Respite for the Remnant

Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish… they will still bear fruit in old age. (Psalm 92:13-14)

Note: Believe it or not, this is part 2. Part 1 was a humorous representation of what has become of art and architecture, music, fashion, and humanity in general in our darkening world today, but here is what was really on my heart for you in a more serious tone–but of blessed hope.

Have you noticed

How the sowers and reapers of evil,

Tend to first strip the landscape,

Then the mind,

Then the spirit, if possible?

Have you noticed

How they heap the ground

With the debris of civilization

Scattered among broken lives

And ill will?

No more of love, joy,

Peace, patience, goodness,

Mercy, kindness, gentleness, and

Self-control in their acres, where

Wind whistles through

Dead men’s bones.

So we must tend the beautiful things,

Even in a world caged

In big black boxy buildings

Furnished in brutalism,

Moth and rust.

Where gashed high-rises

Block milky suns,

Gilt degrades to grunge,

Diamonds, to pin-pricks of light

Through shattered glass.

Music becomes a clash

Of pitch and tone,

Lullabies turn into requiems.

Wars and rumors of wars

Shroud color-splashed vistas of

Ruby and ebony with

A slurry of blood and ash.

Evil says, demoralize the people,

Strip their eyes of color,

Mute their ears to laughter,

Symphonies and hope.

Twist their minds to

The seedy side of the street,

All the better to deploy

Chaos, fear—and despair—

If It could.

So to tending

The beautiful things:

Plowing resistance,

Planting truth,

Watering perseverance–

To yield abundant harvest

In the fullness of time.

That’s the plan,

Has been, is, will be.

And savor this:

Even a humble plot can

Still yield fruit that nurtures,

Salves and saves–and

Produce a still, small voice

As loud as

A brass trumpet.

And so, a call

To tending the beautiful things

Until the angels come

To gather the golden wheat.

That’s the other plan.

Was, is, and will be.

Carry on, brother and sisters.

^31 …they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)