Facts of being human
Truths we all do share
Things we have in common
Let’s ponder some right here
Each of us are born
All of us will die
Two great equalizers
To all of us apply
Every soul is loved
And offered grace the same
A choice to be reborn
Eternity to claim
Come share the good news
Our Lord waits patiently
Open the door wide
Embrace Him, joyfully
Inspired by My Pastoral Ponderings
When it is their time
Our loved one is gone
The words that we use
Is that they’ve passed on
Their body buried
But their love resides
At home in our heart
Deeply inside
A relationship new
Their presence aware
Wherever we go
Can know that your here
One with our God
A new way of seeing
I prefer the phrase
“You’ve come into being”
How I’ve lived these weeks
Of lent to prepare
Without paying attention
To penance, fasting and prayer
How often have I missed
The fruits of the season
How can I celebrate?
Without observing this season
How can I rejoice
In Your Resurrection
When I’ve avoided death
Missing the connection
Yes, Lord I have to die
With You, through You, in You
So much in me to die
Sins within my view
All my false attachments
Anger and of greed
Impatience, stinginess
My pride to concede
How little I have died
A prayer to contemplate
Transform now my way
For it’s not too late
(based upon words by Henri Nouwen)
Her only son had died
To Jesus, she appealed
He felt a Mothers pain
From death her child was healed
Mary called to Him
When Lazarus had died
He knew his friend would live
Still our Jesus cried
In the lonely garden
While his disciplines slept
Streaming tears of blood
Jesus prayed and wept
Increasingly aware
With every living breath
Fulfilling His vocation
Through suffering and death
Still he walked the way
Remaining faithful true
Becoming of His passion
All out of love for you
A time of goodbye
Of their last moments, few
She knew in her heart
Of just what to do
A blessing of gifting
To sing her a song
One of her love
To carry along
When she arrived
In heaven passed to
Imagine her joy
To hear Him sing too
Welcome, beloved
In homeland to be
Blossom of snow, you look
So happy to meet me
Rushing to see you
A stop on the way
I’ll buy you some flowers
To brighten your day
You’ve always loved them
Known their beauty
I’ll gift you some flowers
Your joy that I’ll see
Last moments of sharing
With tears that we’ll cry
You’ll speak of the flowers
The last that I’ll buy
Then I will leave you
At heaven’s door
I’ll send you with flowers
To the One you adore
For rest of my journey
You’ll speak to me
I’ll see you in flowers
Of greater beauty
When years come to minutes
What can the heart convey?
With thanks for all you’ve done
What few words can I say?
You are my foundation
Always there for me
Champion of faith
Hope there’d always be
Any good, one may see
Word or act I do
Know that it was born
From the love of you
In lifetime of your giving
Self-sacrifice was shared
Not matter what life sent
I know you always cared
We gaze eye to eye
And hope the heart shines through
I need a word beyond
Past a simple thank you
When the words start flowing
Through tears it’s just too tough
I love you’s all we say
And know that that’s enough
Though you’ve passed beyond eye’s sight
We’ll find your Spirit here
Shining through in many ways
The gifts that your life shared
We’ll see you in a sunny day
Our spirit you will lift
Stirring heart be generous
In offering a gift
Dwelling in the innocence
Of child of the way
Share the Word of kindness
To brighten now their day
Found in decorations
As tinsel on a tree
Celebrations of our life
Dinner with family
With eye of awareness
God’s creatures suffering
Heart full of compassion
Food of the sharing
When the world is tempting
And selfishness we thirst
Remind us of your motto
Think of the other first
In hardships of this life
Be quick to turn and pray
Foundation of our soul
Our Lord be our mainstay
Your love flows through our veins
Through sacrifice of love
We’ll find it shining through
In One love from above
From early spring blossom
To bud and to green
In growth of a leaf
Its beauty be seen
Fruit of the season
Its purpose be known
In cool of the shade
A covering shown
In autumns sweet portrait
The hidden displayed
In colors unique
Masterpiece is arrayed
In time of the falling
A flight of freelance
A soaring in air
Of joy in the dance
May soul here take note
Of the last letting go
Joy of transition
To our Lord’s arms to know
A grave without flowers
Some day we will be
Our fear realized
We’re a lost memory
A body decaying
Consumed by the earth
Without that of Spirit
What is our worth?
A message this day
To rejoice in our gift
A moment of life
To cherish and lift
Hope in Your promise
Our soul You rescue
Eternal our being
By love binding in You
DarylMadden 