PAULIE'S POEMS - PMG

At Peace We all say we could use some peace That's what we tell ourselves, at least Yet, senses are on overload Til feels like our heads will explode  Can claim peace is what we desire Still, turn life's volume ever higher Fill days with electronic toys And then lament 'bout all the noise We say that peace is what we need Yet, our thoughts dart at lightning speed With little thought of how to slow The busyness of to and fro Profess that peace is what we seek Then why is unrest at its peak For if we truly seek, we find Yet, peace seems to be in decline Peace is something we must pursue  Not simply hope it comes to you Achieving it requires action So, start with turning off distraction The quickest way your peace to lose Is sit and watch the nightly news And peaceful is not how you'll be If you are scrolling endlessly  To a degree, peace can be  found In simple act of slowing down Be still; be quiet; take deep breath  See value in the need to rest Even in midst of...

  The Sound of Silence  Sometimes, our life's cacophony  Sounds nothing like a symphony  Instead, like clanging in our ear  Til sound of silence long to hear  To some, silence is what you dread  Because of troubles in your head  So fill up space with idle sound  In hopes the silence you can drown  Perhaps the silence's deafening  For loneliness's a common thing  So silence isn't heard by choice  Desperate to hear another's voice  Or silence might be what you crave For house is filled with little knaves  And noise level in your abode  Puts all your nerves on overload  In life, it's balance brings us peace  Silence and sound  - need both of these Our Savior modeled how to live So we should copy what he did Christ knew he'd have a noisy day Rose early just to get away  To have some quiet solitude  Before facing the multitude  So likewise, we need balancin' Of quiet and life's joyou...

  I Can't Complain  "Hello! How are you doing today?" "Not bad. I can't complain," you say But as your day, you're going through  Complaining's what you seem to do Weather's too hot; weather's too cold My aching joints! I'm getting old My house's a mess; my life is too I have too many things to do Nobody calls; I'm all alone Another salesman's on the phone Why does trouble just follow me? Have you seen price of gas lately? The traffic's bad; I hate my job So on and on complaint bombs lob Till soon, we find we can't refrain From finding new ways to complain Misery loves company, you think So join others who raise a stink Then all become a miserable lot Seems complaining is all they've got Ever noticed as complaining's done The more unhappy you become Ingratitude will bring you down And all those you complained around Can you imagine getting gift And in response you act as miffed The giver would think you quite r...

Signs Been in season of stress and grief  Oh, how I'm desperate for relief  Time when all things aren't do or die Nor days when all I do is cry I'm searching for some inner peace Less strong anxiety, at least Not days that feel like lions roaring  Instead, I want ones that seem boring Where nothing dire is happening  Days soft and warm like early spring  Where little makes demands on me Moments when I can simply be I need to find a quiet place  One filled with mercy, love, and grace Place I can recharge battery A location that is stress-free  Not certain such a place exists For calm feels fleeting as a mist And prolonged peace beyond my grasp But still, dear Lord, I have to ask Is this storm ever going to end? Or if so, then start up again? What doesn't kill you makes you stronger  Yet, not sure can hold on much longer Your Word says you are by my side And I know you have never lied But, could you send some kind of sign To assure me all will be fi...

Lessons of a Birdbath The sweetest joy has blessed my days My birdbath filled with bright blue jays Though other kinds are in the mix Blue jays, I've counted five or six The jays seem to have staked a claim  As if my birdbath bears their name When others come to splash and play All of the blues chase them away Cardinals and sparrows have to learn The jays demand they wait their turn Since the birdbath is their domain The other birds must do the same Occasionally, a squirrel will come To try and join in all the fun But if the jays are there en masse Then even squirrels don't get a pass Though ornithologist, I'm not In watching birds, I've learned a lot At least in my birdbath I see There's an avicular hierarchy  Though I doubt It's always the truth In my backyard, jays rule the roost In some unwritten law of things The rulers seem to don blue wings Yet, mockingbirds can call their bluff When they decide they've had enough And though the blue jays raise a stin...

