Colossians 3:5-15

All these things you see
That come from down here--
Kill them.
Anything that pulls our attention away
From what (I mean WHO) is above
Needs to be thrown away.

These rags you've been wearing,
They stink.
You reek like a dead man with them on.
Take it off-
After all you're not dead anymore,
But alive.

All your trash,
The sex, dirty thoughts, uncontrollable desires,
Obsessively wanting what your next door neighbor's got--
Stop it!

Don't you know that it's those clothes that get burned up?
Don't get burned up with it by the One above.

You used to wear those things when
You lived across the tracks.
But you're in a new house now,
Living somewhere else-act like it.

Stop being angry and irritable.
Don't say mean things or even think them.

Momma used to say,
"Don't talk like that
Or I'll wash your mouth out with soap"
Talk different,
Talk like the soap tastes-
Clean.

And be honest.
Don't make up stories to be dramatic
Or get yourself out of hot water.
Be different than all the rest.
Be a new person
Who's becoming like the One
Who rescued and brought you to this place.

He's the One who brought us together.
He's the garbage man, too,
He's throwing all the old clothes out
And making all of us better.

So stand in front of that mirror
And see that He loves you,
Even in your nakedness.

Open the closet doors
And see the clothes
He made for you.

We got silk
And fine linen
In all this kindness and caring for each other.
And forgiving, too,and being patient--
It's like the loosest, breathiest cotton
On a hot summer day.
And it's easier to forgive
When you remember how He brought us here.

But the best piece
All of us got

Is love.

It's a purple robe
Like royal kings wear.

It's the main thing
That keeps us together
Along with peace,
That also comes from Him.

Wear your new clothes
And thank Him.

poem

A single tear
A lonely soul
Falling—
Catch the diamonds.
There is rugged
Crystal shine
In these
Sharp things.

In Tent Cities

Intense,
This living
In tents.
Always motion
The making and
Breaking of camp

Until Spirit finds
spirit
Until Lover meets
Beloved
No more temporary
Dwelling spaces

ONE fire
Consumes
Physical traces.

Rest.