Through our trials, God works powerfully within us to do more than we can perceive or imagine.
From Ephesians 3:20-21: “Now to Him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Facing disappointment for many months and more
Feeling frustration and despair starting to soar
Realizing that this journey needs a mid-course correction
Pointing an unsteady compass in a totally new direction
Tiring from how many others have treated thee in the past
Looking forward to a future that brings happiness at last
Beating up thyself for any past, painful mistakes
Needing renewed courage for a new life to make
Knowing that this life needs a helping hand
Wanting to scan for a nurturing place to land
Reaching out comes the helping hand of thy God
Sending forth His grace to be thy staff and rod
Shielding eyes from brightest sun at a new dawn
Walking forward with energy that’s never gone
Republishing this poem from February, 2019, brings out a theme many of us have experienced in our past. Take a moment today and look back at your life’s progress going forward from past challenges.
Ever shifting sands
Challenge life’s steady journey—
Changing paradigms
New day, new focus
Meeting today’s challenges—
Feeling satisfied
Mystery waiting
Hidden in darkest corner—
Flashlight discovers
What matters most is how well you walk through fire.
If you’re going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don’t even start.
Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) is a German-American poet, novelist, and short story writer. His prolific writing produced over 45 books of poetry and prose, and much of his writing spoke to the despairing urban conditions of the downtrodden.
Every path hath a puddle.
The shortest answer is doing.
From Psalm 92:12-15: “The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap, showing that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”
River of life, unceasing in its travels
Mysteries of life, shall ever unravel
From heavenly source, cascades living water
Shaping clay, molded by Creation’s potter
When ultimate challenges travel too high
Overcoming all odds, courage one’s ally
Life’s purpose, taking self far from safety’s home
Discovering meaning, hidden catacombs
Fate knocking, invisible hand clearly seen
Traveling waters, transparent with routine
Years continue to advance, filled with Lord’s grace
Breathing enduring joy, from life’s timeless chase
Life’s sunset glimmers, over cloudless skyline
Looking back, years richer than any gold mine
Mysteries of life, eternally fulfilled
River of life, journey which only God builds
From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “Our bodies may age, but we get old only if we choose to do so–attitude is what makes the difference.”
From Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”
Accepting life’s ongoing gifts
Filling wonder, never adrift
Marveling at heavens above
Inspiring vastness of God’s love
Walking in righteousness with God
Comforted by His love, unflawed
Looking ahead, with peace and hope
Holding tightly to God’s firm rope
Treating others with words which say
Sharing compassion’s rich bouquet
Gathering strength for life’s travels
Trusting God, nothing unravels
Listening to deepest feelings
Surveying each moment’s healing
Receiving mid-course corrections
Hearing God’s faithful directions
Sailing in darkness, never cursed
Navigating by God, headfirst
Achieving goals, each passing day
Tasting our Lord’s hope-filled buffet
Tackling challenges without fear
Taking risks, with God set to steer
Stepping forward beyond life’s dreams
Following each path as God deems
From 1 Corinthians 10:16: “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?”
Life stories fill with the forgotten
Overlooked by the small world at large
Overcoming, life’s spirit takes charge
Victims of ridicule and slander
Entering life’s game as underdogs
Trailblazing amazing monologues
Asking, “Do you believe in miracles?”
Orchestrating man’s quest for a cause
Representing smallest underdogs
Breathing life into new dialogues
Dealing with dark, social injustice
Led by a resolute man, named King
Peacemakers marching, civil rights rings
Daily life recalls profound upsets
“David versus Goliath” contests
Lessons taught from these demanding tests
Smallish Texas Western steps forward
Meeting great Kentucky on the court
Historic win transcends college sports
Never dismiss the ugly duckling
Therein lies a most beautiful swan
Beauty, from deep inside, to act on
Crippled at birth, yet strong in spirit
“Forest Gump” defies the odds on his way
Encouraging us on life’s highway
Holding underdogs close to our hearts
Feeling lost, little to celebrate
Beating back the odds, changing life’s fate
Three different events are highlighted in this poem, with each one claiming a distinct place in America’s cultural perspective of life. The civil rights movement is greatly influenced the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. One of the greatest college sports upsets takes place in 1966 when Texas Western upsets Kentucky. While civil rights continues to move forward, the racial landscape of college basketball is forever transformed as Texas Western’s all-black line-up outplays Kentucky’s all-white line-up. The film “Forest Gump” touches countless hearts with its inspiring story.
In December, 1989, the Romanian Revolution ignited with passion which would no longer wait in silence. The rest of the Eastern Bloc countries under Soviet influence had already experienced peaceful change from communist dictatorships. Under Nicolae Ceausescu’s harsh leadership, Romania was the final holdout as the democratic wave of freedom blitzed across Eastern Europe. This poem shares some of this revolution’s story.
Ruthless, authoritarian rule controls the cards
Harsh, brutal regime crushes dissenting voices
Quietness hides the remaining, burning embers
Daily life conceals wounds, offering few choices
Citizens endure lack of even the basic needs
Challenging days, facing endless heartbreak
Darkest days of winter, hunger and little heat
Voices stifled, experiencing numbing heartache
Freedom routed, plummeting to rock bottom
System of repression forcefully controls lives
Defiant opposition, beaten down to nothing
Dictator’s untruths cover up with empty lies
Scattering of small voices continues to speak out
Smoldering protests fueled with hungry passion
Government crackdowns to silence any dissent
Voices growing bolder, backed with compassion
Massive protests ignite courage in a distant city
“Timisoara” becomes a rallying cry for liberation
Unexpectedly, dark and evil house of cards folds
Season of change witnesses rebirth of a nation
Running on this daily treadmill, filling life’s gloomy story
Falling behind in life’s endless race, without much glory
Working Nine to Five, five long days each week
Stumbling through every month, looking bleak
Forgetting when life last paused for any vacation
Punching in, punching out . . . time clock fixation
Heating up life’s pressure cooker, deadlines loom ahead
Hoping the lid doesn’t blow off, propelled into tiny shreds
Watching everyone trying to row in the same boat
Rowing in separate directions, now barely afloat
Refueling the tank, this coffee break no longer helps
Scurrying on empty, might just as well holler a yelp
Taking the elevator to another miserable meeting
Ending up on the wrong floor, no warm greeting
Driving home each night, worn down to a blown-out frazzle
Stopping at the same red traffic light, it no longer dazzles
Racing every day, life delivering this hour’s final, saving grace
Looking left, then right . . . who’s even winning this rat race?
Big Sky Buckeye 