On Other gods

I have seen them running in the dust
And in the dust they have died
And all they praised in ease
Was no comfort in hardship.

There was a time of light
A time far away from the night
And there was a time of hope
And now this time is a distant thing.

The cloud that trails their fleeing steps
Obscures the ground soaked with the sweat of their fear
And all their boasting has come to naught
This I tell you will come to pass.

On Veterans

Today and tomorrow we should consider our veterans. Does America have the right or obligation to police the world? That does not matter for this particular day. We can talk about that on sunday. Today and tomorrow, we as Americans should honour the dead and honour the living- those who have served. Many have paid the price that keeps them from any dialogue in the service of this country. Many have suffered. Many have fallen. My brothers, my sisters, I salute you. We are not worthy of your sacrifice- yet you have given it. Many have betrayed what you have done- yet you have died for us. Many have no understanding of service at all- yet you have given your lives for us. Those who are dead, those who are living- we salute you. May God have mercy upon you and show you the light of His salvation.

To Doug, who I will never climb with again

I am sorry that you had to leave. I am sorry that you were taken from us. I will never forget watching you deck in your mom's harness. I will never forget. I cannot buy you a beer when you get home now. I cannot tell you about the glory of God, now. I will never get to belay you again. I will never get to see you climb again. I will never get to see you fall again. I will never get to see you get back up again. I cried when I listened to the voice-mail from Liza. I cried a lot more when I was by the ocean in Boston. The waves kept crashing on the shore as the tide came in in the dark night. I wanted to be mad at God. But He was not the one. I wanted to be mad at someone- but looking for some scapegoat seemed so hollow. "Why did you have to go?" I asked myself. The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away- may the name of the Lord be praised. I miss you Doug. I miss you. Goodbye Doug.

Coloured Blue

I have seen them in the wake and never have I rode it through
And as I fall beneath the waves
I see the world completely blue
And coloured by this failure make
The rest of life a living hell
As I drown beneath the waves
I give up the light that filters down.