I pray that this poem I wrote owing to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit would be an encouragement to believers. Whether you are climbing a mountain, treading through a valley, crossing a sea, or simply walking on a plain, remember that the Lord is with you and will shepherd you when you are lost and protect you when you are in battle. God bless you!

Journey

O Lord Jesus
Thou hast laid before me a road
A narrow road few travels
For withdrawn by great difficulties.
Yet Thou hast said: “I am the way,”
Therefore I shall walk and have faith.
Thou hast called me on a mission
A sacrificial mission few embarks
For driven by selfish ambitions.
Yet Thou hast said: “I am the truth,”
Therefore I shall listen and obey.
Thou hast sent me to a battle
A dangerous battle few ventures
For terrified by the face of death.
Yet Thou hast said: “I am the life,”
Therefore I shall fight and not fear.
O Jesus my Guide,
How blessed I am
To know each journey starts
With Thee by my side.
How can I stand and not fall
If Thy hands not upholding?
How can I walk and not stumble
If Thy Word not guiding?
How can I run and not faint
If Thy Spirit not strengthening?
With each step I take,
O how I thank Thee
For Thy love
Like sun shining on my face
For Thy mercy
Like rain showering over my body
For Thy joy
Like river flowing in my heart.
May I praise Thee—
When I work, when I rest
When I laugh, when I cry
When I succeed, when I fail.
Young or old
Rich or poor
Well or sick
May I press on without ceasing,
To run the race
Fight the battle
Live the adventure
Until Thou call me Home
Where I shall begin the New Journey
The Journey none on earth ever traveled,
Which goes on forever and ever,
In which every step is better
Than the one before.

Reflection

The above picture was taken on the night of Oct. 6, 06, when the moon was the roundest of the year. I thought I'd write a small poem to go with the picture, so here it is:

Reflection

A silent night,
A clear sky,
A beautiful Light,
Pure and bright.
Shining from on high,
Capturing my sight,
Truly, You are
My heart's delight.

We know that the moon produces no light but only reflects the light of the sun. May we reflect the Light of the Son so that eyes may see and hearts may find their true delight!
 

Meditation (9)

The picture above was taken at the entrance of the Longhorn Cavern at the Longhorn Cavern State Park in Burnet, TX on March 11.


Light of the World

"Light of the World
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes
Let me see..." ---lyrics from "Here I am To Worship"

There I was
in a dark cave
Trembling in fears
I fell to my knees
And wept---
For I could not see.

Then
From above
It came...

Like a waterfall
Pouring into the emptiness
Cleansing my body
With tender washes

Like a song
Breaking into the silence
Capturing my heart
With soothing melodies

Like a breeze
Flowing into the stillness
Renewing my soul
With gentle whispers

It was the Light
Penetrating through the darkness
Transforming me
Into a child of Light.

There I was still
in the same cave
Yet I feared no darkness
For the Light was with me
I rejoiced in Its presence
And danced to Its glory---
For I could finally see.

A Prayer of A Lifetime

I wrote this prayer for today, tomorrow, and every day of my life. May it be yours, too.

O Holy Divine, Eternal Father,

The Heaven and Earth are thine,
     Created by thy hands,
     Sustained by thy words,
     Purposed for thy glory.
We are thy utmost
     Love, favoured, cared,
     Created by, in, and for
          Thy perfect will,
          Thy sacred love,
          Thy eternal purpose.
Thy love hath captured my heart,
Thy grace bound my soul,
Thy joy filled my innermost being.
Thou hast provided me with
     A life that is worth living,
     A hope that is worth pursuing,
     A Saviour who is worth trusting.
Thy presence is seen
     In the creations that surround me,
     The relations that build me,
     The provisions that sustain me.
By thy will I am created
     To have my being,
     Find my purpose,
     Live out my destiny.
Though I, a sinner, have
     Betrayed thy will,
     Disobeyed thy commands,
     Gone astray from the path
     Thou hast prepared before me,
Thou hast not forsaken me—
     Thou art my redeemer
          From the pit of emptiness,
          The valley of darkness,
          The shadow of death.
I thank thee, Heavenly Father,
     For thy Word on which I feed,
     Thy Spirit in whom I walk,
     Thy Son to whom I surrender.
May I daily
     Bless thy Name,
          The Name above all titles;
     Proclaim thy Truth,
          The Truth beyond all realities;
     Declare thy Kingdom,
          The Kingdom over all thrones.
Let me not forget
     Thy life,
     Thy death,
     Thy resurrection;
          Thy Word,
          Thy Cross,
          Thy Body;
               Thy saving grace,
               Thy redemptive work,
               Thy glorious coming.
Young or old,
Rich or poor,
Well or sick,
     I shall look to thee,
     Serve thee,
     Glorify thee,
          In all places,
          At all times,
          Under all circumstances;
               With all my mind,
               All my heart,
               And all my soul.

