hope's made its climb
peaked,
with two feet atop a toppled grave

and in the face of Glory
in the swell of liberation's celebration

shots are fired
as world order throws tantrum with vicious intent
to draw apart what God...your God
is calling together.

Do not turn your face.
Do not turn your feet to walk once again under dust...

beloved, bind to one another, as God's Ecclesia
and as the Spirit reinforces you,
be reminded:

as you are loved, so love

May the aftershock of His passion perpetually draw
one another to another and another...


I wrote this (now slightly edited) as the benediction in the wake of hearing the news of a young man & his girlfriend falling victim to a drive-by shooting. After several days in the hospital, young Emmanuel closed his eyes to this world, and opened them to God's presence. Please continue to pray for his family, for their comfort in this time of deep sorrow and loss. And please pray for the healing of mankind, and hold tight to the beauty of God's kingdom come.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: While walking the banks of a low Blanco River during Lent we stumbled upon these stunning roots. They look just like a person face-down in the dirt. I don't have much to say about the image, just that at first glance it is disturbing, and seems violent...but after sitting with it (from many angles, I took many shots) I contemplate my own holy surrender, and wonder if the initial disturbing feelings I had were a part of me (of pain, resentment, unforgiveness) that I've hoarded, that knows its time is up! Another layer of me, exposed.