Our Daily Bread

Conversation, dull and common
Balm for scar and wounds begotten.
Silken dressing, healing gauze
Applied a'plenty for lesser cause.

Food for heart at table often
Noted little, soon forgotten.
Yet death awaits for lack of taking
Heart and bond in hunger aching.

Your voice, my salve for troubled thought
The wine of calm and warming brought.
My daily bread of promise given.
Sustaining feast and taste of heav'n.

The Long Night

From deep we cry our screams of resistance.
And you answer.
You answer with the else and the other.
You draw us,
               compel us,
                      convict us.

In our Jacobness you honor our struggle.
Yes, honor.
And the name we ask for, you give anew,
But with cost of your mark, the thorn unresolved.

Your grace is sufficient.
Your grace is sufficient.

We Run

We run.
Heavy a foot, with inner battle
The end nowhere near.
We run.
The call of the race drives us on.
A cheer from the side, a comrade's word.
A moment to moment decision made
We run.
When from the course, a brightness shown
The beauty of light and hue and shade,
Mercy seen, though unforeseen.
We run.
Lighter the feet, joy of breath
Flush with flow of rapid heart
Reminded so the reward of journey
Of struggle deep and grit of will
We run.
Corner turned, the end in view.
Quickening pace, with all resolve.
We speed to finish step in step
We run.
Mystery lies beyond the line
Yet forward we drive with weary delight
As soul compels and conviction sustains.
We run.