It is even more certain that divine grace.
Coming through Christ came to so many as an abundant free gift.
I try to put the second of Francis’ prayers in place.
To stop into depression, any drift.

He says, fast  from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
That’s the key, be happy with what we have.
All we need to lift our mood.
It’s a soothing salve.

So away with any sadness.
But we can never just wish it away.
It often seems to trump gladness.
It’s difficult to keep at bay.

Perhaps we can’t do it on our own.
We have to ask him for it as a loan.

……

Fast now from sadness
And be filled with gratitude
That must be the way

…….

See Romans 5 : 12-19

‹‹

The sand of the sea and the raindrops.
And the days of eternity , who can assess them.
And  often there are  falling teardrops.
But here is a true everlasting  gem.

The height of the sky and the breadth of the earth.
Who can probe them.
But with all this comes new birth.
We can only sound the welcome drum.

Before all other things wisdom was created.
Shrewd understanding is everlasting.
Ultimately all things are weighted.
Before we even begin fasting.

For whom has the root of wisdom ever been uncovered.
If from God we are severed.

…….

Who can probe the sea
Or measure he breath of earth
All things are weighted

…….

See Ecclesiasticus 1 : 1-10

‹

But you he asked.
Who do you say I am.
So often this truth is masked.
We do not have the trust of a lamb.

Is he just a teacher.
A rabbi we might just meet.
A wandering preacher
An inspiring prophet.

What did Peter answer.
You are the Christ.
And what is our own answer.
To what are we really in truth enticed.

We ponder , we question , we hesitate.
And one day we might find it’s all too late.

……

What did Peter say
He answered , You are the Christ
And what do we say

…….

See Mark 8: 27-33

Till heaven and earth disappear not one dot.
Will disappear from the law until its purpose is achieved.
But we will be reduced to naught.
Unless perhaps we have believed.

Whether we are mere electrical currents in the brain.
Or the home of an immortal soul.
This body is just shifting sands of  grain.
What we call me is neither the part nor the whole.

But we are obsessed.
With our transient being.
Not realising how we are blessed.
Not truly hearing or seeing.

This life is drawing to an end.
And then we will or will not transcend.

…….

Who we ask are we
Immortal soul or just brain
But we do not know

……..

See Matthew  5 : 17-37

They brought to him a deaf man.
Who had an impediment in his speech.
He is the helmsman.
To whom we beseech.

We take our senses so much for granted.
Until they are taken away .
We do not appreciate what it is to be stranded.
And to be for a lifetime at bay.

But gradually our senses fade.
There is no going back.
Our price for life dearly paid.
Pulled slowly by life’s relentless rack.

Ephphatha, he said to the ears ,be opened.
Let our faith in new life be heard , reawakened.

……

We also are deaf
To so much testimony
We need to listen

…….

See Mark 7 : 31-37

You must come away to some lonely place.
And rest for a while.
Life is at too much of a pace.
Running every mile.

There were so many coming and going.
That the Apostles had no time even to eat.
We are constantly  thinking, sowing and reaping.
But life needs to be tied to a spiritual cleat.

So they went off in a boat.
To a lonely place.
Behind a prayerful moat.
At a slow pace.

They could be by themselves.
We occasionally need to be by ourselves.

…..

On and on we think
Never pausing or stopping
But perhaps we should

…..

See  Mark 6 : 39-34