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Turn Aside to See
When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Exodus 3:4 The door to the cheese shop is sparkling The pedestrian crosswalk is shimmering I turn aside to see As you walk away from me. I parked in this spot A long time ago To drop off a friend who thought I needed to know. The fears I had for you Were come true It’s too late are the words That stuck to. The tree-lined street Was dark that day As all my hopes Fell away. But today! Here I am again Bringing you to help That same dear friend. Fear for you Has been replaced With joy… Read More
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I Lift up my Soul
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. Psalm 25:1 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. Psalm 86:4 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8, all ESV Mysterious soul, how challenging it is to translate you into the languages of the earth. Each of these Psalms shares the small and mighty Hebrew word for soul, nephesh, but translators struggle to fully communicate its beautiful breadth. There is only one small phonetic difference between nephesh and the Arabic word nefs. Many years ago, rather than… Read More
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Shy Soul
My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him. Psalm 62:5, AMPC Shy soul Carefully guarded Peeking out from Behind a wall Built over decades To protect. Curious soul Hoping…? Will they Love me Accept me Welcome me Maybe not Try tomorrow Or another day one hundred years from now. Safe soul Stay Behind the wall Built over decades To prevent. Surrendered soul Behind a wall Light cascading Inviting. Patient soul Waiting Silent Hoping Expecting God alone. By Audrey Frank The soul is like a wild animal—tough, resilient, savvy, self-sufficient and yet exceedingly shy. ― Parker J. Palmer, A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life: Welcoming the Soul… Read More