A Simple Love then Complicates in Fear

(x = space)

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A Simple Love then Complicates in Fear

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A simple love then complicates in fear

A lust begins a hot surrendering

We think we have it all when love is near

T’ward deeper feeling’s ember tendering

And we believe a faithful person true

We’re human, after all, possessing flaws

And may decide what is for fondness due

Those fails incumbent not unto our laws

The question is what flaws will each abide?

We fear to change, though poems say we must

‘Cause perfect love won’t find us on this side

Thus alter will or no or aging just

New and anew, decide for you and me

Then we shall be and Hamlet’s not not be

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C L Couch

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Photo by Leo Fosdal on Unsplash

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benedictus

(x = space)

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benedictus

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we could be pleased

with what we had

and sad for what is missed

we could love what there is

let go the hate for

what was taken

who took it

we could love with a love

not pure, because there’s always

imperfection

we could correct and sigh

sigh and correct over faults

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we could love

because alternatives shall drive us

into places where

no one really wants to go

or stay

more so, we could come home

to the dwelling of our hearts

and smarter thoughts

inside the land that God more fully made

that shall remain

when the rest

the doubt, the pain, even scorn

shall fall away

while love remain

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c l couch

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hoto by savvas kalimeris on unsplash

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Briefly, the Apocalypse

(x = space)

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Briefly, the Apocalypse

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The circle won’t be broken

Angels will hold

The breaking places

‘Til we get there

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We’ll keep the world together

Until an ending that is proper

Appropriate for

New heaven and

New Earth

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C L Couch

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Photo by bhuvanesh gupta on Unsplash

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Tired Love

(x = space)

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Tired Love

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Everything should stop

You’re tired

Haven’t quite hit the wall

But everything’s okay enough

And you’re tired

Time to snap

Like upper and lower crocodile teeth

But don’t

x

Give everyone a break

Sorry if the world does not agree

But you have to

Have a drink

Water’s good

Be still

x

From within, get to know

The bones and muscles

The rest of you

And rest

Some minutes of this will help

If you can retire for the day

Like a vacation

You can feel that good

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Maybe not less serious

All issues remaining,

After all

But better in a somber way

That matters

Then go back to it

To her and him

And them

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C L Couch

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Photo by Simon Watkinson on Unsplash

A crocodile jumping from a river in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

Darwin NT, Australia

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Three-Syllables Agape or Two-Syllables Agape

(x = space)

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Three-Syllables Agape or Two-Syllables Agape

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Sigh

And what does love way

After all the vituperation

All the blame-casting

All the metaphoric bile

In the hate we bear?

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I don’t know

That we should care for ourselves

And each other

That if we loved God first

Everything else would work

Respecting those who don’t believe

There are good atheists

And good agnostics

Who treat believers

As a crazed minority

And to look at the evidence

Have a case

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But it’s sin, I guess

From within and without

Our choices, the choices of others

Choose to love

Choose to hate

And who cannot be struck

Without saying OW

That’s natural

It’s impulsive

And deserved

Though it’s not the end

It does not have to rush

To blame and retribution

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Take a moment

Choose something like a star

Stay inspired through the hurt,

Which is not masochism

But allowing thought

And heart to keep a hold

From everything turned over

Into the nether realms

Of rusting feeling

Gnawing hate

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Give peace a chance

Can’t we all get along?

It must be so much better

Than saws

And satire

The darkness follows light

Then there’s more light

Illumination

We are better than our hurts

Better than vile agenda

We could make agenda brilliant

And ambition

And profit

And plans

And when there’s a crash

Of accident

Or wills

We could act as EMTs

And then allow a moment

To reconnoiter

And to reckon

How to heal a rending world

Bring it back

To one whole thing

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Yes, I mean the war

And wars everywhere

But I also mean the virus

We forget

Unless we’re sick

Or around

Those who are sick

And inflation

And corruption

We can do better

To keep the world from burning

We must

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I should end on a note of love

A song of peace

Measured by hope

But there are questions

To be answered, first

That we must put to each other

Questions

And answers

Reactions and worked-out actions

A process for our accountable part

Of the universe

Yes, that much

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“Choose Something like a Star“

Robert Frost

. . .

