Have you seen The Fisherman?
Written for worship at my selection conference for the Church Army
Have you seen The Fishermen?
The one the Roman Empire wants to kill.
As he sits in the Colosseum dungeon,
Patiently awaiting Caesar's will.
It's a stiring sight to see him.
A tired old man awaiting death,
Condemned by Nero ,but determined,
To praise God with every breath.
He wasn't always a prisoner!
Once, in his youth he walked free,
Strolling daily by the Galilean seashore,
Fishing nightly on the sea.
Then he left his nets and family,
For to journey all the way to Rome,
To be bound in chains, a prisoner,
In a city far away from home.
If you asked him why he did it.
Why he left his nets that day,
To follow a Nazarene preacher,
On a road that led so far away?
If you ask him why he did it,
Why he left and didn't stay?
He will turn his face to Heaven,
And with a smile to you, he'll say,
"Son, I was a Galileen fisherman,
In my youth, I was so wild.
Yet he took me and he loved me,
Now I am God's child
I didn't deserve his favour.
O my child, can't you see,
I didn't choose my Saviour,
For some reason he chose me!"
Maunday Thursday
We do not come as ones who are deserving.
Nor do we live in ways that have inspired.
We are not heroes,
Who have come here to be honoured.
Nor are we Saints,
That now should be admired.
We are sinners in need of God's salvation.
We are students who have failed the test.
We are mourners in need of gentle comfort.
Workers are we who now need a rest.
Because of your love, we know that we are welcome.
It is your invite that guarantees our place.
By your friendship we are all together.
We are united because we know your Grace.
In the Eucharist we demonstrate communion.
The bread and wine all can just receive.
The Mass is broken to bring wholeness,strength and healing.
A family membership in which we can believe.
Leave it there
I took my burden to the man on the cross,
A rucksack of things that I carry with shame.
My failures, my anger, my crimes and my sins.
The hurts which I am to blame.
I set it down at the foot of the cross.
I could stand straight, felt lighter than air.
There was such a release, a freedom from guilt.
for a while. I knew not a care,
When the time came to leave
I stooped and picked up my bag, once again its weight to bear.
But the man on the cross spoke softly to me.
He whispered quietly,
“leave it there.”
The Cross bearer told me, he had worked for me to do
People to help, projects I should begin.
Mountains to climb, dances to dance.
Battles I needed to win.
He said that my burden would only slow me down,
Trip me up, make my road hard
My baggage would only stop me doing my best,.
It would weary me, I would be tired.
He offered to carry my luggage instead.
My guilt he was willing to bear.
With tears of love, he looked into my face
And begged me,
“leave it there.”
I replied that this burden alone was mine
My choices, my consequences I must face
The damage of my failure are mine to repair
I'm tainted and I know my place.
I thanked him for his forgiveness and love .
Hoping he would let me in when I reached Heaven’s gate.
For now, I must sleep in the bed that I've made.
Being God, didn’t he have a lot on his plate.
With his nail scarred hands, I couldn't ask him to carry my bag
That just would not be fair.
But with those hands he was reaching for my sack
And insisting firmly
“leave it there.”
A man who was watching then raised up his voice.
He told me that I was right.
Your burdens, your failures, are yours to bear.
You need to hold onto them tight.
There are less tainted who can do the good work.
You are not good enough to help others in need
With your past, you cannot speak.
You're contaminated and will not succeed.
Better to amend the damage, your own burden has made
Your rucksack of guilt is not for others to bear
His voice drowned out the man on the cross.
Whose whisper was,
“leave it there.”
So sometimes I walk with my bag on my back.
As I trudge on mile by weary mile.
Sometimes I leave it at the foot of the cross.
Then I dance and I fly for a while.
Each time I pick it up it seems lighter still.
As if someone has emptied out all the guilt.
Though soon I fill it and it soon weighs me down.
I am forced to drop it or wilt.
it seems incredible that the holiest one.
My darkest stains wants to bear
One day I'll believe it and throw it down.
And once for all,
“leave it there.”
,
Hold Me
Lord the darkness is so dense,
My path is hard to see.
I don't need instruction shouted out.
I just want you to hold me.
I am promised that there is a happy place,
where all my hopes will come to be.
But now I am lost and that home seems far away.
Please don't promise, just hold me.
I have seen you do so many wonders Lord.
In the past, I've rejoiced in all I see.
But times have changed, now things are dark.
Please take my hand and hold me.
I know things will not always go so well.
You never promised a Disneyland to be.
But you promised you would never leave my side.
So here you are! Just hold me!
