Celebrating the Women’s Suffrage Movement

A hundred years ago this week,
we rectified what made us weak.
We gave the right to vote to those
who had been left behind.

Amending what we’d left undone,
at last we finally had begun
to live our values at the polls
and make up for lost time.

With gratitude for those who fought
for equal rights, we really ought
to tip our hats and lift our praise.
These women paved the way.

To Lucretia Mott and Susan B.,
to Katy-Stanton and Alice P.,
we owe a debt we can’t repay.
God bless the suffragettes!

And yet there’s still so much to do.
We’ve gained some ground, but we aren’t through.
Equality remains a dream
for those who are ignored.

What it takes to color our world with kindness

I stand with folks of color,
blacks and whites
and those in blue
who risk their lives
for justice
on behalf of me and you.

I stand with those
whose hair is gray
or kids with knees stained green.
Both old and young
deserve support
’cause bullies can be mean.

And those who wave a rainbow flag,
I stand up for their rights.
They’re loved by God
as are the ones
with whom they tend to fight.

I stand on principles
of One
whose words (red-lettered) speak.
They call me to
stand up for those
who can’t, because they’re weak.

I stand upon
God’s promises.
A black book (Old and New)
with yellowed pages
(creased by time)
whose truths are ever true.

Will you, dear reader,
stand with me
and find ways to be kind?
To love the way
we have been loved,
we must be colorblind.

Remembering Regis Philbin

Who wants to be a millionaire?” he asked.
And we were game.
Who wouldn’t want to win at trivia?
But even Regis knew deep down
that riches can’t buy life
when comes that day when we must say “See ya!”

No! Phone-a-friend won’t do the trick
no matter who you know.
Sweet Kathie Lee or Kelly won’t suffice.
When we must stand before the Lord
and brace for what’s in store,
our final answer can’t be “I was nice!”

For Regis (or for anyone)
the rules are all the same.
The only lifeline we can claim is grace.
The good we’ve done or our success
won’t matter in the end.
It all comes down to Whom we have embraced.

Trivia? Oh, by no means.
This is the Gospel truth.
God’s grace through faith is that by which we win.
The “Game of Life” continues on
beyond our final breath.
So use your lifeline now and trust in Him.

*Ephesians 2:8-9

Celebrating the legacy of Congressman John Lewis

John Lewis was a boxing great.
That no one can dispute.
But he is not the one I’m thinking of.
The one I mean (who’s in the news)
knew how to fight as well.
He fought for justice, equal rights and love.

The “boy from Troy” put up his dukes
and danced around the ring.
He looked for opportunities to punch.
Through peaceful protests, freedom rides
and trouble he called good,
he fought to have a Woolworth counter lunch.

The “conscious of our Congress” was
quite short, but stood quite tall.
He kept alive the dream of MLK.
John Lewis was a testament
to what his mentor taught
and called his colleagues to a better way.

And then last week it was John’s time
to cross that famous bridge.
A bridge that spans the gap of life and death.
And as he crossed, we recognized
the legacy he leaves
that’s punctuated by one final breath.

Peace to his memory!

A new look at a childhood finger play

Here is the church.
And here is the steeple.
Open the door
and where are the people?

They’re watching on desktops,
on laptops and phones.
They’re socially distanced.
But they’re not alone!

They’re part of a Body
that FaceTimes and Zooms.
They’re one in the Spirit
in various rooms.

The church ain’t a building.
It can’t be shut down.
It’s where you and I go
both home or downtown.

No! COVID can’t kill us.
When push comes to shove,
we thrive in the hard times
connected by love!