I pray to thee,
In the mighty and wonderful name of
     Thy glorious Son,
     The Prince of Peace,
     My Saviour and Lord
     Jesus Christ,
     Amen.

The Pilgrimage

I wrote the following prose poem under the inspiration of John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress and C. S. Lewis’s The Last Battle.

The Pilgrimage
—From the Valley of Vision to the Mountain of Majesty

“For the Vision was given to you in the Valley, so that you may have faith in the Majesty you shall behold on the Mountain.”

In my dream I saw a pilgrim
With a Burden on his back
Treading through a Deep Valley.
The path wound and darkness
Loomed in like thick fog.
The Burden grew heavier each new step
He took, and his heart became
lonelier, sadder, and emptier.
Not a sign of life but him alone
Who saw himself no different than
A dead creature, such a lifeless soul
Wandering in a lifeless darkness.
Not a sound of hope but his own breath
With a faint sound, such a hopeless sound
Awaiting to be devoured by a hopeless silence.
Yet with the last breath of his life, he cried out
In desperation, for a deliverance from
Darkness, lifelessness, and hopelessness.

Even as he was crying, a light befell him,
Blinded him of his path and there,
Along with the light, came forth a delicious smell
So soothing and enchanting—the smell
Put the weary soul into a deep sleep.
In his unconsciousness he was given
A Vision, in which he saw
At the far end of the Valley
The path led to a Great Mountain,
And from the top of the Mountain
Shone rays of a Great Light, a Light
So bright, so beautiful no words could describe.
He stood beholding the Light in awe and saw
As far as the Light was, Its radiance lit up
The Valley with ineffable glory. Then he heard
Voices of the utmost beauty, singing great songs of praise
As if waterfalls pouring down from the Mountaintop
Where the source of the Light dwelt.
His heart leaped with joy when he heard
A Great Voice, distinct from the Singing Voices
And with inexpressible loudness, calling to him:
“Come, my son, further up and further in!”

All the sudden he woke up and was certain
If he had heard the Great Voice alive
He would have been dead almost instantly.
Then he saw everything around him
Still the same as before—a Deep Valley in
Lifeless darkness and hopeless silence.
Nothing seemed to have changed. But wait—
What about the Vision? Was it real?
As he looked yonder, he hoped to see
At the end of the path the Great Mountain might be—
But only to find a slope of the Valley reside.
A lie, thought he, there’s no such Mountain.
But wait—where’s did the Burden go?
All the sudden he realized how free he was,
For he could no more see or feel the Burden
On his back, nor found it anywhere around.
It couldn’t have been lost on the way, thought he,
for he was carrying it all along—even when he fainted.
It simply disappeared, thought he, and there must be
Something in the Vision that took the Burden away.
If so, thought he, the Vision must be real.

Again he looked yonder and saw
No sight of the Great Mountain; but he believed.
Along with belief, came strength, courage and,
Above all, hope. He now walked with
A changed heart, despite the unchanging Valley.
The end of the path was finally reached,
And he was indeed standing
At the bottom of the Valley slope.
But wait, wait a minute!
There, before him, a new path began
Where the old path ended, and it’s going up, high above
The ground and going in, deep into—wait,
It’s further up and further in—O, the Great Mountain!
What joy overflowed his heart!
And what revelation came to his mind—
Surely, the bottom of the Deep Valley was
The very foot of the Great Mountain!
And the new path to the Great Mountain
Should come only after passing through
The old path from the Deep Valley.

