Past & Present

Yesterday

and today,

how should we judge?

Eyes locked in

upon sin

or grace?

We are creatures of both,

for better

and worse.

So let us remember the bad,

but raise a glass

to the good.

These prophets of wokism

who defenestrate

with glee,

Can turn heroes

into villains

'til the cows come home.

But they cannot alter

your relationship

to we,

For you are

forever and always

our sibling.

Ineffable Goodness

"Who are You, my dearest God?

And what am I but Your useless servant."

~ Francis of Assisi

Argle and bargle

Fumbling from my fingers

Something wonderful

Earth

Never, ever ours,

this little rock

amongst the stars.

Yet still,

we huff and puff,

and stake our claims.

Who arrived first?

Who signed the deed?

Who has the power now?

Not human feet,

nor human hands,

nor even human minds.

How many came before?

And how many shall follow?

All for the mere blink of an eye.

Were they too

arrogant, reckless fools,

with presumptions of mastery?

Did they too

fail to truly comprehend

the grace bequeathed unto them?

Not owners,

just lucky tenants,

of a Landlord most divine.

No, never ours,

O little rock

amongst the stars.

Identity

What

do you see

as your gaze

lingers upon me?

For I am more

than packaging and labels,

and the assumptions

that go with them.

I am more,

so much more:

heart and soul,

foulness and beauty,

and all the grace

that goes with them.

So whom

will you choose to see

as your gaze

lingers upon me?

Control

Each time

I proclaim

myself

Master of my destiny,

Ruler of my universe,

You just laugh,

and laugh,

and laugh.

O vexatious Truth of truths,

O unwelcome Reality of realities,

bend me to Your will.

Bumblebees

Speak up! Act up! NOW!

Brainbound bumblebees buzzing

Be still! Stars emerge

Human Nature

Brutal and beautiful are we.
And try though we might,
they refuse to be divorced.

Oh, what to do, what to do:
bury our heads in the sandbox,
or embrace the paradox?

Obedience

"Eat the pork," says the world.

"Everyone does it.

It's what we do.

Eat the pork.

Why be so obstinate?

Do you not know the cost?

Just eat the pork.

Why sacrifice over a triviality?

No one will know.

No one will care.

Just eat the damn pork!"

Seventy-seven years ago, Franz Jägerstätter refused to "eat the pork" and was martyred by the Nazis. Those who killed him likely called him a fool, whom they were relegating to the dustbin of history. But now, seventy-seven years later, the Church calls him Blessed, and his story is told on the silver screen. It is the story of a man who recognized that our Parent's will is never trivial, and always worth the cost. The whims of human power may never understand that truth, but we do. And we choose to remember.

Brother Franz, pray for us!

Might's Folly

Light of Light rising
Dragging us down to Darkness
Fragrant blossoms sing

O blessed Dead
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
forgive us,
pray for us.

Vision

Behold
the object
of your scorn.

Can you not see
the face
of your sibling?