The Wrong Way

I can see the stress level rising

I can see the wheels in your brain grinding

I can see the answers you are finding

All point you the wrong way

The poor decisions that you make

Only serve to complicate

The situations that frustrate

And steer you the wrong way

I can see the fear lurking inside

I can see the pain you try to hide

I can see the anger is your guide

Leading you the wrong way

The not believing in yourself

Wanting to blame somebody else

The selfishness disguised as helps

It takes you the wrong way

You’re such a rebel without a clue

About the forces driving you

But you’re doomed to failure when you speed

The wrong way down a one way street

Hurried

Hurry

Scurry

Scatter

Brush

Hastening the maddened rush

Worry

Flurry

Flatten

Blush

Revealing the awkward hush

Fury

Blurry

Blazon

Crash

In a blinded, hurried dash

Present (Sort of)

My brain has checked out and gone home for the night

My thoughts are a blur and my mind isn’t right

How can I learn when I can’t pay attention?

My focus is drawn in another direction

The sweet rationale of relieving reality

Subdues my schkeeve and saves me from insanity

Bleeding inside from the bleakness and boredom

Incarceration creates a conundrum

It’s only a classroom, not really a prison

Yet there’s no escape in my current condition

So I’m here in body, yet through meditation

Half of me is here; the rest is on vacation

Reach out!

How did I not know? How did I not see?

The life I was living was killing me.

I was so blind following lies without ever questioning.

It was the death of me, my own insanity my heart’s desperate plea.

Reach out. Take my hand. Lead me to the Rock on which you stand. Reach out. Take the chance.

It’s my life that’s hanging in the balance. Reach out. Share the love. Shine the light.

Show me which way is right. It can save my life. So reach out.

So many mistakes, so many wrong turns

after so many years, you’d think I would learn.

There’s too much at stake, too much left in the air

to leave up to fate, thinking nobody cares.

Life is a crazy place, run at a frantic pace.

Fill up my empty space.

Reach out. Take my hand. Lead me to the Rock on which you stand. Reach out. Take the chance.

It’s my life that’s hanging in the balance. Reach out. Share the love. Shine the light.

Show me which way is right. It can save my life. So reach out.

Reach out to the ones you love if they’re lost in the world I’ve described up above.

Reach out with kind, gentle words of hope to give them the message you yourself have heard.

Reach out, show your heart share your life. Don’t waste another day, we’re running out of time.

So reach out. Take someone by the hand. Lead them to the Rock on which you stand.

                         

Reach out. Take the chance. There’s another life hanging in the balance.

Reach out. Share the love. Shine the light.

Show the world you care by doing what is right.

It just might save another life. So reach out.

Take my hand. Lead me to the Rock

on which you stand. 

Reach out!

An Unending Search for the Ever-elusive X

X marks the spot where my priceless treasure is buried

I pull out my map on occasion then stuff it back in my pocket

I don’t like looking at the map because I don’t want to see what is written there

The map says the journey to the X is long and marked by hazards and difficult terrain

I have to navigate the forest of negativity, wade through the swamp of sorrows,

Trudge over the hills of trials, and overcome countless obstacles along the way

So I look for another X elsewhere

Certainly the map I have is not the only possible route

I’d rather pass over the plains of pleasure, hike along the trail of happiness,

And weather the storms of wealth and abundance

But for all of my seeking, I never arrive

The positive prospects linger in the distance

I run at top speed, only to discover I’ve been running in circles

I collapse in exhaustion and realize that I’m right back where I started

What is the point of pursuing this treasure if it cannot be found and I never get any closer?

If only I dared to look more closely at the map

I was so focused on the big X at the end that I failed to see all of the little X’s along the way

The small x stands for xapa (pronounced chara) which means joy

I don’t have to struggle and strive along the path printed on the map

I can experience joy all along the journey in the midst of the difficulties

Even when trouble lurks on every side

As I sit in the stillness giving in to despair

Hope shines a dim glow over me radiating from a distance

Now is my time to choose

I can continue an unending search for the ever-elusive X

Or I can pull out my map again and follow it 

The Unknown

I can’t go back

to what is comfortable and familiar

I can’t go back

in my mind or with the external

I can’t move forward

if I’m fixated on the degenerative spiral

I can’t move forward

when I’m frozen with analysis or indecision

I can’t let go

when my heart embraces the “if only”

