"Judas" (Fitting for Spy Wednesday)

"Judas"
Poem of the Day - 4/8/20
Audio Version of Today's Poem

Judas -
A most despised name in our faith
For he gave Jesus over to be killed
Why did he do it?

For money?
30 pieces of silver doesn't seem equal
To the life of a dear friend and teacher

Out of desire for the kingdom?
Jesus would surely resist
And be the king the Jews were promised
Showing true power

Did he have free will?
Or, if Judas hadn't betrayed him,
Would it have been someone else?

It's easy to sit in judgment
Of Judas
Of anyone
But, when it comes down to it
How do we know what we would have done?

Fear and Hope (4/7/20)

"Fear...and Hope"
Poem of the Day - 4/7/20
Audio Version of Today's Poem

Sunrise, sunset
Days blur together
A long time separated from loved ones
Yet each day is closer to an end
And, hopefully, to some kind of solution

Prayers up daily
So many memes
(And not just of Lori Lightfoot 😅)
Cards in the mail
Zoom chats with family, friends, coworkers, and students

Struggles to find meaning and purpose
Anxiety over those all alone -
Especially those giving birth or at the end of life
No one should be by themselves
Heartbreaking stories
Mixed with stories of hope and love

It's not possible to always be a Pollyanna
But it is possible to balance fear with hope

Lord, we entrust our world to you

Holy Week, An Acrostic (4/6/20)

"Holy Week, An Acrostic"
Poem of the Day - 4/6/20
Audio Version of Today's Poem

He died to save us from sin
Our eyes are fixed on the cross
Lent comes slowly to an end
Yes, Lord, we trust in You

Who can love us more than you?
Everything I believe is right here, right now
Eternal life is your promise to the world
Keep us safe, O Lord

Red Shoes and Palm Branches (4/5/20)

"Red Shoes and Palm Branches"
Poem of the Day - 4/5/20
Audio Version of Today's Poem

Most holy and solemn week
Closed church doors
Palm branches not blessed
Red shoes collecting dust
People anxious and unsure
A time unlike any we've ever known

Yet, hope remains

Hosannas sung in living rooms
Masses live-streamed on TV
Connection to the greater Church
Loved ones in our thoughts and prayers
God's Word sustains
And a world waits in darkness

Still, hope remains

Parishes checking in on those in isolation
Young folks dropping off groceries for shut-ins
Doctors and nurses working 'round the clock
Schools pressing on with e-learning
Restaurants determined to survive
Dreams laid out for a better future after COVID

Yes, hope remains

My Little Honda, a Limerick (4/4/20)

"My Little Honda, a Limerick"
Poem of the Day - 4/4/20
Audio Version of Today's Poem

There once was a nice little Honda
Whose car alarm wouldn't respond-a
When the battery died
AAA rushed to my side
And brought it to a shop I'm not very fond of.



Yes, this is a true story. Not exactly how I planned to spend my Thursday night - trying to figure out how to make the alarm stop. But I'm grateful for several friends and family who stopped what they were doing to talk me through ideas, and I'm also thankful for a good friend who came over with a mini screwdriver so I could undo my key fob (in case that was the culprit...sadly it wasn't). And, there's yet another friend who's going to help me get my car later when it's done at the shop. So, even in the midst of craziness and frustration, there is good to be found and friendship to be celebrated.

Stay optimistic, my friends...

"Nothing for Granted" - April 3, 2020

"Nothing for Granted"
Poem of the Day - 4/3/20
Audio Version of Today's Poem

Take nothing for granted -
It seemed so cliche
Yet today in our world
This phrase has its own way
Of making us stop
And ponder the gifts
That God's granted each person
Till our spirits it lifts

Holidays spent with family
Long commutes daily to school
Constantly nagging our students
To just follow the rules
Simple interactions and things
Were part of the daily grind
To live in a world without them -
The reality ne'er crossed my mind

So, where does it leave us?
What can possibly be done
To find hope in the present
And have, dare I say, fun?
Gratitude's good for starters
To offer up in prayer
So that our perspectives widen
And of God's love we're aware

April 2 Poem of the Day

"Social Distancing 2020"
Poem of the Day - 4/2/20
Audio Version of Today's Poem

"Social Distancing" -

Webster's 2020 'word of the year,'

Mark my words

No pun intended...

Ok, maybe so.

You got me.

I feel helpless

Because I can't do

Anything -

Yet, 

Apparently,

That's what we all need to do.

Nothing.

What has it come to mean?

A little bit of work

And a whole lotta Netflix.

(Well, I don't have Netflix,

But you get the idea.)

Not exactly what I had in mind for April.

I'm pretty sure no one thought

We'd

Be

Here.

Alone.

But enough with the pity parties.

We're called to make sacrifices.

Yes, it's a sacrifice.

And many of us

Are in positions where we can do just that -

positions of privilege.

As in, I still have my job.

I still can pay my rent -

Even if I am going a little stir crazy

All cooped up in my apartment.

But I have family and friends who check in on me.

(Virtually-speaking)

Our sacrifice is so small

Compared to those on the front lines -

To doctors, nurses, police

To firefighters and city workers.

Our sacrifice means everything for them -

To keep them safe

And to bring them home each day

To their own loved ones.

Maybe it's not the sacrifice that's the hardest.

Maybe, instead, it's the

Not

Knowing

When

It

Will

End.

So, what do we do?

The only things we can do -

Trust.

Reach out.

Stay home.

Love.

Yes, that's it. Love.

A whole lotta love

For our world in need.