An Extraordinary Life

"Where will you be in five years time?"
Is the cry of all with goal setting in mind.

Well...

Africa, Nepal or maybe Peru
Working with those less fortunate than you
Women against who violence is so culturally ingrained
That they can't ask for help, no matter how much pain

India, Uganda or maybe Brazil
Upholding human rights - the struggle's uphill
Giving children a voice, yelling 'EXPLOIT THEM NO MORE!'
As they pick tea and coffee and cocoa galore

Indonesia maybe, Christmas Island as well
Fighting for refugees going through hell
Requiring their governments to uphold the law
And persuading ours we can take many more

Outback Australia, perhaps Kakadu
Learning from those forgotten by us too
Understanding indigenous culture, the lie of the land
So that self-determination and progress might stand

Oh, my personal life?

Africa, Nepal or maybe Peru
With a baby or two
Perhaps
One strapped to my back, one hugging my thigh
Seeing the world through their infant eyes

There's a man there as well
Says he's my husband but I never can tell
Perhaps he's my de facto life partner declared in a Hindu commitment ceremony
Or my soul mate

He walks with me beside me behind me in front of me through it
We are each whole people made stronger by being with the other
He too wants to change the world
He too wants his children to grow up as global citizens
He too wants to grow old knowing he did what he could to better the planet, and not just himself
He too understands the commitment
To an extraordinary life.

Please Stay...

Inspired by 'The Time Traveller's Wife'.

You are mine...

(a new song)

I'm so frustrated
I'm so ashamed yeah
I can't believe I'm
Doing this again

You call me closer
I'm walking faster
Don't want to listen
Leave me the hell alone

But you

Walk beside me all the way
And as I cry I hear you say

You are the one I love
You are mine
You are my beautiful child
You are mine

I feel you near now
But not here somehow
I won't go back now
No matter what you say

I've gone too far now
You ask too much now
I'm going to quit now
I'm better off alone

But you

Walk beside me all the way
And as I cry I hear you say

You are the one I love
You are mine
You are my beautiful child
You are mine

I know that you know
That I don't know who I am right now
But you go before me
And cry out loud

You are the one I love
You are mine
You are my beautiful child
You are mine

You are the one I love
You are mine
You are my beautiful child
You are mine

evk
2007

Untitled...

I sit here
This room ever darkening
As the sun goes down
And I probe the pain

The ebbing
ever-present pain
that is like a sore tooth
or sprained ankle
Or worse
slow-bleeding wound
that just won't stop

I can see the beauty around me
and within me
The pinks and mauves and blues of the sky
Matching the joy and awe inside me
But in the still deep reaches of my soul
There is you.

I look into that place in my soul and I see
That picture of us
Just two weeks ago
So happy
Tears fall down my cheeks as I admit to myself
That I want to be there again

I want to believe
That this will make us stronger
But all I can fear
Is that this is the end.

I reach into my soul
And lift up that place which holds you
I hold it in my hands
I wonder where we went wrong
What did I do
What didn't I do
When was I ever not enough
And why do you think that I deserve this.

Turning it over
Letting the tears of mourning
Sadness
And pain
Fall upon it.

I lift that place up to God
offering it to Him
giving it to Him
and finally
pleading for Him to take it
because I can't see for the tears
I can't feel for the pain
and I can't hear for the sound of my weeping.

I am sorry
I ask you for forgiveness
And as I imagine your pain
your pain
... your pain
I cry again and just want to be there with you to share it.

I always knew that you could hurt me
I didn't think that you ever would
At least, not like this
And yet, inside I know
that this is not you
this is not what you wanted
what you ever could want
and that you're hurting
(amongst other things)
because I am hurting.

And so the sun sets over the hills
Closer to you than it is to me
Though I can still see it
The only light is the dim glow of my computer screen
As I type
The pinks and mauves and blues
have faded to greys
And the tears begin to dry on my face.

But the pain
The ever-present
ever ebbing
ever bleeding pain
continues.
But I know I will be okay.

