Posts Tagged: rose niles

Pilgrim Poems

If not now, when? Love speaksA poem about conquering fear by Rose Niles TheResurrected JesusSpeaksMainlyOf conquering fear—“Do not be afraid”Over and over—I consulted the exhaustiveConcordanceAnd this is trueAttestedBy all the witnessesWe have—Do not be afraidDo not be afraid—Every time JesusShows up to meAnd to us allThe greeting of all greetings:Do not be afraid.When we are… Read more »

Pilgrim Poems

If not now, when?   Today’s RevelationA poem about demoting God, based on Revelation 14:13 by Rose Niles They rest fromtheir laborsand their worksdo follow     do followmein this thoughtwe are busting     out of our seamswith businessthat we have     stolen from Godperhaps we     have demoted Godto functionaryjust a topper on the cakebut the cake is of… Read more »

Pilgrim Poems

If not now, when?   Blind church by the roadsideA poem about fear based on Mark 10:47–49 by Rose Niles Jesus I am sittingon the side of the lifeI should be livingblindsomehowblindcrying out, “Son of Davidhave mercyon a daughter of David”tell me to be quietI ask too muchI have been blessedand squandered my blessingshushI’ll make… Read more »

Pilgrim Poems

If not now, when?   My untended gardenA poem about seeing oppression in and outside the church . . . and doing nothing by Rose Niles I stareinto my untended gardenwith its morning-dappledlight barely whispering through the treetops—this bower encapsulating my tiny havenmy church of light,this freshly longed forchurch in the world—when my eye spies… Read more »

Pilgrim Poems

If not now, when?   Mercy by Rose Niles Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first… Read more »

Pilgrim Poems

If not now, when?   The end and the beginningsA poem about the day the church died, its changing shape resisted, with tickets sold for the performance by Rose Niles we find it difficultto adapt to changing conditions,which explains perhapswhy we may hate theconcept of evolutionand its thunderous announcementthat God isn’t done with us yet,but… Read more »

Pilgrim Poems

If not now, when?   We willForget public access television. What about public access church? by Rose Niles Now thatbig bird is movingto premium cableit falls to usin the churchas the last bastionof a placewhere poor children canenterfree of chargebe lovedbe taught faithand lovebe treated no differentfrom any other child what a privilege to represent… Read more »

Pilgrim Poems

If not now, when?   Sacred commutingI am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? —Isaiah 43:19 by Rose Niles In our ancient dreamLet’s make spirit space whereWay stations happenAs hospitalityIncubators, whereAcceleratorsBirth new things toBe characteristicallyStartlinglypredictableEager for GodlyAmazement In continuous patternsLike trains pulling intoThe stationDrop offPick upThen… Read more »

Pilgrim Poems

If not now, when?   Refugees for GodFor those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. —Mark 8:35 by Rose Niles I wonder ifwe reimaginechurchby walking inprophetic footsteps,carved-out legacies offearless self-inventory,listening to ancestral whispers,questioning:are… Read more »

Pilgrim Poems

If not now, when?   Watch and learnGo to the ant . . . consider its ways, and be wise. —Prov. 6:6 by Rose Niles Carapace of industry on the march.Discovered:mountainous crumb.Careen to return home the prize.Oldest friendsI name youAmber and onyx.Scuttlers,observedfound peace in cooperative harmony.Others scorned digging in theDirt(But I knew better)Chaotic secrets of that… Read more »