At the entrance of the new path he saw
A great stone with these words written:
“For the Vision was given to you in the Valley
So that you may have faith in
The Majesty you shall behold on the Mountain.”
The journey he then took on was
A journey from darkness to light,
With each new step leading to
More beauty, deeper wonder, and greater glory.
What he saw and heard was very much like
What was in his Vision except here it was
Not Their shadows but the Real Things Themselves—
So real that no dream or vision could fully display.
And the stories happened along the new path were
Simply too grand and wonderful to be written down.
For at the foot of the Great Mountain he was beginning
The First Step of the Real Pilgrimage, a journey
No pilgrim on earth ever traveled: which goes on
Forever and ever: in which every step is better
Than the one before.

Meditation (8)

His Birth

Heaven touches Earth
Myth becomes fact
Throne to manger
God into man.

Meditation (7)

About Him

He emptied Himself
To fill us with
His Life

He humbled Himself
To exalt us as
His children

He was condemned
So we may be
Forgiven

He was wounded
So we may be
Healed

He was forsaken
To accept us into
His Family

He was broken
To restore us onto
His Image

He bore
So we may be
Free

He died
So we may be
Alive.

Christian Allegory (2)

A tercet poem dedicated to the release of the new Narnia movie.

Beyond Narnia

Not just a stone table
But the temple curtain
Torn into halves

Not just an evil spell
But the power of sin
Broken into pieces

Not just a deeper magic
But a new covenant
Founded by His blood


Not just an imaginary land
But our own world
Redeemed by His grace

Not just a lion
But the Great Lion
From the tribe of Judah

Not just a tale
But the greatest story
Ever told to mankind!

Christian Allegory (1)

Above is a poster of the movie The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, which will be in theatres on Dec. 9th. The following quatrain is dedicated to the main theme of the movie: Aslan's sacrifice.

Aslan Saves

What I do
Is no good
Unless Aslan's
On the move.

I am to blame
All my shame
He takes away
By His mane.

What price
What sacrifice
His very blood
Alone suffice.

A new song
Now I sing---
The winter's gone
The spring's begun!

Meditation (6)

The picture above was taken this past Saturday near my apartment. Below are tercets.

Be An Autumn Leaf

(I ask.)

O leaves, slowly dancing in the autumn wind,
Why do you shed your green
garment and put on a red coat?

O leaves, softly whispering in the fall breeze,
Why do you cease to make your old
melody and begin to sing a new song?

O precious leaves, gently falling from your dwelling,
Why do you have to leave your cozy
home and take on an adventurous mission?

(A leaf speaks.)

O friend, what I wear is not from me.
My Creator made me this coat,
keeping me warm every winter.

O friend, what I sing is not about me.
My Master taught me this song,
reminding me I'm never alone.

O precious friend, where I go is not for me.
My Lord sent me on this mission,
giving me the purpose of my life.

(All the leaves in chorus.)

This is our coat---
A new coat,
A season of hope!

This is our song-
A new song,
A time to belong!

This is our mission---
A new mission,
An age of transformation!

Mercy & Grace

This is a picture taken from Silver Lake Marina in June. Tercets are three-line stanzas, as seen in the following poem.

Embrace

Sprinkle, sprinkle, drops of light fall.
Falling, the light of mercy blends
Into the coolness of the water.

Twinkle, twinkle, beads of water dance.
Dancing, the water of grace merges
Into the warmth of the light.

A kiss, an embrace,
Where light meets water,
Where mercy meets grace.

Abundant light, incessantly shines.
Sufficient water, unceasingly flows.
In a dark and parched land,

The light restores my sight,
The water quenches my thirst.
My spirit is renewed---

Where light meets water,
Where mercy meets grace---
By Your kiss, in Your embrace.

Meditation (5)

The picture above was taken on the way to the canoeing trip a month ago. Below is a quatrain poem.

Harvest

The field is ripe,
preparing for the harvest.
The harvest is plenty,
waiting for the workers.

Though many are called,
few will be chosen.
Though few are chosen,
many shall be saved.

Look--- those walking
towards the field.
Behold--- those dancing
among the wheat.

Where they walk, grace
fills along the path.
Where they dance, joy
flows over the land.

Gold and bright--- did you see
The color of harvest?
Loud and clear--- did you hear
The sound of salvation?

