Chaos surrounds me there is no escape
Moment of reflection is all I ask
Oasis of calm in which I am draped
Sanctuary of peace in which to bask,
Sounds of world retreat, no longer intrude
My mind at once is cleared of confusion
Heart's altar of peace spreading fortitude
Sanctuary found, no persecution.
Ancient holy place with its careworn face
Concrete floor worn smooth with penitent feet
Refuge and comfort in this ancient place
Pervasive perfume I smell "Meadowsweet."
Life's upheavals are to be expected
Heart's sanctuary, ever, protected.
Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help,
as I lift my hands toward your Most Holy Place.
—Psalm 28:2 NIV
USHERED INTO THE MOST HOLY PLACE
Morning! Yawn! Stretch!
Arms rise, palms like cups
filled with holy oil.
Praise, thanks to almighty God,
no matter the circumstance.
Who has neither light, food, loved
ones? Who has neither arms, feet,
breath, heartbeat? Any number
of things to be thankful for —
the birdsong, the dawn, sunshine,
the voice of mom saying, “I love you,”
over and over again, just to make sure
that you know it now,
know it forever.
Morning prayers
uttered, ushered into the Most Holy Place.
My head’s on His lap, my tears
on His hem. His hand
on my head. Reassurance
that he is working in hospital parameters
doing all that needs to be done
as His people pray.
Lest we forget in our troubles
to remember
to pray for others, too,
our knees in touch and go
of holy ground
for you and you and you
and “I love you,
too!
4/11/2021
Delicate lilac violets and wild strawberries rest in satisfied splendor.
Cattails ensnared in wild verdant grasses amongst daisies, sprinkled with pixie dust.
Unclaimed wishes and heartfelt dreams smile from the depth of the shimmering lake.
Gentle azure sky reflects an unprecedented brightness of the midsummer moon.
A rustle of grass; all sounds cease in the meadow. Crickets and frogs mute. Faerie whispers?
Deer come to the edge, take a brief cool drink, hurry away quickly,
Empathy showing them this is a holy place.
Pure, melting, healing warmth radiates glory into our very souls,
As with careful steps, and brokenness,
we approach Thy seat of tender mercy.
We come lowly, even as you came to us as lowly,
Yearning to honor and serve you in greater holiness,
Knowing that you alone are perfectly Holy.
Your loving wings of mercy embrace us...Even us!
Hush! How very soft, how very sweet, the love that surrounds us.
Covering us so tenderly with wondrous redemptive power.
Holiness; treasure above all treasures!
There is none greater.
A place where man dare not tread;
A place where HOLYNESS is...
Unloose thy sandals and take them off;
Come follow barefoot, come to Jesus;
Let HIM embrace...
A place to go , this HOLY PLACE
12/22/17
WRITTEN BY James Edward Lee Sr.
Part I.
In the heartland of that place called home
A figure sits alone in an empty chamber where
Cracked walls, like squinting wrinkles,
Hide silent hesitations of untold sorrows.
This is not a holy place,
Nor a room of peace nor prayer nor solitude-
An infinite stream of broken faces flash with eyes
Glaring on the bare walls,
A theatre of hell for a lonely stranger,
To contemplate crimes committed
Or those omitted
By the dirty hands of painter friends
Whose graffiti grows like prison ivy.
A red-eyed
Master of ceremonies,
Hidden someplace in the cracks,
Gleefully smacks with satisfaction
As the Munchian dreams stare
Into the hollow air, over and over,
Screaming in all their variation the subtle
Deceptions the facades of men wear.
This temple, whose gods long since fled into the shades,
Receives now only wordless souls,
Worldless men, whose being
Nobody knows nor sees nor cares
To see or know,
For they offer only better visions
Of one-eyed ghosts wandering by dark night
Searching for the one golden candle
Whose glow
Will flame the hope of light and set things right again.
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