I can’t let go

until I’m willing to confront my fear

I can’t live

within the confines of the known

Praise

It ain’t called the sacrifice of praise for nothin’  Anything I say it’s gonna cost me somethin’

But without a delay I’m gonna take my chances, raise my hands again and just see what happens

I lift my hands, my heart, I lift up my voice, I lay my burdens down and make a joyful noise

But first I must let go of everything else, surrender my desires I’m wanting for myself

It’s sad to see my dreams slipping away; and hard to see my worldly visions fade

But You say - It ain’t called the sacrifice of praise for nothin’  Anything I say it’s gonna cost me somethin’  But without a delay I’m gonna take my chances, raise my hands again and just see what happens

My heart’s so full of tears feels like it’s gonna explode, my mind’s so full of fears it’s on overload Just wanna crawl away and curl up in the dark, run off to somewhere safe and put my life in park But You remind me I was made for a time as this, that Your strength is the greatest when I’m the most helpless And You say - It ain’t called the sacrifice of praise for nothin’  Anything I say it’s gonna cost me somethin’ But without a delay I’m gonna take my chances, raise my hands again and just see what happens

Sometimes I’m strong with a voice loud and clear, sometimes I’m weak and I’m hard to hear

Sometimes I want to stay lost in misery, Sometimes I beg for you to rescue me

But will I pay the price required to trust and obey, Or will I insist on having my own way

I would pray, but - It ain’t called the sacrifice of praise for nothin’  Anything I say it’s gonna cost me somethin’ But without a delay I’m gonna take my chances, raise my hands again and just see what happens

Whether to praise or complain is on me, be raised again or stay in my vanity. No matter what the situation I always find, the decision that needs to be made is mine.

Well - It ain’t called the sacrifice of praise for nothin’  Anything I say it’s gonna cost me somethin’ But without a delay I’m gonna take my chances, raise my hands again and just see what happens Cause it ain’t called the sacrifice of praise for nothin’

I'm on Track

If I were living for what I want I would be there in a hurry

But since I know that’s not Your plan I guess I don’t have to worry

Because all good things work out in time 

When I’m living for Your will, not mine

Because good things come to those who wait 

There’s reason for me to hesitate

I pull back, I put on a smile

I think that’s what’s called going the extra mile

I press on, singing a happy song

I think this is what You had in mind all along

I have peace and joy even in the storm

I’m a blooming rose even among the thorns

I’m on track, I won’t look back, I’m right on track

If I got everything I want I would stay in the midst of my blessings

But then I wouldn’t see how they keep me from You 

So I need to start confessing

That all good things work out in time 

When I’m living for Your will, not mine

Because good things come to those who wait 

You’re never early, but You’re never late

The message is simple but it’s still hard to swallow

I can give up today, or push on ‘til tomorrow

Life and death are before me. How do I decide?

Am I really that stupid? Am I really so blind?

Don’t I know all good things work out in time

When I’m living for Your will, not mine

Well good things come to those who wait

It’s too wonderful to anticipate

I pull back, I put on a smile

I think that’s what’s called going the extra mile

I press on, singing a happy song

I think this is what You had in mind all along

I have peace and joy even in the storm

I’m a blooming rose even among the thorns

For good things come to those who wait

I’m not there yet, and that’s okay

I know You’ll always have my back

I run the race, on the right track

I pull back, I put on a smile

I think that’s what’s called going the extra mile

I press on, singing a happy song

I think this is what You had in mind all along

I’m on track, I won’t look back, I’m right on track, I won’t look back

I’m right on track, I won’t look back, I’m right on track

The Wrong Way

I can see the stress level rising
I can see the wheels in your brain grinding
I can see the answers you are finding
All point you the wrong way
The poor decisions that you make
Only serve to complicate
The situations that frustrate
And steer you the wrong way

 I can see the fear lurking inside
 I can see the pain you try to hide
I can see the anger is your guide
Leading you the wrong way
The not believing in yourself
Wanting to blame somebody else
The selfishness disguised as helps
It takes you the wrong way

 You’re such a rebel without a clue
About the forces driving you
But you’re doomed to failure when you speed
The wrong way down a one way street