  Your Health When you go for a physical  A different trip than when you're ill Not there 'cause anything is wrong Assuring you're healthy and strong Your doctor's checking every parent Your reflexes, your lungs, and heart Ears, nose, and throat, your temperature  Your height and weight, blood work for sure Yearly exam, if you don't go When something's wrong, you might not know Each malady might not show signs So you believe that all is fine Each test has a health tale to tell What blessing if told all is well For it's the greatest kind of wealth To know that you're in perfect health Physical health is just one kind  We also need a healthy mind A troubled mind is one that's fraught  With all kinds of unhealthy thought Depression, hate, anxiety  Are all signs your mind's unhealthy  And add to that the devil's ploys Attacking thoughts and stealing joys If your thoughts are unhealthy kind Seek help to regain peace of mind Find someone safe you c...

  Seize the Day Don't look ahead; don't look behind Look only toward the One divine For looking back won't change the past And future always comes too fast It's present you should focus on  For past's already come and gone Thus, dwelling there won't change a thing And wishing, won't bright future bring That doesn't mean you can't make plans  Just remember all is in God's hands  Nor does it mean can't learn from past But living there keeps you downcast Embrace the day that you are in Not ones in past or not yet been You've heard It said to seize the day For truly, it is the best way Right now is all that's promised you And yesterday's already through  So, live each moment as a gift  And try to cherish all of it I know that past and future days Can cause you stress in many ways  What's been and not yet make you fret If this one thing you do forget To heavenward must keep your gaze For Christ is Lord of all your days He's car...

  Assumptions In life, ofttimes assumptions make But that could be a big mistake  If assume, misunderstanding brings  When we judge books by their coverings With assumptions, information lacks Thus, can draw conclusions without facts Then decisions made without good proof Lead to more assumptions, not the truth Perhaps we assume they think the way That we do, or they'd simply say So, we move forward, acting on Assumptions that are wholly wrong Or, it's easier to just presume In our minds we simply don't have room To investigate or dig down deep Easier to just assumptions keep How to get off this hamster wheel Presuming we know how others feel  So round, and round, and round we go All we had to do was ask to know With the Lord, we make assumptions, too Thinking he'll behave the way we do He'll say the things that we would say Seems a touch of arrogance at play When we presume to already know Then digging deeper, we don't go That takes some time, or quite a bit Wh...

  Little Things  I got a pebble in my shoe Though was a tiny thing It caused a bruise upon my heel And oh, such pain did bring  Was walking on a windy day Got speck of sand in eye Was almost too small to be seen  But surely made me cry A dear one was upset with me Harsh words - said one or two The sting of then, hard to forget Though we began anew A little fib seems no big deal No harm in a white lie Till it becomes a habit And the fibs just multiply Ofttimes, it's just a little thing That can throw you off track Yet, all those small things added up Can break the camel's back  And sometimes little things grow big Creating quite a mess For most don't simply go away When they are not addressed  Pebble must be removed from shoe The sand washed out of eye Harsh words need an apology  The truth, replace a lie  The devil knows this principle  So that's how he begins Whispers to you his little lies Compromises lead to sins He gets you to take little...

  I'll Never... I'll never say, " I told you so." In spite of fact, I warned you, no Though bad choices have laid you low I'll never say, " I told you so." I never will put you to shame Even if you've self to blame Forgiveness is my middle name So, I will not put you to shame I never will give up on you Though you feel your options are few Be by your side and see you through  No, I will not give up on you I'll never break your trust in me My promises, I guarantee  My very nature's honesty So you can always count on me I'll never ever leave your side Support of you can't be denied  Security, I will provide For, I will never leave your side I will not fault you if your weak For your own strength's not what I seek And when your circumstance is bleak I'll give you strength when you are weak I'll never leave you all alone Even when far away you roam With me, you're in your comfort zone For I will not leave you alone I'l...

  Vulnerability  We all have vulnerability Weakness we don't let others see So we pretend we're Superman Hide all shortcomings,  if we can We all face our own kryptonite  The weakness that we try to fight Thing we feel powerless to stop Expecting other shoe to drop We each possess Achilles heel Some frailty that is quite real A thing we do our best to hide For, makes us feel weak inside  We all have vulnerability  That we keep under lock and key Quite certain that if we confess Then we'll be judged as something less It's viewed as liability  So don't acknowledge readily Or else deny it altogether  Hoping somehow it'll just get better Too often thing we won't admit  Or sometimes not aware of it May blame it on heredity  A thing that we will always be But, is it wise to hide our flaws For, it's exhausting after all Yet, is there ever a safe place Where our weaknesses we can face Of course, our vulnerabilities  Are things our Maker cle...