So when at times the mob is swayed
To carry praise or blame too far,
We may choose something like a star
To stay our minds on and be staid.

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Photo by Aldebaran S on Unsplash

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Await

(x = space)

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Await

x

It is a gloomy day

God appears in clouds

And in fire

These were pillars

If the sky had been painted

With clouds

As it is today

Then how could direction

Have been offered?

But they were pillars

They showed the way

For the Israelites

Perhaps the pillars

Moved as

Progress was made

Perhaps they stood still

As if to say,

I’m waiting for you

Your jealous God is waiting for you

With expectation

With transcendence

And with love

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It you had not sinned

We would be together sooner

But knowing who are you

And loving you, all the same

I am waiting for you

Come to me

Come to my mountain

Come to my clouds

And fire

Come to my blue

Come to my laws

Come to my love

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C L Couch

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Exodus 24

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Photo by Ryan Yeaman on Unsplash

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In a Word

(x = space)

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In a Word

x

The gospel in a word is love

So goes a song

And it is

Gospel, song, or word

x

The reason for the actions

And the stories

The meaning of everything

(there, you were wondering)

Is love

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Love precedes judgment

And is precedent

It precedes creation

And was the reason for it

Don’t worry, it is practical and smart

It is reasonable

And sounder than reason

For it lasts and is unwarranted

It outlasts our philosophy schools

And business strategies

And even plans for war

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It fortifies all decent purposes

Makes relations possible

Between all sorts of people

Plans

And nations

x

It ends war

Keeps many wars from starting

It is the reason why we feed

And water

And clothe

Ourselves and everyone

Everywhere

It is the reason why we go to work

Or school

And why we come home after

It is home

And family

And self

And God

Civil society

It is why we move forward

And come back

Strength for today

Bright hope for tomorrow

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The first song concludes

(at least in my youth group)

Love your neighbor

As we’ve heard

From long ago

In many texts

And songs

x

As it is

As it really is

Our lives go on

Conclude

Having begun

With love

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“Great Is Thy Faithfulness” is a hymn from the 1920s by Chisholm, Runyan, and Schrotenboer.  The other song alluded to is called “Love, Love, Love, Love”; it is a more contemporary song and is often sung as a round.

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Photo by Michael Maasen on Unsplash

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Passion Thursday

(x = space)

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Passion Thursday

(Maundy Thursday)

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1

I am poor

I would love to be invited

To supper with Jesus

Because I’m hungry

And sometimes I am afraid

For food

I’m sorry

I want to hear the story

But all I can hear

Is on the inside, now

Maybe afterward

Or during

It’s rotten evangelism,

I guess,

On my part

Wanting the real food, first

Yes, there is a question

Of what’s real,

I’m certain

But feed with food, please,

First

Then I shall listen

To anything

Especially the truth

Sorry for the truth in

A yowling stomach,

In an actual meal

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2

Who knows where they were

Or how many

What they ate,

If it was a meal of tradition

Or what was at hand

The way a meal is sometimes,

Checking our cupboards

And the refrigerator

Looking at the oven

Being hopeful

(hopeful people

hopeful oven)

x

Was Mary there?

Were any of the Marys there?

Not to serve but to take part

In equal parts

With the rest?

x

And why did Jesus call it new?

A new commandment

That was ancient,

Love one another

Exodus and Deuteronomy

Along with whose house

Shall we serve

And how

x

What might be new

To me

Was to call them friends

Upgrade from disciples

Friends

A loving term

x

Maybe the love of God

Between people and God

Was renewed

There was a person saying

You can know this God this way

You don’t have to wait

For the appointed time

The proper time

Is now

Kairos

Along with chronos

Love God anytime

As if at table with you

All of you

Any of you

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C L Couch

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Photo by Hennie Stander on Unsplash

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All Love

(x = space)

x

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All Love

x

All of us

For Jesus

All of each of us

I heard it in Sunday School

Today

Sure, you may have it

x

Really?

If Jesus wants this broken body

And this tired mind

And all the loves

Requited, unrequited

Then

Jesus may have them

x

Is that so much?

Not really—you

May have it

Have it all,

Jesus

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C L Couch

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Photo by Matt Marzorati on Unsplash

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