Sure Sign

Sculpture in the Boboli Gardens, Florence, Italy circa July 2004

I have come to the end
of all that I know.
I trust that there is a plan.
A path for me to follow.

You have sought me out when
I tried to run, to flee.
To climb so far into my own self
my need, my poverty.

You broke down my walls.
Left me trembling in shame
Patched up my cracks
Poured Yourself to fill me again.

You have brought me thus far.
Though I be scarred and shattered
A broken useless vessel,
You say that does not matter.

You have given much to me
A priceless miraculous gift
I know what You ask of me
But I am completely adrift.

You have done it all for love
although I do not merit.
I ask You only guide my path
Your love, evermore will I share it.

I am Yours

When all my hopes and dreams have been betrayed
I stand before you, my hands are empty

I am yours, if you are mine
I am yours, if you are mine

I fall and stumble flat on my face
And I'm shamed and humble in disgrace

I am yours, if you are mine
I am yours, if you are mine

When voices call me to question my faith
When misperception taints my love with hate

I am yours, if you are mine
I am yours, if you are mine

When time decides it won't stop for me
When the hawks and vultures are circling

I am yours, if you are mine
I am yours, if you are mine.


 Tracy Chapman - I am Yours - from "Let it Rain"

Lead Kindly Light

Graeme Skinner photography

Lead, Kindly Light,
amid the encircling gloom,
Lead me Thou on!

The night is dark,
and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on!

Keep Thou my feet;
I do not ask to see the distant scene;
one step is enough for me.

I was not ever thus,
nor pray'd that Thou shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path,
but now lead Thou me on!

I loved the garish day,
and, spite of fears,
pride ruled my will:
remember not past years.

So long Your power hath blest me,
sure it still will lead me on,
o'er moor and fen,
o'er crag and torrent, till the night is gone;

and with the morn
those angel faces smile
which I have loved long since,
and lost awhile.

John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

______

At about this time last year, I performed the Howard Goodall setting of this piece. We'd just come through Hurricane Sandy. Today was one of those days where a million things had to get done, and some how by the grace of God, they all got done. One step at a time, one foot in front of the other.

12 Blessures

2 removed too much bone
overgrowth, hardening
calcification extracted
which allowed me to dance

3 removed too much blood
overgrowth, strangling
nests of capillaries excised
which allowed me to walk

6 removed too much guts
overgrowth, poisonous
cancer expelled
which allowed me to thrive

And 1
1 was the portal for 2 heavenly bodies
threshold for sun and moon
a miracle
which allowed me to fly