(c)06-25-06   John L. Stevens

As I walked in the darkness
In the middle of the day.
I stumbled down the road.
Not knowing Your way.
I was broken from falling
Fear dwelled deep within.
I trusted only me,
To see me through.

Then I saw the light shining
In the middle of the day.
I could see without falling
As You lighted the way.
Your light shone around me
And took away the fear.
I learned to trust You Lord,
To see me through.

As I walk through the valley
Of the shadow of death.
I will fear no evil
To befall me.

As I walk into the darkness
at the end of the day.
Your light shines around me
and shows me the way.
No fear dwells within me
as my journey here will end.
I trust only You Lord,
To see me through.

As I walk through the valley
Of the shadow of death.
I will fear no evil
To befall me.

For Your rod and your staff
Are with me to the end.
I will step into the light.
I will see the glorious sight.
I will finally be at home.. in Heaven
I will meet You face to face… in Heaven.

I was blind but now I see.
Your light shines around me.
I was blind but now I see… Your face.

Most times in movies, I always heard what the doctors said.
"You have 3 months at most" and the subject would freak.

Being on  the same shoe leads to denial, pain, bitterness.
But when I chose joy, its because I know,
That I have Ran the Race, This is my Finish Line and I have kept the faith.

And ach day I wake in the morning, I wonder how many hearts I have touched so far?
Do I still have time to make up for all the mistakes I did?

But i cant live with regrets any more.
I have Lived, I was here. I made a Difference and I know, even if not many, I touched A Soul.

Tears cant fall from my eyes no more, because that means I am sad.
So I smile and take as many pictures, because Life is A Gift.
I celebrate mine, each day since until the day.

Spring is going to back
Silently dropping  the purple petals  
Bored noon,  
The melancholy flute's of Shepherd
Seeking the missing spring

Roll up,
Roll around the idle noon
Random impulsive air
Bunch of dark clouds at the sky
Pensive
Seem illusion of that known
Pied crested Cuckoo

Beyond the horizon,  
The eyes looking for
Sounds (Tip Tip) of the sudden drops of rain,
On the leaves of Quail,
Washing
Differentiation of mind

On the leaves of Arum,
Ever Keeps as the containers
Integrating
Concentrating 
Compiling of soul 

Weird one wrapped in mystery
Mind
Life
Seasons

Coming up the lyrics of rain
Fusion with thy mystic music
Afternoon has grown heavier  
How my mind moves!

Chased away birds returning home
The heart is rapidly expanded
Rain continues to move around
Nature demands a new ground

Looping, hearing of the same song
Shadows filling with the feelings
Perhaps this change of thy
Bound to sketch
A new face of impression

~

irreverent place
on a laundry room shelf,
his is a figure serene.
source of comfort?
source of peace?
perhaps...
but oh, so much
more than that...
this is a crossroads
where absolution meets  
the gritty mundane,
where he became
her source of familiarity.
"good morning, Sweet Jesus,
i'm just here to wash
my ***** laundry."
no sacrilege here,
no... nothing profane.
from the hand outstretched
held out for the taking
who is this really,
this chalk figurine?
in tranquility certain,
a doorway between
human fragility and
perfection divine.
in life’s messy journey
our ***** laundry aside
how could one not feel,
more rinsed of life's stains?
Sweet Jesus, of course
divine cleanser, unseen
now, here on my mantle
my house feels more clean!

~

post script.

when a fellow treasure-hunter shared not only the story of  "Sweet Jesus" (a hand painted, european, chalk sculpture of a early-last-century, bleeding-heart Christ who was the long-time occupant of her laundry room closet shelf), but also an offer to bring him out of the closet and sell him to me (yes, it's true... i bought him for a few pieces of silver), i jumped at the chance to bring him to my mantle and determined to construct a fitting poem as a way to say, "thank you, Elaine!”  and to say unabashedly to anyone else, “i love my Sweet Jesus!  you are out of the closet... forever!!”

no sacrilege whatsoever intended
i dearly hope you'll not be offended!
:-) Steve

"For years i bowed before you, but never understanding why.
You were a man we all spoke of, but a part of me would run , and hide.
You've given me years of thought.
You planted me in your soil.
I began to grow. You nurtured me so.
It's never to late to eat from your plate, iv'e learned that from you.
Your teachings made me a better man, i now hold your hand.
"I Bow Before You Now."
Thinking of you always, and what you have done.
To have died for me, and my loved one's, to give up your only son.
I give my respect, and give you what you expect.
"I Bow Before You Now."....

"She walked through Palestine streets of dusty dirt, and clay,
tired from the long hot days, a ******* they all say.
Living the life of sin, to her their was no other way,
until the day she met a man they called Jesus,
His love directed her to a brand new way.
A tiredness came over him, he stopped, and had to rest.
The now lady washed his feet, cleansed his body to show
a love she now possessed.
Faith was true, his kindness was sweet.
Magdalene sensed an up coming defeat.
Magdalene's Love was strong, she fought herself to let him go.
Questions of why, she would never ever ask.
She excepted to keep it in her past.
Feeling bewildered for so many years,
knowing her love for him will always grow.
Mary Magdalene loved Jesus.
And we in the world will always know."....