Meet Me in the Stairwell; by Stacey Randall

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news on September 11, 2001.

Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say, "Good-bye."

I held his fingers steady as he dialed

I gave him the peace to say, "Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK...I am ready to go."

I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children.

I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out for Me for help. "I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!" I said, "Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now."

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.

I was on four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I was in Texas, Kansas, London. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all know Me. Some met me for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.

Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; "Come to Me...this way...take My hand." Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.

But, I was there.

I did not place you in the tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?

September 11, 2001 was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are "ready to go."

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

Remember...I love you.

My Identity; Author Unknown

I lost my identity
Somewhere, someplace, sometime.
I can't seem to remember when
I do know, that once I was carefree
And now, today, I find I am confused
Sometimes I appear angry and know not why
The joys of life that I once loved
Now seem to have faded from me
Please help me find out who I am
If you see this happy-go-lucky person
Who loves to sing and enjoys life
Walking down a street
Stop her and take her by the hand
I think maybe she belongs to me

Do It Anyway: Attributed to Mother Teresa

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

-this version is credited to Mother Teresa

____________________________

After A While by Veronica Shoffstall

After a while you learn
the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul
and you learn
that love doesn’t mean leaning
and company doesn’t always mean security.
And you begin to learn
that kisses aren’t contracts
and presents aren’t promises
and you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up and your eyes ahead
with the grace of woman, not the grief of a child
and you learn
to build all your roads on today
because tomorrow’s ground is
too uncertain for plans
and futures have a way of falling down
in mid-flight.
After a while you learn
that even sunshine burns
if you get too much
so you plant your own garden
and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone
to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure
you really are strong
you really do have worth
and you learn
and you learn
with every goodbye, you learn…

It Happened Anyway; by Mattie Stepanek

When Jamie died
And I didn't even understand
The eternity of my sadness
I wished I could have prevented it
But then, I remember
It happened anyway.

When I rest in my bed
And dream about how I could have
Lived and played with my brother
I wish I could have stopped his death
But then I remember
It happened anyway.

When I look at pictures
And imagine what he would be like
Now a dozen years old
I wish I could have saved him from agelessness
But then I remember
It happened anyway.

When I hug our mommy
And we think of why and how, and
When he was with us and left us
We wish we could have prevented it
And stopped his death and saved him from
Never needing breath for birthday candles'

But then we remember
Though we don't understand
It happened anyway.

Twilight (Tucson); by Sara Teasdale

Aloof as aged kings,
Wearing like them the purple,
The mountains ring the mesa
Crowned with a dusky light;
Many a time I watched
That coming-on of darkness
Till stars burned through the heavens
Intolerably bright.

It was not long I lived there,
But I became a woman
Under those vehement stars,
For it was there I heard
For the first time my spirit
Forging an iron rule for me,
As though with slow cold hammers
Beating out word by word:

"Take love when love is given,
But never think to find it
A sure escape from sorrow
Or a complete repose;
Only yourself can heal you,
Only yourself can lead you
Up the hard road to heaven
That ends where no one knows."

Spirit's house; by Sara Teasdale

FROM naked stones of agony

I will build a house for me;

As a mason all alone

I will raise it, stone by stone,

And every stone where I have bled

Will show a sign of dusky red.

I have not gone the way in vain,

For I have good of all my pain;

My spirit's quiet house will be

Built of naked stones I trod

On roads where I lost sight of God.

Rachel's Hands; by Jellen

Rachel's hands reach out
Touching you and me.
Reaching our hearts and souls
Unto eternity.

Rachel's tears stream down
Reflecting your heart and mine.
Down roses and thorns
Amid the columbine.

Rachel's heart gives hope
As she watches from above.
We remember her courage
Her faith, hope, and love.

Rachel's life showed faith
A battle she once fought.
May we always pay tribute
To Rachel Joy Scott.

Pride; by Jellen

We strive for money and good fortune
To win the race for fame
But unless we find love along the way
We see that nothing has been gained.

