The Beauty of a Cross Section of a Life

Jenny Lu

Inspired by the beauty of a roadside stump, and this message by Pastor Caleb, Embrace Your Place.

All these many years
of xylem, and phloem,
and inside them, flowing
Life that makes the trunk strong,
and the roots run down deep.

With each year, a mark
circling round the heart
With each year, enlarging
of a greater beauty
All these many years.

Unseen patterns
within rough bark
Hidden beauty
below blossom, bough, and fruit
Flourishing. Full.
Feeding, from soil,
its firm foundation
Reaching, daily
to its light.

All these many years.
Steadfast.

Patient. Trusting.
Planted. Beautiful.

I picked up my banjo

Ken Calder

I picked up my banjo and started to strum
I could hear the people starting to hummm
They started to dance and they started to sing
Glory to God and glory to their King

As my fingers started to pick up speed
And as I strummed I could see the need
That people who had been in bondage and fear
Began to shout, to dance and to cheer

The King of kings and Lord of lords
Jesus Christ began to appear
as the people began to dance and sing
Glory to God and glory to their King

The chains that held them
in bondage and fear
Were cut by their Saviour so dear
This is why they loved to dance and sing
Before the Lord their glorious King

Now can you see as I sing this song
The people who for far too long
Were held by depression and fear
To be free from the prison that held them so long
Now had a reason to sing this new song

To meet and to know the King of this song
To invite them to family where they belong
To know the love of The Lamb
Follow me, hold my hand
I will take you to the promised land

I’m in the family of God
I sit in wonder and awe
That the King of kings the Lord and Father of all
Took the keys of the kingdom of hell
And said this is not where you will dwell
He said you’re free from sin and death
In me you will find eternal rest
He gave me life and I feel so free
Because of the man who died on the tree

As I lay my head on his glorious chest
I know what it means to enter His rest
All the things that I fear
Cannot touch me here
For He holds me so close with his arm so strong
I know this is where I really belong

Truly He is the head of us all
Obedient to his Father’s call
He faced death and conquered fear
And rose again to meet us here
For death He did face
He knew that his love would save us by grace

---

Ken shared this poem with the family during our 2017-2018 Watch Night Service, and has generously allowed us to share it here! 

Spaces of Separation

Spaces of separation
The eye begins to see
The ear, finally, hearing
Listening
To the voice that calls
From inside of walls
Of a crowded claustrophobic heart

Spaces of separation
Lost longings coaxed out
As we realize
A kinder side of our love

A painting, splotched and splattered,
Uneven hues and ungraceful strokes, but
Only step away a little,
Allow some space for separation, and
Tints, and textures, and contrasts
Become a story that we understand

And, oh, marvel.
We really do love each other.

---

On gaining assurance of one’s belonging when given a short distance of separation - separation, from the very place that one is most loved, and known, and free.  

On learning that love holds us together, in ways that, often, are unseen to us when we are living in them.

Relationships.  Sometimes some spaces of separation help us to cherish them more.