solider in the pouring rain

On the 24th day of the 1st month as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, I looked up before me and there stood a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like crysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like gleam of burnished bronze. 

-------------------------

And this only

an angel who fights for me,

how much more 

the King of Kings?

When "no's" and "maybe next years" 

drive my hope down down down

that the Lord,my love, that He is listening

this is the hope on which I stand.

Have you heard me, Lord?

Have you heard?

I've been willing to be a fool for you

to claim September 1st when all said it impossible

because you are a big God

capable of big prayers

Why are you being so stubborn??

And yet you answer, 

just in ways not what I want...

...a contradiction of faith;

to hate picking up the phone 

when I've seen all you've done

time and time and time again. 

Lord I'm so tired already 

Begging for refreshment

for a week anew,

I begged for gratitude

to exchange business for intimacy. 

Oh Lord I've missed the feel of your touch.....

And as summer sky broke loose 

in passion falling rain

my mama looked me in the eye

and said "let's go dance."

Oh Lord, I needed those mud-deep toes

soaking wet, fabrics heavier by the drop

to feel you bigger than me

beating down on my tainted flesh in violent breath

How I've missed you.

How I've missed you. 

Thank you for the rain 

and a mama who will dance

Thank you for fighting for me 

when I'm weary of fighting for myself.

Thank you for powerwashing flesh whiter, whiter yet

and turning eyes skyward when all I've been seeing is myself. 

Soggy here I sit
a soldier by my side
clothes growing cold
while words warm inside me

Amen.