Chris Gribble

Be yourself - Everyone else is taken (Oscar Wilde)

When the cheering stops

by

Readying myself for Palm Sunday today I sat with John’s gospel and Luke’s account of Palm Sunday. Easter is fast approaching again and I couldn’t help but be touched by this image and all that must have been happening for Jesus at this time.

A Palm Sunday poem

When the cheering stops
Comes silence,
Quiet heartbreak,
Sleeplessness,
Aloneness,
Awake to my darkest fears,
Sadness, tinged with anticipation,
The harsh words of condemnation,
From my own kind
And, from within,
The passions
of jealousy,
Overrule what is right,
To make way for love,
The journey beginning,
Here
Right now
Where I am
Where I don’t want to be,
But, where love is,
On a donkey,
Waiting for fronds
To become spears.

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In the Psalms I have discovered firsthand some of the rawness and pain experienced by the Psalmist. This ebook is the first 40 Psalms that I have put in my own words. They are a reflection of what was written by the original writer and then brought to our world today. They reflect many of the themes that are common to discouraged, depressed, anxious, fearful people. At times some or all of these things have been true for me. I have used some of these experience and cried out with the Psalmist in my writing.

One definition of found poetry is, “it’s the literary version of a collage”. In finding these Psalms I have gathered together my emotions, feelings and pain and sought to “find” my understanding of what David was saying. It’s the worst possible translation methodology but it’s been a great personal re-discovery of God.

The 40 day journey is a chance to take some time out and listen to God’s voice. God’s praise will last for eternity, we have the great privilege to begin that praise now.

You can download the ebook here: Click here