Month: August 2024

Reflections on the Kings of Judah, 2 Chronicles

/ joethewaller / Leave a comment

Lord, keep me weak if I can’t handle strength,
For pride precedes destruction, and I fear
Forgetfulness, the turning of the ear
To people’s praises. I would run the length
Of life in faithfulness, but know the length
Of steadfast years is short unless my ear
Inclines to you, unless a holy fear
Is fixed in me, for therein lies true strength.
Humility, my Lord, is my request,
To know my stature and to call it blessed
Whate’er my lot because I’m found in thee.
And temper henceforth every request,
Reminding me what truly makes men blessed:
True knowledge of themselves in light of thee.

Photo by Olga Angelucci on Unsplash

Professor Lewis

/ joethewaller / 2 Comments

It seems that you were always writing,
Always reading, always smoking,
Always sipping, and I think your
Cup was overflowing.

But the romance of such thinking
Overlooks the daily living,
Working, growing, and forgiving.
Yours was normal life.

As I gather inspiration,
I am struck by dedication.
Life for you was no vacation.
You knew joy and grief.

But turning to the pen, you taught us,
Told us tales of truth that caught us,
Brought us to the Son who sought us,
In humility.

So let me emulate your seeing,
Work into my words that being
That knows what it is becoming.
Let me love the King.

Photo by Dave Lowe on Unsplash

Write

/ joethewaller / Leave a comment

Good work is born of disciplined desire
And quiet moments staring at the page
With pen in hand, slow, stoking, till the fire
Begins to burn more steadily. The wage
Is for the workman. Work, then, holding fast
Through highs and lows of labor. There is fruit
That will outlive this age. The truth will last.
The sower’s scattered seed is taking root.
So start the process. Tell the story. Write,
And keep on writing till the final rest,
For though your work seems but a meager light
With meager warmth, yet souls will call it blessed
For helping to sustain them on their way
Through this long night to never-ending day.

Photo by Artem Maltsev on Unsplash