Faith

The photo above was shot during Biology Club canoeing in the Brazos River. The person making a dive into the river is my friend Alex. This poem is a sestina. A sestina is a poem of six six-line stanza and one three-line envoi, in which the ending words on each line are repeated according to a pre-determined pattern. A six-line stanza is a "sestet." A three-line stanza is a "tercet." The format of a sestina is as follows:

1 2 3 4 5 6 --- end words of lines in 1st sestet.
6 1 5 2 4 3 --- end words of lines in 2nd sestet.
3 6 4 1 2 5 --- end words of lines in 3rd sestet.
5 3 2 6 1 4 --- end words of lines in 4th sestet.
4 5 1 3 6 2 --- end words of lines in 5th sestet.
2 4 6 5 3 1 --- end words of lines in 6th sestet.

6 2 --- middle and end words of lines in 1st tercet.
1 4 --- middle and end words of lines in 2nd tercet.
5 3 --- middle and end words of lines in 3rd tercet

Faith

It all seems peaceful until things are altered---
The storms strike, the winds blow,
Even the moon goes hiding in the clouds.
O how I wish I could be a fish and dive
Into the deepest ocean to escape
From the wrath of this sudden fury.

But what good is there to escape from such fury
If a predestined life can never be altered?
Even if I could become a fish and escape
Into the sea, the mighty winds would still blow,
Pushing the waves against me as I dive.
And surely, no good hiding in the clouds

Like the moon, if the winds scatter the clouds
And expose everything within to the fury.
Yet a choice must be made: to hide or to dive?
Knowing my destiny may not be altered
If I dive nor may the winds end their blow
If I hide, I cry out: where's my escape?

Desperately I seek to find such an escape
From reality. In my dream I gaze through the clouds
Into the Other Side, where breezes of love blow,
Where showers of mercy fall, where storms of fury
Disappear, and where my life shall be forever altered
As, into the seas of grace, I make a deep dive.

I come back to reality--- the choice to hide or to dive.
The glimpse of the Other Side makes me want to escape
No more--- even my destiny cannot be altered
In this world, it shall be, in the World beyond the clouds.
Now even mighty storms in their greatest fury
And powerful winds in their strongest blow

Cannot make me tremble, for I hear the trumpets blow
On the Other Side, calling me to make a dive---
Without fear--- a deep dive into the ocean of fury.
I choose neither to hide nor to escape
but to embrace, for I can see the sun breaking the clouds,
and in a little while all darkness will be altered.

I no longer see the fury storms or hear the winds blow.
My life is altered because of faith--- the faith to dive.
I shall escape no more, for now I trust beyond the clouds.

Meditation (4)

The picture above was taken during canoeing in the Brazos River with a group of international students last month. The following is a free verse poem.

Reflection

From the secret, the quiet place
in my soul, a River flows in steady pace.
the River of Life, the River of Grace
unceasingly flows, reflecting the beauty
of the land and the sky--- the majesty
of nature--- displaying the matchless glory
of the Creator, whose Spirit dwells in
my soul, making the River flow--- flowing
with unceasing joy, my soul rejoices, alone in Him!

Thanksgiving

An ode is a poem written to celebrate, commemorate, and meditate on people or events (Bishop, Thirty Ways of Looking for a Poem. 217). The following is an ode on the very first book, besides the Bible, that led me to Christ. The book is titled Mere Christianity (C. S. Lewis) and given to me as a gift from brother Brent.

A Gift of God
--- to Brent, my beloved brother and mentor in Christ

Memories unfold as the pages turn,
my thoughts run towards the moment
when he handed me the book with
such joy and expectation on his face.
So many times were the pages turned,
It's no doubt a treasure of his heart.

Small and light is the book yet I could sense
the heaviness and depth of its content.
As the pages turned, I found myself walking
from the valley of darkness to the field of light.
Not knowing what it was, I could sense something
new and wonderful emerging in my soul.

Once again, the turning pages bring back memories---
I see him, standing beside me with his
Smiling face and encouraging eyes.
I hear the echoes of my heart, saying:
"I was once lost but now am found."
Surely no simple book, but a gift of God.

Love (2)

There is a saying that goes like this: "the eyes are the windows to the heart." I think it is quite true sometimes. There are times when one can look straight into another's eyes and, without any verbal communication, know what lies deep inside his/her heart. The picture above was taken by my friend Erin during her recent mission trip in the Middle East. What caught my eyes first were the eyes of these five children. Their eyes looked different, yet to me, they were telling the same story, revealing the same heart...

