Balcony of the Soul

What view do you need to see,
From your marble balcony?
Hill and trees, sun and shade,
A painted landscape that you have made.

Have you seen the other view,
From those who look up at you?
Is their world the same as yours,
Have you walked with them outdoors?

Through rose-coloured glasses what do you see,
Your picture-perfect reality?
Do you know where your blind spot lies,
Does it take you by surprise?

When you gaze out and drink your view,
Do you feel refreshed, renewed?
Does it fill you and make you whole
The view from the balcony of your soul?

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Benediction

When heartache and trouble
Clamber like monkeys on your back
And your shoulders slump
With the weight of unexpected burden
May your long road rise to meet you
And clearly direct your path

When all hope seems lost
And your soul becomes dim
Behind your grey eyes that forget to sparkle
May a rainbow of bright thick colours
Splash over the canvas of your mind
And awaken you to choose life again

When you struggle on your own
With burdens too common to share
Because others have won medals
For burying their burdens
May you reach out
For we were always meant to
Share each others burdens

When someone pulls your thread
And you feel so unravelled
So tied up in knots and pulled apart
May you catch a glimpse of the other side of
Your tapestry of life
See it taking shape as a
Beautiful landscape

May these words dance around you
On a gentle warm breeze
May love surround you
And weave a cloak
Of hope and character
Around your life

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The Prodigal Son

Your treasure is hidden
Away from my eyes,
If I just glimpsed at Your glory
I at once would be blind.

Your wise words are placed
Far away from my ears,
If I could just listen
In spite of my fears.

My mind can’t conceive
Of what You’ve prepared,
But my heart longs for You
Through all of my years.

Through the years
When we just drifted apart,
How my mind just forgot You
But not my weak heart.

Through the years
When I thought You had left me alone,
You knew I’d come back
Your prodigal son.

Spirit – search my heart
Open my eyes to see You,
Let me hear Your clear voice
And fill my mind with Your truth.

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The Days of my Life

I walk with you alongside the quiet stream
And into the calm green fields.
You bring rest to my weary soul
And help me sleep.

My soul refreshed – you guide me
Along life’s darkest roads.
But I will fear nothing
For you are my travelling companion.

I kneel before you
You anoint me with Your Spirit,
In the presence of my enemies
You choose me.

My cup overflows with Your love
You are good when there’s nothing good in me,
All the days of my life You are with me
And I will dwell in Your house forever.

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The Choice

Compassion is a virtue
So I’ve heard some people say,
If it’s really so important
Then where is it today?

If I had more compassion
I’d probably think a whole lot more,
And consider what it might be like
To be so very poor.

The hungry children get to me
Those hungry pleading cries,
Do they see in me compassion,
Or just my hollow eyes?

I’ve seen the photos of the kids
In Myanmar  – at play,
Their caring eyes, their hungry hearts
When will they eat today?

Will I show compassion?
The choice is up to me
As none of them have choices
In such abject poverty.

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Need to Know

You really need to know
How an act of compassion,
At a perfect time
Can turn a life around.
From darkness, to light

You really need to know
That through you,
I had an encounter with God,
That was so real and so powerful
That it broke my hardened heart

You really need to know
That God works through you,
In a way, that you may not realise
But perhaps you need reminding,
That he does

You really need to know, how
The impact of your words,
Your kindness and compassion,
Your selfless care, allowed God to
Speak into my captured soul, and set it free

You really need to know
How I need you to know this.
And how I’d just like to tell you,
And how, I wish I could
But all I can say is – thank you

You really need to know this
So I wrote it all down,
They are, only words on paper
And maybe somehow,
God uses them to speak to you.
Because you really need to know.

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