We take pride in our hard earned glory
Superior to the common man
We trampled him to get ahead
Ignored his outstretched hand.

But look at how we've prospered
Taught the upper middle class charade
And while the world is slowly dying
We've learned to look the other way

We've gained glory and importance
But something inside has died
In the quest for power we've lost our ideals
And all that remains is pride.

If Up's the Word; by e.e. cummings

if up's the word;and a world grows greener
minute by second and most by more-
if death is the loser and life is the winner
(and beggars are rich but misers are poor)
-let's touch the sky:
with a to and a fro
(and a here there where)and away we go

in even the laziest creature among us
a wisdom no knowledge can kill is astir-
now dull eyes are keen and now keen eyes are keener
(for young is the year,for young is the year)
-let's touch the sky:
with a great(and a gay
and a steep)deep rush through amazing day

it's brains without hearts have set saint against sinner;
put gain over gladness and joy under care-
let's do as an earth which can never do wrong does
(minute by second and most by more)
-let's touch the sky:
with a strange(and a true)
and a climbing fall into far near blue

if beggars are rich(and a robin will sing his
robin a song)but misers are poor-
let's love until noone could quite be(and young is
the year,dear)as living as i'm and as you're
-let's touch the sky:
with a you and a me
and an every(who's any who's some)one who's we

In Time of Daffodils; by e.e. cummings

in time of daffodils by E. E. Cummings

in time of daffodils(who know
the goal of living is to grow)
forgetting why,remember how

in time of lilacs who proclaim
the aim of waking is to dream,
remember so(forgetting seem)

in time of roses(who amaze
our now and here with paradise)
forgetting if,remember yes

in time of all sweet things beyond
whatever mind may comprehend,
remember seek(forgetting find)

and in a mystery to be
(when time from time shall set us free)
forgetting me,remember me

Richard Cory; by Edwin Arlington Robinson

Richard Cory

Whenever Richard Cory went down town,
We people on the pavement looked at him:
He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,
And he was always human when he talked;
But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
'Good-morning,' and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich - yes, richer than a king -
And admirably schooled in every grace:
In fine, we thought that he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,
And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
Went home and put a bullet through his head.

Edwin Arlington Robinson

Twas the Month Before Christmas; by Anonymous

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away
The reason for Christmas -- no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About shepherds and wise men and angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say --
December 25th is just a "holiday."
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit,
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X Box, and I-Pod,
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanza
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word "Christmas" was nowhere to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penney's and Sears,
You won't hear the word "Christmas" -- it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, now Darden, now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen,
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!

At the top of the Senate there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith,
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded,
The Reason for the Season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate "winter break" under your "dream tree,"
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say,
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ... not Happy Holiday!

-- Anonymous Author

Too Late, Too Late; by Rene

Things are winding down,

ACs on his lofty throne,

All secure (he thinks!)

His vilest deeds are known,

Yet the masses honored him,

And made his name well known,

Stealth & wealth secured his crown,

Treachery, lies, deceit!

(Something 'bout him really stinks!)

Could it be the sulphur coals,

Within his heart that reeks?

Turns his head, then he winks-

Darkness in his eyes, distinct,

Pools of blackness there,

Darker fire than deepest night-

Filled with vile despair,

His face will soon contort with rage,

He plays for higher stakes,

For all his power and his gold,

He still cannot bring back the saints,

That God will help escape!

Now you'll see his other side,

fangs will soon appear,

And claws to rake o'er Jacob's sons,

Will soon emerge one-by-one,

His true intent to be unveiled,

Amidst the horrors & the wails,

To drag all men into his fires.

He turned his back on Christ the One,

And bends the knee as Allah's son.

The masses in denial and blind,

Heading towards the cliff,

They think it just a fiscal one-

But soon they'll be undone,

And find too late that what's at stake-

Is something they can't see-

A miry web will have them chained,

And trap their soul eternally!