Eyes

Time stands still at the contact of eyes---
A moment of silence, an unforgettable sight.

A simple gaze of the eye talks
About what lies deep inside the heart.

Desperation? Anger? Fear? Hope?
I ponder, wishing that I can fully know.

For a minute I think a better life
Is what I see through these little eyes.

Another moment I wonder if they are ever told
What children's life is like in another part of the world.

Then I come to realize it doesn't matter
If they know or want a life that's better.

What matters is that, like the other children lived afar,
And so does every grown-up, they desire to be loved.

Their hearts' longings for love cannot hide,
For I know children's eyes seldom lie.

Love (1)

A photo taken from the Fort Worth Botanic Garden in July, followed by rhymed couplets.

Summer Night Love

Once upon a time on a clear summer night
a dark-clothed blonde-haired girl stood beside

the lighthouse window by the shore of a cape,
and into the starry sky with her blue eyes she gazed

at the silvery moon, fully dazzled by its soft glow.
She fell into a trance and saw herself dancing slowly

in the House of the Lord, in a place called Life-town,
Where she saw a white-clothed Man wearing a golden crown,

singing a Love Song with the most beautiful voice
she had ever known, joined by the most harmonious chorus

she had ever heard. Slowly dancing, she danced to the Song,
a Song of Love sang by the King, with the most life-giving tongue.

Something is filling her heart but she knew not where it came from,
knowing only it was sweet, sweeter than the best winter plum

she had ever tasted. Slowly falling, she fell in love with the King,
taking her hand, dancing in the most graceful moves she'd ever seen.

Suddenly into the room a Light shone forth, brighter than the sun.
Shining onto the King, the Light spoke, "This is my Son,

whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Then she heard
the unison voice of the Choir: "This is the daughter of the Lord,

whom He loves; with her He is well pleased." Then she fell
out of the trance, still gazing at the moon but she could tell

she was renewed by His Love. Her heart couldn't help singing:
"Who is like God? How He has blessed my being!"

Meditation (3)

A sunset photo and a free verse poem.

I Have a Dream

I have a dream...
A dream that one day
there will be
no more hatred but love,
no more sorrow but joy,
no more tears but laughter.

I have a dream...
A dream that one day
the blind see,
the lame walk,
the captives set free,
the dead raised up!

I have a dream...
A dream that one day
all will partake
the Bread of Life
and drink from
the Fountain of Life.

I have a dream...
A dream that one day
the glorious face of the Lord
be revealed to every person,
and the joyous voices of all peoples
be heard in every corner.

I have a dream...
A dream that one day
all over the earth
every knee will bow
every tongue will confess
Jesus Christ is Lord!

I have a dream...
A dream so big
but not impossible.
I have a dream...
A dream today,
A reality tomorrow!

Meditation (2)

A sunset photo and a free verse poem.

BEYOND

Beyond beauty, there is Glory
Beyond goodness, there is Perfection
Beyond reality, there is the Truth
Beyond separation, there is Holiness
Beyond flesh, there is the Spirit
Beyond death, there is the Resurrection
Beyond darkness, there is the Light
Beyond earth, there is Heaven
Beyond time, there is Eternity
Beyond sight, there is Faith
Beyond knowledge, there is Revelation
Beyond rescues, there is Salvation
Beyond bodies, there is the Bread
Beyond forgiveness, there is the Blood
Beyond sacrifices, there is the Lamb
Beyond purchases, there is the Redemption
Beyond cleanness, there is the Sanctification
Beyond trials, there is the Cross
Beyond trails, there is the Way
Beyond doors, there is the Gate
Beyond shelters, there is the House
Beyond sheep, there is the Shepherd
Beyond workers, there is the Servant
Beyond heros, there is the Savior
Beyond creations, there is the Creator
Beyond powers, there is the Majesty
Beyond lords, there is the Master
Beyond rulers, there is the King
Beyond thrones, there is the kingdom
Beyond words, there is the Word
Beyond news, there is the Good News
Beyond doctrines, there is the Gospel
Beyond sons, there is the Son of Man
Beyond fathers, there is the Father
Beyond men, there is the Perfect Man
Beyond all, there is One and Only
Beyond everything, there is the Lord
And beyond our Almighty God, there is, merely, nothing.