Nails, Blood and Sweat

Nails, blood and sweat
They nailed you to a chunk of wood
Removed your clothes and
Humiliated you
Humiliated you.
They gambled for your worldly possessions
A pair of sandals
Some pieces of cloth.

Did your blood drip down on them?
Did they curse you as you rained your life’s blood on them?
Did they wipe it off, disgusted?
Did they mutter for you to die quickly ~
Get it over with.

Nails, blood and sweat
They hoisted you for all to see
A mocking sign above you
The King of the Jews
The King of the Jews
They spat on you and insulted you
‘Son of God
Save Yourself!’

Did your tears drip down upon them?
Were they spattered with the sorrow that you felt for them?
Did they know them tears of pity?
Or did they think them for yourself?

Nails, blood and sweat.
You died.

They pierced you with a spear
Ensuring you dead
Assuming victory.

Did you see my face before you?
Did you see mankind stretched before you as you took us on your shoulders?
Did you love us to the last?
Did you go to see your Father?
Did you fall into his arms?

Nails, blood and sweat.

I am the least, the last, the lost...

Inspired by the Gospel of Luke


I am the least
the last
the lost
Though I wear clothes of soft fabric and pretty hue
I am dressed in rags
Though I appear healthy
I am truly unwell
Though I seem happy
I am damaged

I am the least
the last
the lost
The least likely to suceed
The last person to believe
The lost sheep
Stranded
Alone

I am the least
the last
the lost
Saved by grace
Healed by His pain
Loved in His name

I am the least
the last
the lost
And I wouldn't have it any other way

2005

You Alone (the La La Song)

La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la -
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la -

When I am down you pick me up
When blind you help me see
And even if I'm out of luck
Your love will always be

You're not one in a million, you're the only one
The only one for me
I can't explain life without you Lord
You alone are the key

Your light shines in the darkest night
You love eternally
Injustice you alone make right
And forgive so graciously

You made the earth the stars the sun
For us undeservingly
In Jesus we can all be one
So we sing thankfully

You're not one in a million, you're the only one
The only one for me
I can't explain life without you Lord
You alone are the key

For our God loved the world so much
He gave his only son
I want to shout it out to the world
You alone are the one

When I am down you pick me up
When blind you help me see
And even if I'm out of luck
Your love will always be

La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la -
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la -

John 10:7-18 - The Shepherd and His Flock...

Or,

Jesus' Love Song

(a song)

I would never lie to you
I am telling you the truth
I am the gate that leads to new life
Where others come to steal
To destroy, hurt and kill
Enter through me and you will never die

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life

I am the good shepherd
Giving evil just desserts
Like lying in the gate, I lay down my life
Where others run away
I LIVE to fight another day
My love a greater weapon than any gun or knife

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life

You will hear my voice calling
As clearly as rain falling
You will hear only me through my Father above
My sheep in other pastures
Will respond to my calling
And I will nurture them with compassion and love

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life

No matter what happens
Rest assured in my promise
Everything that happens happens by my choice
So listen to the Father
Hear always his commands
Follow me, listen to the sound of my voice

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Show me... (a song)

You don't have to say anything
You don't have to speak a word out loud
I know that you're scared to begin
And I know that you can't talk it out

You don't have to speak my name
You don't have to give your fears a voice
We've come a long way to get here
Now it all comes down to just one choice

Take my hand
Slip your fingers into mine
Give me just a little more time

And all I know
Is there's nothing that you
Have to say
Just hold me close until
I know you love me still
And show me that you feel this way

You don't have to tell anyone
You don't have to open up - it's fine
There's no-one else who needs to know
We can tell them later on sometime

You don't have to say a word
You don't have to look me in the eye
It's such a little thing to do
Who knows what could happen if you try

Take my hand
Slip your fingers into mine
Give me just a little more time

And all I know
Is there's nothing that you
Have to say
Just hold me close until
I know you love me still
And show me that you feel this way