Darkness cloaked in deep despair,

Blood-on-blood - everywhere!

Soon we're outta here,

The Bride that Christ holds dear!

The world won't shed a tear -

They'll just hold hands,

And sing a song-

The trumpet sound?

Pretend they didn't hear!

In denial they will be,

Just as they are now-

Living life for every sin,

Rejecting Him who set them free.

We don't belong!

It's not our home,

Time for us to rise,

Meet the Lamb on wings of LOVE,

Rejoicing in the skies!

Those left behind-

They'll take the mark-

Like some new fad in vogue,

It will become the latest joke,

Too late...too late, they'll learn-

It can never be revoked!

And now has claimed their soul,

To end up in the lake of fire,

With bitterness and grief,

To scream at God and gnash their teeth,

In terror, dread & disbelief.

It now begins...

Too late...too late,

And soon it ends,

Once the trumpet blows.

No more grace bestowed.

Then comes the many woes...

They'll joke and curse,

And call us names,

Just like they do now,

Christians are the ones they blame,

They'll find too late that we were right,

Too late for them to find the light...

Their day has turned to darkest night.

God's great warnings at an end,

None without excuse,

They will find too late for them,

All evil has been loosed!

No escape! No escape!

God's patience has run out-

Soon will be too late, too late,

Hell's enlarging all her gates...

Rene

9/11/ 2001 by Mattie Stepanek

It was a dark day in America
There was no amazing grace
Freedom did not ring
Tragedy attacked sky high
Fiery terror reigned
Structures collapsed
Red with blood, white with ash
And out-of-the-sky-blue
As children trust elders
Citizens find faith in leaders
But all were blinded
Shocked by the blasts
Undefiable outrage
Undeniable outpouring
Of support, even prayer
Or at least, moments of silence
Church and state
Could not be separated
A horrific blasting of events
With too few happy endings
Can the children sleep
Safely in their beds tonight?
Can the citizens ever rest?
Assured of national security again?
God please bless America
And the rest of our earthly home.

A New Hope by Mattie Stepanek

 

I need a hope.a new hope.
A hope that reaches for the stars, and
That does not end in violence or war.
A hope that make peace on our earth, and
That does not create evil in the world.
A hope that finds cures for all diseases, and
That does not make people hurt,
In their bodies, in their hearts
Or most of all, in their spirits.
I need a hope.a new hope,
A hope that inspires me to live, and
To make all these things happen,
So that the whole world can have
A new hope, too.

WWIII by Jellen

When the war is over,
When we have proven
That we are indeed number one.

When we have shown our excellence,
In atomic nuclear disasters,
Mass population reduction,
And making ourselves into gods.

When our planet no longer
Ceases to be.
And when we have defeated radical Islam,
By mass murder of its followers.

Then peace shall reign over all the world
But will anyone be left to enjoy it?

Yom HaShoah by Jellen

The flame still burns
It will not die
Six million points of light
Extinguished before their time.

Emaciated bodies
Gathered in a funeral pyre
Leaving behind a stench
Of hatred and intolerance.

The Kaddish weaves a memory
Burning in our hearts
We shall always remember
We shall never forget.

The flame still burns
It will not die
Six million points of light
Extinguished before their time.

And as we remember
We recall another time.
   A time of peace
   A time of hope
   A time of life
   L'Chaim.

For Our World; by Mattie Stepanek

For Our World
We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment.
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent.
Just silent.
Silent for a moment.
Before we forever lose
The blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.
We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment.
Before the future slips away
Into ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent, and notice.
In so many ways, we are the same.
Our differences are unique treasures.
We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts
To nurture, to offer, to accept.
We need to be.
Just be.
Be for a moment.
Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,
Like children and lambs,
Never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.
September 11, 2001
© Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek 1990 -2004
from Hope Through

In Flander's Fields; by John McCrae

In Flanders Field

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John McCrae

Submitted: Friday, January 03, 2003