death .. . . .. . .

there is no fear in death really
perfected love casts out fear, including fear of dying

dying is the enemy of humanity
the fear of death locks us in bondage

all creation shares in that fear

i fear death, in a way
i fear the thought of it mostly
perhaps conditioned by media
perhaps from watching how it affects people
perhaps knowing how it affects me for other people
perhaps standing there and reading that name
and those dates ..
coming back, laying that flower gently
   as if it will wake that someone from sleep
feeling wet on my cheek .. .

perhaps watching as it overtakes
like some dark musclecar
ever chasing ever closer
deep-throat rumble and roar
firey belchstink
blackening smoke obstructing more and more
.. can't hardly see anymore
darkening
weakening
fading life

i fear the unknown, although i know what lies beyond that curtain
because i fear the unexperienced
never been there before

but death itself has been dealt with
Jesus handled that
he got up, walked away
and he's my elder brother, my exemplar, my guide through death
into life

life
life without this dread body where sin dwells
life freed
life in all its fulness
life with him

death's darkness will one day be obliterated somehow
Jesus will do that when he winds-up things
reconciliation

i am apprehensive over death
but i am anxious too to be truly alive
living and moving and having my being fulloflife
filled with life till it's simply rushing everywhere
like some clear wild untamable river

.. watching Jesus hike-up his pants and run crazy-like in the shallows
diving off into the deep
doing flips and backflips
laughing all the while

death
it stings
.. but it only stings for a minute

may the peace that flows from newlife
and the grace of God
and the love of God
embrace you in warmth

and may the inviting smile of Jesus well-up big in you
as you consider what it will be like ! to be hugged and loved by him
winsome smile and all ..

and to race him through the river ..

peace