The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary
By Larry R Linville

I didn’t plan to worship God
as I looked down to the river
but a mother deer walked into view
and my heart began to quiver.

Fifty feet from the river’s bank
she walked up to a water hole
then her twins began to follow
as I watched them down below.

They stood in such stately beauty
showing lines of the finest grace
and they ambled slowing around
as if they owned the entire place.

What were her thoughts as she stood there
allowing her cute babies to play?
Could she have been thankful to God
and have taken her time just to pray?

I said a prayer of thanksgiving
for the beauty God had allowed
for me in this experience
away from the world’s hectic crowd.

I didn’t plan to worship God
but God had created a church
and presented his creation
which I observed from my high perch.

The Lost Poem
By larry r linville

A poem came while I was in the john
but I had nothing to write upon.
My poetic mind was in a groove
and everything began to move

So I reached over to the white roll
of toilet paper as my scroll
and wrote down my inspiration
to share with the entire nation.

I believe that poem was among my best
and it would surely pass the test
with great pride I slowly stood
but soon found that wasn’t very good.

My disappointed heart was crushed
after I absent-mindedly had flushed
that poem that I just wrote in vain
and now it was going down the drain.

Old Men’s Socks
By Larry R Linville

Old fat men bring lots of shocks
not knowing they are laughing stocks
with old plaid short and black dress shoes
and knee length socks of varied hues.

My daughters helped me head this off
with a weird stare and a big fake cough.
then let me know with an impish smile
that this was not the latest style.

When wearing shorts I have no socks
upon my feet inside my crocs
and with a smug look I will stare
at short-wearing men standing there.

If they only had children to warn
that those ugly socks shouldn’t be worn
then they could look cool like I do
and not like animals at the zoo.

What’s Your Problem, Isaiah?
By Larry R Linville

I say, Isaiah
What is bugging you?
You say God’s unhappy?
So what else is new?

Doesn’t like the way
we worship these days.
We seem to follow
the most modern craze.

Sacrifices fail
which we’ve done for years.
Seems that when we talk
God just never hears.

Doesn’t like our music
we sing very loud
he’d rather we serve
the needs of the crowd.

Why is he picky?
Why’s he such a grouch?
Does he expect us
to get off our couch?

We’re not all that bad
we call out his name
even if our actions
never seem to change.

The Air Conditioned Life
By Larry R Linville

It’s so hot we’ve turned on the AC
and closed the house tight as it can be.
It’s now sterile from outside sound
can’t hear anything going round.

I am comfortable here inside
but the outside sounds have been denied.
Like nothing outside exists at all
even when we go down to the mall.

Just step outside on your back porch
when the temp is not like a torch
and you’ll hear the birds as they sing
greeting you like you are a king

That music was there all the time
waiting to touch your life so sublime
but you didn’t hear them – they weren’t there
while you reclined in your easy chair.

Sometime our spiritual house is closed
and God’s sweet music isn’t exposed
because we seek a life of ease
in a cool artificial breeze.

Open the door of your heart my friend
and let God’s spirit with yours blend
so you will hear all that you miss
and feel the joy of God’s graceful bliss.

The Air Conditioned Life
By Larry R Linville

It’s so hot we’ve turned on the AC
and closed the house tight as it can be.
It’s now sterile from outside sound
can’t hear anything going round.

I am comfortable here inside
but the outside sounds have been denied.
Like nothing outside exists at all
even when we go down to the mall.

Just step outside on your back porch
when the temp is not like a torch
and you’ll hear the birds as they sing
greeting you like you are a king

That music was there all the time
waiting to touch your life so sublime
but you didn’t hear them – they weren’t there
while you reclined in your easy chair.

Sometime our spiritual house is closed
and God’s sweet music isn’t exposed
because we seek a life of ease
in a cool artificial breeze.

Open the door of your heart my friend
and let God’s spirit with yours blend
so you will hear all that you miss
and feel the joy of God’s graceful bliss.

When All Is Said and Done

When All Is Said and Done
By larry r Linville

When all is said and done
more is done than said.
When you read a sad book
it is both blue and read.

When a true friend leaves
and is replaced by someone new
your friendship circle hasn’t shrunk
instead, you see, it grew.

When you spend your time on others
time passes very slow
but when you use your time for self
you never know where it will go.

When you say angry words
to the people in your life
all the peacefully opportunities
will convert to times of strife.

When will we come to know
what we should and shouldn’t do?
We find it’s a long process
and we never will be through.

Why

When
By Larry R Linville

When did I lose control
of my emotions?
When did the big lump in my throat
convert into tears down my cheeks?
A man is not supposed to cry
even when he is a boy
as we laugh at those weak girls
whose tears flow like Niagara Falls?
I lost it a little when my father died
and then my brother and my mom
but that was OK I was told.
I lost it more when my kids left home.
I ran off so nobody would see.
And when they got married
the throat lump and tears
were more than I could hide.

But now it’s so bad
it won’t seem to stop
when I see some one in great joy
as I feel what they feel.
my tears stare rudely
at the lump in their throat
when the Titans won that football game
or the Hoosiers won the state
or the Rookie gave the game ball to his dad.

It cleanses my eyes and my heart
and destroys that old lump
so I’m no longer embarrassed.

Rain on the Just and Unjust

Rain on the Just and Unjust
By larry r Linville

The rain falls on the just and unjust
but they may not receive it the same
some may not want it to fall right now
and they look for someone they can blame.

Some see it as a timely blessing
and with thankful hearts they pause to pray
looking for how they can share these joys
after the storm clouds have gone away.

Some seem to drown in their own pity
brought down in the currents of their fears
seeing only the things washed away
increased by the streams of their tears.

Some lives are like a deep reservoir
saving water for a drier day
they still have what it takes to live
when others dried up and blew away.

So it’s not what we receive, my friend,
that brings joy into our life
it depends on the outlook we have
that brings us joy out of strife.