Friendship

Friendship is a gift from God;

     communion points to Heaven.

Though our time on earth be flawed,

     a friend is mercy given.

Mercy from the Throne above

      where our Father of Lights shine brightly,

      where angels behold His radiant face in awe,

      where saints bow down and cast their crowns

            before His feet contritely.

And mercy trickles down,

      oozes round, pours around—cascades profound!—

      and comes with grace for duty.

And meeting with a friend becomes

      a conduit for mutual betterment:

           enhancing, polishing, sharpening, smoothing—

      against dark hate, a thing of beauty.

A friend will point us up to Christ,

     encourage through life's progress,

will count the cost and pay the price,

     to see us lay hold of great success.

God gives us friends—

     oh! to be friends indeed!—

may hearts with God and Spirit blend

     to love in word and deed.

- D. Benning

I Walk Along the Edge

Kim Loftis Photography, https://www.facebook.com/kim.a.loftis

 I walk along the edge alone,
    the margins of the deep inflamed with sun-toned splendor,
    the sky above engulfed in radiant spangled light,
        as night met day or day met night,
        when light and color fought with dark—
        implanting hope and awe and, Hark!
       
            My soul now soars on silent wings,
               with shock and reverence, esteem and fear,
               I loose the heavy band of earth that clings
                  and claws and draws and paws me to its blear,
                     its drear and smear and blinded gear
                     that threatens tear and and jeer and empty sphere.
            Now overhead I soar with upward swing
                and view the joy that heaven brings:
                I see a city there above the clouds
                   shining bright, shining proud,
                while earth-bound denizens lie cowed
                    and bowed and plowed,
                              with no lofty thoughts endowed,
                    tenuous life all soon to disappear.

But I walk along the edge alone:
    the margins of the deep call out to me,
    the sky breathes down its majesty
        and light meets dark or night meets day—
        forces in my heart at play—
        when bright comes forth to vanquish dark,
        inflicting joy and lasting mark.

I on the edge of deep look up and know
   the unseen forces up above,
though barely sensed down here below,
   still shower light down, sent in love.

- D. Benning