My soul dwells secure
in pleasant mountains
Creator-carved,
where cloud-sent rains
descend to quench
the thirsty tongues
and rays of molten sun
embrace to warm
the evening-cold shoulders —
What little matters to some
are minuscule,
momentary dewdrops
adrift
in endless possibilities,
whirling from the gift
of measured life-breaths
apportioned to the living of us all —
every sacred
miraculous moment
of what we call today.
By D. G. Vachal © 2015
Photo credit: Yinka Oyelese
The days ride the chariot of the whirlwind:
tomorrow’s sun is yet to be appointed —
you hold this moment’s gold, this second’s gem.
Today is bread that feeds your hunger,
strength for constricted hands
that throb to open to those in need,
(always, there are those in need)
bestow kindness even to those unkind.
Give, give of this bread,
this bread of today,
each broken crumb of every fleeting second,
scatter with abandon to reach
the hungry mouths,
even the birds of the air,
the beasts of the field —
As you give of your daily bread,
verily you will be fed.
D. G. Vachal © 2014
The Old Paths, The Good Way
When we are in a state of great distress and perplexity, it is difficult to determine what action to take when there are many different paths to choose from. Thousands of years ago, the kingdom of Judah was in such a state, finding itself at a crossroad, facing peril and destruction which could only be averted by wise and prompt action.
Out of the clamor of counseling voices came the word of the Prophet Jeremiah: “Thus says the Lord: Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.”1
Let us consider the Prophet’s instruction:
First, stand in the ways and see. This means deliberation. When at a dilemma, it is not the time to rush into action which may result in choosing the wrong path. A crisis, a turning point is the time for prudence and forethought.
Second, ask for the old paths, what is the good way. This means guidance. Let history serve as a guide: the nation of Judah had won victory and experienced peace and prosperity in former times; therefore, inquire of the past how these blessings were attained. Search for the trodden road that led to safety and happiness.
Third, walk therein. This means action. After deliberation and having discerned the guiding light, proceed ahead upon the chosen path. In doing so, Jeremiah told the people of Judah, you will find rest for your souls.
Almost five centuries later, Jesus Christ addressed, not a nation, but individual men and women: the weary and heavy-laden, and once again he mentioned the concept of soul-rest in the same manner as the Prophet Jeremiah :
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”2
Christ’s prescription for finding rest for one’s soul is to come to Him, to choose the path that leads to Him, proclaiming that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. A new and a living way, but yet the most ancient of pathways— a pathway that leads to the Rock of Ages.
1 Jeremiah 6:11, King James Version
2 Matthew 11:28-29, New King James Version
*** Reference: Henry Van Dyke, 1903, “Joy and Power”, http://www.gutenberg.net/1/0/3/9/10395, pp.72-92
*** Photography by Rovakovski
Faith on Trial: When The Wicked Prosper
“Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Psalm 73:1-3
… a synopsis of the writing of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Oftentimes, perplexities in life are magnified when we compare our lives with the lives of others. In Psalm 73, the psalmist confesses that he was shaken and troubled, to the point of almost stumbling, because he was bewildered at God’s way of dealing with him: he was living a righteous life, yet everything seemed to be going wrong.
To make matters worse, when he looked at the lives of the wicked, he saw a striking contrast: they prosper in the world, are in good health, and not in trouble as other men. He described the ungodly as arrogant, deceitful, and full of blasphemy, yet having more than their hearts could wish for. The psalmist felt that he was living a godly life in vain.
Progressing through the verses, however, we learn that the writer managed to steady himself and eventually arrive at a firm position of faith through a series of small steps.
“If I had said, “I will speak thus, behold I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.” (v 15)
The first step he took was to control himself: he kept himself from saying what was at the tip of his tongue, recognizing the importance of never speaking hurriedly, never on impulse. The guiding principle we can glean from this is that our speech needs to be positive, and not hasty in expressing doubts and uncertainties. If we can say nothing that is helpful, we should say nothing at all.
Secondly, he deliberated upon what he was about to say: he looked at the problem again and examined it from different angles. The guiding principle here is not to be too quick in forming opinions based on one set of facts, but to look at the subject from other perspectives, and to consider its consequences and implications.
Thirdly, the psalmist held on to what he was certain of, and he held on at all costs. Having considered the matter again, he realized that if he were to say the words he was tempted to vocalize, he would have become a stumbling block to God’s people. Here we see the importance of having certain absolutes in life, that there are certain things deemed unthinkable, never to be considered. One of the absolutes in his life was to never inflict harm upon God’s cause and His people.
These were the steps the psalmist took that enabled him to gain a foothold to plant his feet securely, and to keep himself from slipping and falling.
Reference: D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Faith on Trial, W. B. Erdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1965, pp. 11-31
*** Photography by Kevin Walker
“A lazy man does not roast his prey, but the precious possession of a man is diligence.” Proverbs 12:27, NASB
There is a certain possession that the Bible esteems as valuable, something to be desired. It is not a material treasure; it cannot be bought with worldly currency. That precious possession is diligence.
The best way I can expound upon this scripture is to share how I have witnessed this trait in the way my parents lived. To this day, they continue to amaze me beyond words. I don’t ever remember seeing them idle or wasting time. When I was growing up, I recall both of them going to work early in the morning each day. As both of them are lawyers, they had plenty of things to occupy them, but they somehow managed to come home and eat three meals with their children almost every day.
When my father was home, I remember that he would either be reading or writing. My mother incessantly tended to projects that she would follow through to completion. They were compassionate people, reaching out to help the poor and underprivileged. I remember many times when we children would have to sit squeezed shoulder-to-shoulder at the dinner table because some poor folks were invited to dine with us.
My father is now in his eighties, but he still goes to work every day: he serves the people as the oldest member of Congress in an Asian country. Surrounded with books and so many documents to read and review, he always carries a pen, a small pad of paper, or a book to read. My mother is in her late seventies, and yes, she also works at her office each day. A long time ago, when I was a little child, she started a cooperative to help and encourage poor people to save their money and to free them from the grasp of greedy usurers. What she set into motion decades ago has now grown by leaps and bounds — from a small group of less than 20 people, and now currently reaching almost a hundred thousand members.
Diligence involves perseverance, persistence, and tenacity. It is not achieved overnight, but grows through the days and through the years as it is applied. It is honoring one’s Creator with making the best use of one’s time and talents, and like the cooperative that my mother once started, through daily application, grows exponentially in value. Diligence eventually becomes a person’s precious possession where moths cannot corrupt, nor can thieves break through and steal.
lilies, sparrows and grass 