Meditation (1)

A picture taken from a lake and a free verse poem.

I

I am
A stranger in this world
A refugee on this planet

I have
Joy as my song
Hope as my strength

I will
Seek not the riches
Live not by sight

I know
My real Treasure
My true Home

I am
A follower of Jesus
A citizen of Heaven.

Worship (2)

A picture taken from the Fort Worth Botanic Garden and a free verse poem.

The Wind, The Sun, and The Rain

Once
I fell
in love with
the wind,
the sun,
and the rain.

How I loved the wind-
the autumn breeze- gently kissing my chin.
How I loved the sun-
the spring sunshine- delightfully touching my face.
How I loved the rain-
the summer shower- generously soaking my body.

Then, I met you...

How gently
you blow, you breathe peace.
How delightfully
you shine, you radiate hope.
How generously
you pour, you shower love.

Then, I came to know You...

O, How I long to breathe the air
of Your peace. How I
eager to see the light
of Your hope. How I
yearn to drink the water
of Your love.

Now
I am
in love with
Your Wind,
Your Sun,
and Your Rain.

Worship (1)

A flower and a free verse poem for Jesus.

A Poem for Jesus

If only could a stone talk,
which story would it tell?
If only could a river sing,
what song would be sang?
If only could a tree dance,
how would its dance be?
If only could a flower smile,
to whom would its face turn?

O Savior of men,
if I were a stone,
or just a tiny sand,
I would faithfully tell

the story of Your salvation!

O King of Majesty,
If I were a river,
or just a shallow stream,
I would joyfully sing

the song of Your glory!

O Lord of Heaven and Earth,
if I were a tree,
or just a short bush,
I would wildly dance

before Your beautiful feet!

O Jesus my dearest Friend,
If I were a flower,
or just a small bud,
I would cheerfully smile

at Your loving face!

Holy Spirit

A photo shot in the Fort Worth Zoo and a free verse poem.

Holy Spirit


There is a Light
that never ceases to shine.

From Heaven
to Earth,
It shines.

Across the darkness
and through the storms,
It shines.

Wherever It shines,
there is hope,
there is freedom.


There is a River
that never ceases to flow.

From the mountains
to the valleys,
It flows.

Across the villages
and into the cities,
It flows.

Wherever It flows,
there is cleansing,
there is renewal.


There is a Flame
that never ceases to burn.

From the African desert
to the Amazon plain,
It burns.

In the eyes of the redeemed
and the hearts of the faithful,
It burns.

Wherever It burns,
there is purifying,
there is revival.


Come, Holy
Spirit come...

Let the Light of Hope
shine into every eye!

Let the River of Life
flow from every heart!

Let the Flame of Salvation
burn within every soul!

Jesus (4)

A July sunset and a free verse poem.

Only A God Like You

Your Justice is beyond laws
Your Excellence is beyond virtues
Your Sovereignty is beyond authorities
Your Understanding is beyond comprehension
Your Sacrifice is beyond purchase
You are the Alpha and Omega
the Beginning and the End
You are the Lion and the Lamb
the Creator and the Savior
You are the King of kings and Lord of lords
the Holy and Righteous One
You are the First and Last
the One and Only
You are the same yesterday, today, and forever,
the One who was, is, and is to come!

Jesus (3)

A sunset in August and a free verse poem.

He Has Risen

Look,
a radiant Light shines forth
from behind the dark Cloud.

See,
the Cloud is breaking,
its darkness fading.

Watch,
the Light is expanding,
its radiance increasing.

Behold,
The Light of Resurrection
once for all conquers
The Cloud of Death!

Rejoice!
He has risen!

Jesus (2)

The photo above was taken in the Fort Worth Zoo. Below is a free verse poem.

Life

When I was thirsty, I saw
a Stream flowing quiet waters.
When I am parched, I found
a Fountain gushing living springs.

The waters were unlike any I had drunk---
a drop was able to quench all my thirst.
The springs were unlike any I had tasted---
a sip was enough to satisfy all my crave.

Then I knew for certain
I had drank from
the Stream of Salvation,
the Fountain of Life.

Jesus (1)

The photo above was shot during Biology Club canoeing in the Brazos River. Below is a free verse poem.

