The seat's a bit damp
as I sit on the old bench,
absent of most its paint
at the end of the rickety pier.
Crystal Lake -
so tranquil
with smooth glimmering ripples
moving away,
seemingly wooing my eyes
eastward,
toward the pre-dawn sun.
Still dark,
with not a cloud -
but one.
One small insignificant cloud
setting precariously
on the orange glow
fading up into blackness
across the lake
in the eastern sky.
The thin crescent moon,
crisp and steady -
yet the balance I view darkly,
and craters are seen
as a hint
exposing all truth
of its full being.
Venus,
so boldly shining
on it's right side,
as if to bear witness
of its existence.
It is indeed
a cool morning
before the sunrise,
yet that orange glow -
that brilliant glow -
the promise soon of a rising sun.
Also there,
past the far end of the lake
under the orange glow,
the trees stand still -
seemingly frozen.
Silhouettes so thickly intertwined
in a mass of distant
thin horizontal blackness -
except for the ragged treetops
where specks of orange shine through,
randomly.
And only three lonely lights
reflecting off the lake
glow dim next to houses
which are nestled in
among the wooded darkness,
holding sleeping souls -
completely unaware
of all truth.
And slowly drifting away
just above the waters' ripples
hovering ever so lightly,
like ghosts -
thin mists.
Yet they slowly tumble
in the slowest motion -
then dissipate forever,
without evidence.
As I breathe it in -
the fresh crisp air - it calls.
Cool, refreshing.
It's very early -
but oh, so quiet.
Only a distant frog or two,
and a rare splash from a fish -
break the silence
of my thoughts.
And those thoughts, keenly aware
that there is not a better time
than this, right now.
Joy and peace,
so refreshing,
so relaxing,
and cool....
No stress
or pain.
Who can reject it?
Glancing to my right
I see - framed with shrubs and bushes,
dark maroon siding
in waters' reflection
from a neighboring house -
dancing
in the faithful
unending ripples
as if to say,
"Come and enjoy what I see all night long."
To dive in
and get lost in its beauty
where no one
can hurt me anymore.
No one,
ever,
forever.
So inviting I ponder it.
It's like,
it's like Heaven -
right here,
right now.
Just God and I,
alone,
wrapped in His creation
as one.
Perfect peace,
perfect love,
perfect harmony...
tranquility.
Who can reject such a creation??
“Follow me.
Follow me now”
It seems to say…
Yet on my cheek,
I feel,
winding its way
down through my many wrinkles,
finding its path,
leading a trail of sorrow -
a lone tear.
It rolls down,
Hesitates,
then finally drips
into this lake of sorrows
with the smallest splash,
with all the others -
yet unknown by others -
lost in all the others...
The pain of sin on innocence.
And another day
of futility in a sinful world awaits,
of greed and lust,
of hate and anger,
of pain and sorrow.
They await.
The day soon breaks.
Teardrops grow this lake,
drop by every painful drop
until one day -
a lake of fire.
Woe to those who still sleep -
before this sunrise.
The sun will soon break the horizon.
I stand up from the old bench -
still alone with God,
with work to do -
steadfast, persevering -
in love and due diligence,
for and in His creation.
I, In my very small way
painfully contributed to this lake...
But no one knows -
nor cares.
Yet prayers, never ceasing -
as the Spirit turns inside -
so patient, in slowest motion
continue.
Yes, I am in the world -
not of it.
I humbly follow Him.
Bursting forth in full color -
The morning breaks.
Light surrounds me -
hope, peace, love, joy…
As I go my way,
I will not reject it…
Do you reject -
or follow Him?
Do you focus on God -
or self?
©2009 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/
-------
Romans 12:1-3 (NASB)
1Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
as I sit on the old bench,
absent of most its paint
at the end of the rickety pier.
Crystal Lake -
so tranquil
with smooth glimmering ripples
moving away,
seemingly wooing my eyes
eastward,
toward the pre-dawn sun.
Still dark,
with not a cloud -
but one.
One small insignificant cloud
setting precariously
on the orange glow
fading up into blackness
across the lake
in the eastern sky.
The thin crescent moon,
crisp and steady -
yet the balance I view darkly,
and craters are seen
as a hint
exposing all truth
of its full being.
Venus,
so boldly shining
on it's right side,
as if to bear witness
of its existence.
It is indeed
a cool morning
before the sunrise,
yet that orange glow -
that brilliant glow -
the promise soon of a rising sun.
Also there,
past the far end of the lake
under the orange glow,
the trees stand still -
seemingly frozen.
Silhouettes so thickly intertwined
in a mass of distant
thin horizontal blackness -
except for the ragged treetops
where specks of orange shine through,
randomly.
And only three lonely lights
reflecting off the lake
glow dim next to houses
which are nestled in
among the wooded darkness,
holding sleeping souls -
completely unaware
of all truth.
And slowly drifting away
just above the waters' ripples
hovering ever so lightly,
like ghosts -
thin mists.
Yet they slowly tumble
in the slowest motion -
then dissipate forever,
without evidence.
As I breathe it in -
the fresh crisp air - it calls.
Cool, refreshing.
It's very early -
but oh, so quiet.
Only a distant frog or two,
and a rare splash from a fish -
break the silence
of my thoughts.
And those thoughts, keenly aware
that there is not a better time
than this, right now.
Joy and peace,
so refreshing,
so relaxing,
and cool....
No stress
or pain.
Who can reject it?
Glancing to my right
I see - framed with shrubs and bushes,
dark maroon siding
in waters' reflection
from a neighboring house -
dancing
in the faithful
unending ripples
as if to say,
"Come and enjoy what I see all night long."
To dive in
and get lost in its beauty
where no one
can hurt me anymore.
No one,
ever,
forever.
So inviting I ponder it.
It's like,
it's like Heaven -
right here,
right now.
Just God and I,
alone,
wrapped in His creation
as one.
Perfect peace,
perfect love,
perfect harmony...
tranquility.
Who can reject such a creation??
“Follow me.
Follow me now”
It seems to say…
Yet on my cheek,
I feel,
winding its way
down through my many wrinkles,
finding its path,
leading a trail of sorrow -
a lone tear.
It rolls down,
Hesitates,
then finally drips
into this lake of sorrows
with the smallest splash,
with all the others -
yet unknown by others -
lost in all the others...
The pain of sin on innocence.
And another day
of futility in a sinful world awaits,
of greed and lust,
of hate and anger,
of pain and sorrow.
They await.
The day soon breaks.
Teardrops grow this lake,
drop by every painful drop
until one day -
a lake of fire.
Woe to those who still sleep -
before this sunrise.
The sun will soon break the horizon.
I stand up from the old bench -
still alone with God,
with work to do -
steadfast, persevering -
in love and due diligence,
for and in His creation.
I, In my very small way
painfully contributed to this lake...
But no one knows -
nor cares.
Yet prayers, never ceasing -
as the Spirit turns inside -
so patient, in slowest motion
continue.
Yes, I am in the world -
not of it.
I humbly follow Him.
Bursting forth in full color -
The morning breaks.
Light surrounds me -
hope, peace, love, joy…
As I go my way,
I will not reject it…
Do you reject -
or follow Him?
Do you focus on God -
or self?
©2009 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/
-------
Romans 12:1-3 (NASB)
1Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
3For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
