Nurses skillfully maneuver their way through a jungle of clear bags dangling from poles

With intestine-like twisted tubes precisely connected

To brightly lit monitors, loud alarms, and dinging bells

Fluids travel the tubes with deliberate speeds and measured paths

To the unaware patient quietly dependent

While he is briskly pushed in his bed through the hall

To sophisticated machinery and more specialized testing

It is the Intensive Care Unit, better known as ICU

Where angels work feverishly daily to save lives

Carefully balancing a necessary self-imposed survival numbness

With the deep human compassion that drives them

The north winds raced across the field picking up speed

Greeting and pushing the trees aside

And swirling around the corners of the house

In a playful arrogant rush

The horses darted in and around the cooling wind

With equal mischief and excitement

Kicking up their heels in the air

In direct rebellion and competition with the changing elements

The whistling interruption of the hyper air

Synchronized to the exuberant beat of the horses hoofs

And joined hands at the opposite horizons

Partnering with the sky’s stampeding gray clouds

It was an aggressive and expected announcement

Of the arrival of an old and dear friend

An Appropriate and suitable escort for

The welcome introgression of the seasonal change

I was asked to write this poem for the consecration service of the new First United Methodist Church facility in Killeen a few years ago.  The creek at the bottom of the hill is in Methodist Park.  The three crosses are on the path between the park and the Church.

The wind whispers through the Oak trees
Dipping briefly to stir the creek water
Before racing up the hillside
 
Three crosses stand
Broadcasting their eternal story
While the wind slows slightly
Bowing low in quiet reverence
 
Bursting to a roar
In a swift upward lift from the crosses’ feet
The wind reveals renewed vigor
And determined direction
 
It quickly engulfs the church
That stands on the hill so beautiful and grand
With panoramic views across the land

Cradling it lovingly in its arms
It gives honor to the missions anxiously anticipated
And recognition to its consecrated holiness
 
The wind that began with the whispered prayers of a few
Roar with the excited shouts of more
Then explodes with the dedicated and arduous efforts
Of many of the past, present, and future
 
Entrusted and empowered with a new consecrated vessel
All embark on the voyage with comfortable assurance
While facing the expected and unexpected
Faithfully knowing it is not without immeasurable reward

To the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Homage to The Holy Trinity
Is now and shall always be duly given

The candle
Stood tall
Proudly adorning the mantle
Sure of itself
Glowing bright
Shinning hot
And sharing its useful light

The mantle
Stood strong
Firmly anchored to the wall
Sure of itself
Hanging firm
Anchored strong
And proudly holding all that adorns it

The floor
Laid flat
Creating a solid foundation
Sure of itself
Quietly dependable
Loyally level
Supporting everything that exists above it

The person
Living well
Firmly footed to the ground
Proudly supporting family all around
Sure of himself
Focused on the light
Anchored in his faith
And held eternally in the hands of God

I worked in my garden with God today

It is amazing how He makes it all grow

He watered it so nicely yesterday

Now I am taking out weeds as we go

I am always careful to thank Him sincerely

For the world He has rented to me

His guiding hand always given so kindly

For whatever the need may be

It took a lot of courage

But a question I had to concede

“I appreciate Your care for my vegetable voyage

But why must You also grow the weeds?”

God smiled at me with a compassionate smile

But He did not speak as I wished

I continued my labor for a while

Weeding in quiet redemptive peace

As we finished for the day

With joy, beauty, and gratification

I realized how in God’s subtle way

He had taught me a valuable lesson

Without the bad

We cannot appreciate the good

Without the sad

How do we measure happiness, as we should?