Way, Truth, and Life

I was treading through the valley,
seeking for a path to the mountain.
I was wandering in the darkness,
looking for a ray of light.
I was walking in the desert,
searching after a drop of water.

Then... I found Jesus.

He showed me the Way,
the righteous Path to the highest mountain!
He revealed to me the Truth,
the abundant Light with the most glorious rays!
He gave me the Life,
the living Water that forever quenches my thirst!

Truth

This photo portrays a sunset in May. The poem below is a ghazal, a Persian form generally composed of five or twelve long-lined couplets, often developing mystical and/or romantic themes. The same rhyme occurs at the end of each couplet as in “aa, ba, ca, da” format (Bishop, Thirty Ways of Looking for a Poem. 409).

Ghazal of Truth

A thousand words is not enough to express the meaning of truth,
but in a single sentence one can boldly proclaim the truth.

When I was walking in the deep valley of free thoughts,
it occurred to me that everywhere I go I saw truth.

If my mind had not been entangled by this wonderland,
I would not have gone astray in my search for the truth.

But on the day I flew out of the valley I knew for certain
I have been truly set free by the power of the truth.

I came to realize: the very things I saw in the valley were
merely the shadows of the real thing itself--- the truth.

Salvation

The photo above was shot in the Botanic Garden. Below is a free verse poem.

Salvation

When I was surrounded by the Dark Sea,
I saw a Light shone from the Lighthouse.
The Air was overwhelmingly dark,
overshadowing all that was around me;
The Waves were furiously roaring,
overthrowing me, drowning me.

Yet I saw a Light shone from the Lighthouse
seated steadily on the Shore afar.
So brilliant, so sharp, the Light
penetrated through all that it passed,
through the Air, through the Waves,
it reached to me--- a lost soul struggling to live.

Still overwhelming, the dark Air.
Still furious, the roaring Waves.
Yet the Light embraced me,
Bringing strength, courage, and peace,
driving me to swim upward,
forward, toward the Light.

More overwhelming, the dark Air.
More furious, the roaring Waves.
Yet as I kept on swimming,
the Light became brighter,
dwarfing the Sea of Darkness
and everything within.

Then I heard the sound of a siren,
loud and clear, like that coming from a ship.
All the sudden the Light shifted
away from me, yet with increasing brightness,
it pointed toward a new direction---
the Light focused on a Grand Object.

What I saw I could not believe---
The largest fishing ship I'd ever seen.
So large, so incredibly large, it made me
wonder whether everybody in the world
could fit in. Then I saw, on the Fishing Ship,
multitudes of joyful faces watching, cheering, calling

my name. The glory of the Light radiated from
every single face. "Come up, son!" A distinct voice
stood out from within the crowd. Then, I saw
Him, the Captain, pulling out a Cross-shaped ladder
along the side of the Ship. I could not believe
the Captain was saving me Himself!

Something amazing happened when
I was climbing up the ladder: the Sea Water
on my body dripped down like rain!
I was all dry and clean when I got up to the deck,
like I'd never been in the Dark Sea before.
But my eyes weren't dry as tears of joy burst out.

There He is, before the Multitudes,
the Captain, my Saviour, smiling at me
with a face shining like the sun.
I couldn't help but run toward Him,
into His open arms. In His embrace,
I'm filled with tears again.

All the sudden a beam of the Light shone into my soul.
I heard within me - loud and clear - the Light's voice:
"For this son of mine was dead and is alive again;
he was lost and is found." Looking into my eyes,
the Captain said, "Come, follow me, and I will make you
fishers of men." At once I nodded and followed Him.

I am now a Fisherman among the Multitudes, working
on the Fishing Ship, following my Captain, leading
by the Light, saving lost souls from the Dark Sea, expecting
someday to reach the Shore, my ultimate and everlasting Home,
and most of all, longing to meet my Dad face to face
in His Lighthouse, where I shall live happily, forever and ever!

A Journey To Life

The photo above was shot in the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. The poem below is written in couplets, which are two-line stanzas.

A Journey To Life

Drift
Slowly I faint
into a world I once reigned.

Fall
The flutter of a bird's wing in the wind,
the rage of a hurricane in the end.

Search
In the darkness I search for light,
with my eyes I seek for life.

Salvation
I walk through the garden gates
To the fountain of life in faith.