there's always an off-ramp
when the challenges of life
the demands of integrity
of truth, of justice and peace
compassion and  mercy
seem too great, all too much
there's always a way out

but get-out clauses
come with a price tag
a cost I cannot escape
who I am, my self-respect
when I look myself in the eye
saying nothing of the impact
on others of my choices

I can tell myself lies
polish the masque I hide behind
repeat those distortions to others
keep burnishing the public image
but no way can I ever evade
the mirror-test, the judgement
what lies beneath my facade

there is another choice
no way out, the way through
to hold course, weather the storm
look challenge in the eye, even my failures
ever in the valley of the shadow of death
for there will always be deaths
the little ones, the big one

we may make harbour
somewhat battered, broken
even rescued from the rocks
of our own making, other's devising
but never alone, for sharing the voyage
the storm-rider who's light we follow
and voice calls us home

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
12th April 2025
following Psalm 23

they came looking for him
how long they'd been searching
we don't know, just that they sought him
but one wonders what they were seeking
did the person found match expectation
or was he indeed the disappointment
so many reckoned him to be

not the messiah
but a very naughty boy
who wouldn't play politics
rabble rouse the crowd
manipulate the institutions
raise up freedom's army
take the fight to the streets
in the way so many longed for
not what they wanted at all

certainly he disturbed the peace
thought, taught from first principles
asked the awkward questions
shone light in dark and murky corners
embarrassed leaders, the power-brokers
challenged their games and authority
put the spotlight on their hypocrisies
reveals a new old perspective of God
denying the divisions of 'us' and 'them'
time and space given to the outsider
for the outcast finding places of hope
caring for the battered and broken
those beneath fine society's notice
exploited and downtrodden in life
so reflected the world to itself
what it is, what it might be
mirrored in self-giving love
soon to be shattered
as power took its revenge
was this who those greeks sought
when they came asking
"sir, we would see Jesus"


Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
11th April 2025
following John 12.23
& Monty Python

many the gurus people follow
seeking for some wisdom
touching base with eternity
hoping to, or at least trying
if it's not too disconcerting
a disturbing of the peace

then there are the prophets
bringing a frisson of dis-ease
expecting, demanding change
but which change, what purpose
and how to test their validity
the real deal or some crank

what they're peddling, that's the question
the status quo disguised, reinvented
might's right, ends justifying the means
God on the side of the big battalions
or love God, love the world, love others
sacrificially,  though it cost you your life

not a lot of mileage the world says
for those crazy ways of thinking
when so much more's on offer
who would choose such a path
acting justly, loving mercy
walking humbly with God, who


Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
10th April 2025
following Jeremiah 23.16-18 & Micah 6.8

sensory explosion
sound as the bottle opens
pure nard pouring slowly out
smell hitting olfactory nerves
so powerful, overwhelming
taste of the perfume in the air
spreading over feet and floor
love's extravagance enacted

reception, reaction
his shock at waste, anger even
300 days of wages lost, all gone
should have been for the poor
welcome, acceptance
you'll always have those poor
this was for me, for my death
because she loves, audaciously

what prompts such profligacy
or turns love to faithlessness
no enemy would sell him out
take those thirty pieces of silver
rather his chosen, familiar friend
who'd heard the call, walked the walk
love, now that we understand
betrayal grows in our dark places


Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
9th April 2025
following John 12.3-5 & Psalm 55.13-16

we'd grown up together
part of the crowd, for sure
but always as brothers
together in all that we did
inseparable in adventures
mischief and trouble
or stretched out in the sun
dancing in the rain
proud of our good looks
our strength and breeding
a class act definitely

and now separated out
chosen, but for what
primped and preened
looking our finest
strutting our stuff
couldn't be faulted
ushered in, space made
facing the crowds
silence falls, expectant
a choice is made
divided, first and last

words said, the high priest
in all his robes and finery
a prayer, and hands are laid
sins recited, not mine, theirs
but now my problem
for I'm cast out, driven
into the desert to live, to die
some kind of scapegoat
I look back to my brother
taken further in, higher up
a dagger falls on him, in me

year by year, century by century
we are chosen, unblemished
always an exquisite pair
the finest in all the herds
only the best for the temple
the desert and the altar
bearing the people's sins
though letting us pair of goats
carry the can is a bit twisted
responsibility avoidance I'd say
but this year its different

not goats but a man
and not just any man
this one's somehow special
the high priest said so
"it's better for you to have
one man die for the people
than the whole nation perish"
so they prepared themselves
lined up false witnesses
recruited a betrayer
and readied the altar


Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
8th April 2025
following  John 11.50

plodding along
step after step after step
watch where I put my feet
avoiding what's slippy
those ankle-turners or worse
footing secure, certain

head in the map
compass course followed
way-markers ticked off
position checked
careful at the tricky points
definitive route trod

journey completed
an end point achieved
but missing the wonder
eyes never lifted to the hills
disconnect from the glory
created and creator
this thin place
avoided entirely
wasted, gone


Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
7th April 2025
following Psalm 121.1-2

how many times, we ask
how often must I put up with it
that he gets away with stuff, again
she escapes punishment due
he walks all over people
she spreads malicious lies
distortions of the truth
he exploits, abuses his power
how long until justice, how long

but how long before I'm aware
the he and she that's hiding in me
my crimes, my misdemeanours
my short-comings and worse
sheltering behind a smokescreen
those complaints really about me
best quietly ignored, hopefully
the embarrassment avoided
responsibility ducked

I need, you need, we need
someone more reliable
consistent come what may
certain despite the vagaries of life
trustworthy through all its storms
whose steadfast love never ceases
nor mercies ever come to an end
who greets us new every morning
great in his faithfulness

sadly humanity struggles, I do
despite best aspirations
need to look deeper, wider, higher


Fifth Sunday of Lent
6th April 2025
following Lamentations 3.22-23