Month: June 2015

Restless

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Many of us get restless from time to time.  Some restlessness can be good, moving us on to a longed for destiny.  But for those of us who live in recovery from addiction, restlessness is a signal to pay attention to our souls, body and mind.  To do so means a return to serenity and peace in the present moment.  To not do so is once again to walk a dangerous path.

 

Restless.

The road calls.

The siren voices

beckon me to

leave, to escape

into the arms

of soft darkness,

into the grasp of

the unknown force

which demands

my allegiance,

claims my gaze,

makes me

restless.

 

By Ram Lopez

26 June 2015

Baptism

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Based on Mark 1.4-8

“John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mark 1.4, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles)

 

 

It’s a long walk.

Every step filled

with hope and dread.

Will it hurt?

 

I wonder if my

soul will feel

lighter, right-sized

in my skin?

 

The water is colored

like chocolate, the

remnant of the

washing of others,

 

pilgrims, more eager

than I, to dive

into the murky cold

so that life

 

might overcome death.

Who is this

that comes to redeem

the filth of life;

 

whose forgiveness

washes away the

pains, leaving only

the burden of love?

 

By Ram Lopez

 

29 June 2015

Silence

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Silence.

 

The symphony starts with

 

Silence.

 

A prayer begins with

 

Silence.

 

A kiss emerges from

 

Silence.

 

Love is nurtured in

 

Silence.

 

The voice of God is heard in

 

Silence.

 

Meaning is between words in the

 

Silence.

 

Peace emerges in

 

Silence.

 

Life-giving breath enters through

 

Silence.

 

My Love blesses me with hope through

 

Silence.

 

 

By Ram Lopez

 

5 June 2015

Morning Nap

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I didn’t mean to wake you.

Of all people, I totally get

the need to curl up and nap

in the warm sun after endless days

of clouds and rain.

 

The breeze is strong enough to

dull the droning noise of

cars speeding over the bridge

a few hundred feet away.

And the water lapping the pier’s

underside is hypnotic.

 

Alas, the vibration of my soft steps

has awoken you and your love.  The

closer I get, the more you move

towards your mate, protective,

until, finally, I cross the imaginary

 

line of your patience.  Your spread wings

are dull and lovely as you both take off

into the wind, gently gliding

to a safer, quieter place to nap,

leaving me to my lonely walk.

 

By Ram Lopez

19 May 2015

Assurance

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In the quietness when

you dream

I speak my Words

of hope.

Your deep prayers fill

My Heart.

Your life struggles are in

My Hands.

The warmth of your tears

touch Me.

Child,

My Strength is your strength,

beloved one.

My Arms of Love present in

your friends.

By Ram Lopez

18 June 2015

 

This poem emerged after I offered a prayer for a dear friend who deals with significant challenges daily yet lives with such grace and vibrancy as to be an inspiration to me.  These words are a response, THE response, which I believe God provides to each of us as we pray for others and ourselves at times of need, the gift of assurance, the gift of friends.

Blessings, Ram

Wading

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The gentle breeze blows over the dunes,

across the island making little ripples

as it skips across the bay waters.

 

It barely makes a noise as it moves

the water surface. So soft is it that I

can see the smooth surface of the sandy

 

bottom, mottled here and there with grassy

patches.  Where the water churns is where

the bait fish clamber over one another.

 

Again and again I cast my silver spoon

into the clear water hoping I will feel

the pull of a bite. But the bite never comes.

 

And in those minutes of no bite, that

clear water brings to mind the murkiness

that hides my soul. The cloudy mix of pains.

 

Clear water wash away the murky pains

of my heart. Rinse my spirit. Give your clarity.

Let the gentle Wind breathe peace into me.

 

By Ram Lopez

4 June 2015

 

Nine

/ ramlopez64
I awoke early this morning to the horrible news of more senseless violence that ended nine sweet lives at a bible study in Charleston, South Carolina.  It is being called a hate crime.
 
It should also be called an “enough is enough” moment.
 
For those of us who have answered the call to follow Christ it is time to speak for those whose voices are now silenced and say, “No more. Enough is enough.”  Christians of all sorts are called to change the world, to “turn [it] upside down” (Acts 17.6).
 
Join me in preaching peace to those who are far off and to those who are near (paraphrase of Ephesians 3.17)  It is the most important work any of us will do today – or any day.  Do it for your friends, for your family, for your children and their children.  Leave a legacy of the peace of Christ to this world.
 
Today we have nine reasons to proclaim peace.  Today we have
 
“Nine
Calls for Christ followers to change the world
Nine
Children of God urging us to do something.”
 
Peace,
Ram
 
 
 

Nine

Women and men swallowed by hate
Nine
Families deeply wailing senseless death
Nine
Voices learning the language of love
Nine
Heralds silenced from proclaiming the King
Nine
Now still lives who sought Christ’s Way
Nine
Hearts of God’s desire stopped
Nine
More examples of the world’s deep need
Nine
Violent ends – when will it stop?
Nine
Pools of blood and tears crying for justice
Nine
Stories unfinished
Nine
Calls for Christ followers to change the world
Nine
Children of God urging us to do something.
Nine
Prayers for peace lifted high to God.
Nine.
 
By Ram Lopez
18 June 2015
 
 

 

3. For the Human Family (Book of Common Prayer)

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“…write this…”

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“…write this…”
You say so many times
in the Bible that I think
You may have a preferential
option towards writers, like me.

While I am comfortable with
that possibility, I suspect my
potter son and painting
mother-in-law might
beg to differ.

Perhaps “write this” is just
the easiest way to get your Word
across for a people
who couldn’t carry easels, paint
and kilns to harden and glaze.

You could have also said “turn this”
to the potter whose deft hands shape
into being a piece of pottery just
the right shape to hold your silent
gift of peace for an troubled heart.

You could also have said, “paint this”
to another’s inner Picasso who splashes
bright, cheery gold, red and violet
oil paints on a canvas to brighten
the dark, dreary room of a soul.

I can hear “sing this,” “play that,”
“enjoy all this,” from Your lovely
lips and see all sorts of Your kids
jump up to speak in their various
tongues the joy You seek to share.

Poets, painters, potters, singers,
drummers, builders, teachers,
students, seamstresses, all
the saints really, are whom
You prefer to speak for you,

to sing Your song in this strange land,
to give the “just in time” gift we need.

By Ram Lopez
16 June 2015