hoping for a broken heart

I am too satisfied
with the things I say
the things I do
the attitudes
of heart
that shape my reactions
day
after
day
after day.
I too easily accept
quick assessments
of my own righteousness
in situations
where I have been
anything by
righteous.
I am too skilled
at mounting
plausible arguments
structured
to make me feel okay
about what I think
what I desire
what I say
what I do.
I am too defensive
when a loved one
tries to attempt
to call me out
and suggest
for a moment
that what I
have decided
said
or done
is less than
godly.
I am too
comfortable
with the state of things
between
You and me
too relaxed with the nature
of my love for You
too able to
minimize
my need for Your
grace.
In the recesses
of my private
world
there is so much
that I am able
to convince myself
is right.
There are attitudes there
that should not be.
There are words there
that should not be
spoken.
There are thoughts
that do not agree
with Your view
of me
and mine.
There are desires
that take me in a
different direction
than what You have planned
for me.
I make decisions
based more on what
I want
than on what
You will.
So I am hoping
for
wise eyes
that are able
to see through the cloud of
self-righteousness
and see myself
as I actually
am.
I am praying
for
wise ears
that are able
to hear through
the background noise of
well-used platitudes
and hear myself
with clarity.
I am longing
for
a humble spirit
that is willing
to
accept and confess
what You reveal
as You break through
my defenses
and show me
to me.
I am hoping
for
a broken heart.

–taken from Whiter Than Snow by Paul David Tripp

A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. – Psalm 51:17

celebrate the homeless

Leaf by Niggle

Before him stood the Tree, his Tree, finished. If you could say that of a Tree that was alive, it’s leaved opening, it’s branches growing and bending in the wind that Niggle has so often felt or guessed, and had so often failed to catch. He gazed at the Tree, and slowly he lifted his arms and opened them wide.
“It’s a gift!” he said. He was referring to his art, and also to the result; but he was using the word quite literally.

– J.R.R. Tolkien, “Leaf by Niggle”, from Tree and Leaf

have some pudding

what a man is like

from The Giver

“Do they advise you often?”

“Rarely. Only when they are faced with something that they have not experienced before. Then they call upon me to use the memories and advise them. But it very seldom happens. Sometimes I wish many they’d ask for my wisdom more often — there are so many things I could tell them; things I wish they would change. But they don’t want change. Life here is so orderly, so predictable — so painless. It’s what they’ve chosen.”

– chapter 13, The Giver by Lois Lowry

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Things could change, Gabe.”
“Things could be different. I don’t know how, but there must be some way for things to be different. There could be colors.
“And grandparents.” he added. “And everybody could have memories.”
“You know about memories.” he whispered.
Gabriel’s breathing was even and deep. Jonas liked having him there. Each night he gave memories to Gabriel: memories of boat rides and picnics in the sun; memories of soft rainfall against windowpanes; memories of dancing barefoot on a damp lawn.
“Gabe?”
“There could be love.”

– chapter 16, The Giver by Lois Lowry