A curse on the man who puts his trust in man.
He is like dry scrubs in the wastelands.
And we , do we have a spiritual plan.
Are we to be swept away by time’s shifting sands.

A blessing on the man who puts his trust in the Lord.
He is like a tree by the waterside.
He will reap the ever flowing heavenly hoard.
And always will have a true and loyal guide.

The words of Jeremiah made a profound impression.
Here was a simple choice we all have.
Focusing on the spiritual brings an end to tension.
All that is material will never be a lasting salve.

It’s more devious than any other thing, the heart.
And the Lord searches the heart.

………

Put not trust in man
But put your trust  in the Lord
That is the best way

…….

See Jeremiah 17: 5-10

Be compassionate.
As your father is compassionate.
Is our response adequate.
Or in our actions are we always late.

Do not judge.
And you will not be judged.
Or bear a grudge.
Especially if Il- judged.

Do not condemn.
And you will not be condemned.
See in everyone a gem.
And a friend.

What you measure out as an amount
Is what you will be given back as an amount.

……..

Be compassionate
Father is compassionate
Judge not or be judged

……..

See Luke 6 : 36-38

Our Father in Heaven.
May your name be held holy.
Here is the best prayer to seek heaven.
Especially if we say it slowly.

Your kingdom  come.
Your will be done.
We never need to be struck dumb.
There is a crown to be won.

Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts.
Thinking with heart and head.
And so we try to go through life without regrets.

If you forgive others their failings.
Your heavenly father will forgive your failings.

…….

Our Heaven father
Please forgive our trespasses
And forgive others

……..

See Matthew 6 : 7-15

It is not those who are well who need the doctor.
But the sick.
Who really are we against, who are we for.
For long are we tested, slowly burns the candle’s wick.

What I thought should I give up for Lent.
Thinking of myself I thought.
Thus in my half waking dreams a message was sent.
The world is great, I am naught.

But it’s as hard as mindfulness.
There you have to ponder nothing.
Still I am prey to restlessness.
Even if now I can think of  almost everything.

But still we try to think of others.
And not of our own bothers.

……..

I need a doctor
But of course only when sick
And perhaps I am

….. ..

See Luke 5 : 27-32

Let the oppressed go free and break every yoke.
To share your bread with the hungry .
We need to put on a new cloak.
As we seek another country.

I read Isaiah in the small stone chapel.
During the hour of the Blessed Sacrament.
Here was an end for a moment to all struggle.
Just silence was the new commandment.

A humbled contrite heart, O God.
You will not spurn.
However flawed.
We still can learn.

I left the chapel reluctantly.
Quietly , slowly.

…….

Break every yoke
Share your bread with the hungry
Seek a new country

……..

See Isaiah 58 : 1-9 and Psalm 50

Moses said, see I set before you life and prosperity.
Death and disaster.
But our faith is beset with timidity.
As we fail to recognise what should be our true master.

What gain is it for man to have won the whole world.
And to have lost or ruined his very self.
But day in , day out we just live for this world.
Forgetting what should be our true inner self.

For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it.
But anyone who loses his life for my sake, that man will save it.
Still we are not spiritually fit.
Will we reach for heaven or descend into the pit.

Alms giving, prayer and fasting.
The message of Lent , are we receiving.

………

We won the whole world
We ruined our very self
We found out at last

……..

See Deuteronomy 30 : 15-20 and Luke 9 : 22-25

¶Happy the man who remains firm when trials come.
He has proved himself and will win the trial of life.
He will not be overcome.
As he tries  to avoid strife.

After a long night I thought about Christianity.

I knew it was right , that it gives us eternal hope.
After the usual trail of negativity.
I felt a great release and happiness on an upward slope.

I pondered , death is just the final healing.
There is really nothing to worry about.
It is a sort of happy final sealing.
A gentle whisper rather than a loud shout.

The usual long awaited dawn came.
But something would never be the same.

……

Happy the firm man
Who proves himself when trials come
He will win life’s trials

…..

See James 1: 12-18

My brothers , you will always have your trials.
But when they come try and treat them as a happy privilege.
As we tread along life’s long tiring miles.
Searching for God’s  distant elusive image.

Bereavement sadness is the first to surface.
In the middle of the night when we wake.
It is a sort of catharsis.
But it keeps one sad and awake.

But if you try to pray.
The mind can move forward.
And somehow one emerges from the fray.
Heading benignly shoreward.

Let me just live for this day.
Accepting that tomorrow is a new more hopeful day.

…..

We always have trials
They are just a privilege
Something to live with

…….

See James 1 : 1-11

If you want to cure me you can.
Of course I want to, be cured.
Would we ask the same question of this man.
Is our faith truly assured.

These beautiful words of Jesus.
He will cure us if only we ask.
And he will free us.
If we stick to the task.

Mind you say nothing to anyone.
But go now and show yourself to the priest.
Do we have confidence to speak to everyone.
As we all approach our heavenly feast.

We can be cured.
That is assured.

…….

If you want to cure
Me you can, of course I want
to, be cured, he said

…….

See Mark 1: 40-45

If I send them home away hungry.
They will collapse on the way.
We too starve spiritually as we search for the other country.
We do not know what to say or do.

They ate  as much as much as they wanted.
And they collected seven basketfuls of the scraps left over.
We carry on , nothing daunted.
Making our way to
Our own Passover.

He sent them away immediately.
And getting into a boat he went to Dalmanutha.
Thus we pass obediently.
As we search every parameter.

There will for us be enough bread.
Whatever is said.

……..

He gave them bread and  fish
As much , more as they wanted
It’s the same for us

……

See Mark 8: 1-10

Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears.
Then looking up to heaven he sighed and said ,be opened.
We live and we shed our tears.
Grief reopened.

Bereavement is not a closed wall.
It is a shut door with a window.
Some fitful light shines through and into the hall.
But eventually that door will open , we feel less low.

Thus time passes.
And heals.
Sadness retreats into the mind’s recesses.
Pain seals.

We may start to lose our hearing.
But we all the more will start seeing.

…….

Bereavement  is now
Like a door with a window
And some fitful light

…….

See Mark 7 : 31-37