The Joy of Randomness

Picture a pillow or picture a peacock,

Picture a rainbow in splendid array;

Picture, ah, picture, the smile on a strawberry,

Or the sweet moment when night turns to day.

Picture the willows bent down to the water,

Picture the sun dancing bright on the wave

Picture (oh fancy it!) bluebells and unicorns,

Or the dear comforts that make you feel brave.

Picture whatever, whoever, wherever

Picture with glee and a smile of surprise

All of the world for your heart’s exploration

Imagination and wide open eyes.

Picture a squirrel or picture a penguin

Picture a ship or a soft, rain-soaked day

Freedom to wonder and let the mind wander

Into sweet meadows where young moonbeams play.

So much, so much to enjoy and give thanks for

Wise hearts can hold a continuous feast

Gladly embracing the glory and beauty:

Seen and acknowledged, enjoyed and released.

Picture a heart that’s content in amazement

Taking each thing as a gift and delight.

Picture the joy that will come in the morning:

Tears wiped away and our faith turned to sight.

Sometimes You Just Know

Sometimes you just know.

In the still small twilight,

In the whisper of the stars,

In the rippling of water

And the soft caress of rain,

You know.

Sometimes you just know.

In the touch of a child’s finger,

The confiding of their smile,

In the tears that wreath our gratitude

And the laughter of our freedom,

You know.

Sometimes you just know.

When the thunder shakes your mettle

And the rainbow lifts the sky,

When the wanting is too dreadful

And the tongue runs out of words,

You know.

Sometimes you just know.

In the silence past the violence,

In the courage to go on,

In the prayer that changes all things

And the hope that weaves the world,

You know.

Sometimes you just know.

If the Faith is Anything

If the faith is anything

It must be everything

Without the centre

We are hollow as a sounding gong.

If the faith is anything

It must be more

Than the skim of sunlight on the water

Dulled by a passing cloud.

It must be more

Than rigmarole and ritual

And occasional appeasement.

It must be more.

If the faith is anything

It should transcend

Our careless little thinking

And entitled boredom.

It should transcend

Our moderated dreams

And the hopes this world can give.

It should transcend.

If the faith is anything

It must embrace

Height, depth, length, breadth

And every nuance

Of sweet and sour in the life we live.

It must embrace

Mystery and certainty,

Grief and joy-gone-dancing.

It must embrace.

If the faith is anything

It must be everything

Or it is nothing

Just a rumour on the wind.

And let our cry come unto you.

I am a Broken Pot

I am a broken pot.

You pour your water in.

And straightway it leaks out,

And yet it washes sin:

A broken vessel I,

A cymbal made of tin.

I am a scattered seed

That falls on troubled ground:

The strange dark winds of life

Have turned me all around.

Yet, since your grace rains down,

Some root, some foothold found.

I am a sheep confused.

I go my baa-ing way,

Deaf to the shepherd’s voice,

Unwittingly I stray.

Yet, in some unmarked field,

Yourself became my way.

I am the parable

Of every undone thing:

I have no voice of praise

Till you teach me to sing;

Yet, in your lightest word,

I find my everything.