One Little Wave

A non-eventful morn it was
as many were before.
The sun came up exposing life
just off the sandy shore.

The winds blew in across the lake
creating quite a stir -
and waves grew up from nothing yet
there's lessons to infer.

I followed just one little wave
to see what it would do.
It seemed to be behaving well
or did I misconstrue?

Between two other waves it moved
across the little lake.
Sometimes it tried to reach up high
which was its first mistake.

For what it saw were waves ahead
so he became aghast.
Why, they were all in front of him -
while he had followed last!

Each time it swelled to reach up high
it wanted to be seen -
but then it'd drop back down again
and stay there in-between.

Then those two waves on either side
had closed in on the one -
which raised him up just high enough
he glittered in the sun.

"Hey, look at me!" he seemed to say -
with ego growing large.
He liked- no, he demanded that
alone, he'd lead the charge.

So there he rode above the rest -
now highest wave of all.
And there he took in all of life
which made him feel tall.

Behind, he looked - and saw those waves
applauding- east to west.
His popularity increased
as you might well have guessed.

So there he was still looking back
with ev'ry want and whim.
While riding high, he saw no God -
just waves that followed him.

But life is short, so very short -
and most don't understand -
that hourglass starts running low
with top devoid of sand.

Applause was great and greatness too
while he sought even more -
but suddenly his time ran out
in death on other shore.

New Beginnings

The World is darkened so by sin 
And I have done my part; 
So weak and selfish have I been, 
So hard has been my heart. 

At first when still in unbelief
I sinned with a high hand. 
And when in Christ I found relief, 
I failed to take a stand. 

But now as I look on my past, 
I’m filled with shame and fear. 
The days and years are flying fast, 
The end of all is near. 

I want my time spend on this earth, 
To be a force for good. 
To fill the purpose of new birth, 
I dearly wish I could. 

Though sin has left its nasty scars, 
And weakened what remains; 
Still God can break these prison bars, 
And wash away the stains. 

He can restore regretted years, 
He can renew a heart; 
He can still make the vision clear, 
And give me a new start. 

So help me Lord be circumspect, 
For good make my life count. 
Help me now  my course correct, 
And be thou paramount.

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold
that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto
praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ…
1 Peter 1:7

A Little Light

I said if I could write a poem 
To touch a nation’s heart; 
My life would count for something then
I would have done my part. 

Or if a sermon that I preach 
Would set the world aflame; 
Perhaps I would have done something 
Worthwhile for Jesus’ name. 

I dreamed that I might write a book 
To edify the church; 
A classic of the Christian faith
Then that would end my search. 

But the poem was never written, 
The sermon never preached, 
My dream was never realized, 
My goals were never reached. 

And then one day I understood, 
It’s not what I have done, 
But how I’ve used the gifts I have, 
That matters to the Son. 

So if my work is never known, 
And offers little light 
Perhaps it’s pleasing to the one 
Who praised the widow’s mite.

“As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.”
Acts 9:3 NKJV