to sparkle
in our father's light.

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The part of Psalm 103 that inspired this poem reads:

....The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse
nor will he harbor his anger forever,

He does not treat us as our sins deserve,
or repay us according to our iniquities,

for as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love.....

The picture was taken in Venice. You can click on it for a larger version.

Tom