The Lord is my Shepherd

 Numbers              7.5.20

We live life 

in numbers

It seems

APGAR at birth 

And then it just keeps

Going on  

The circle of life

Measured and counted

Until we die..

Birthdays 

Cake decorated

Candles 

Flickering bright

Excitement reflected

 in a child's eyes

Marking time..

The education system

Thriving on marks

Horrid comparisons 

Snide remarks

Cutthroat competition

Toppers, 

droppers 

Cut off deciders.

Dealing with the human body

There's no difference

The vitals, 

The levels

The indices.

Rising and falling

With each fading breath

People with lives

that too often

We forget..

People

Just like us..

Human and weak

Not just a bunch 

Of numbers 

To treat.

We get older

Pompous

Full of ourselves

Lots of initials 

After our names.

Rows of medals

On our chests

Numerous trophies

Lining our shelves. 

Jet setting

To exotic locales

More numbers 

And series 

To accumulate.

I want it all

And some more

No time to waste.

The years fly by

We grow old and gray

Oh how we try

to hide our age..

It's the same tale

With the weighing scale

Incapable of lies

No matter how much we try. 

Only He knows 

Our days on this earth

He numbers our steps

Our every breath.

Counts the hair 

On our head.

Each tear 

that

Silently 

rolls down

Our cheeks

Collected

By Him

To keep.

Each star in the sky

That shimmers and shines

Called by name

By the most High.

His thoughts to us 

Whom He adores

More than the 

Sand on the sea shore.

The stories of Jesus 

with the multitudes

Nameless droves faceless crowds

Not at all true..

He knew them

Names and needs

Everyone

Withered arm to lame feet.

five thousand hungry men

Only five loaves

Makes no math sense

Can't comprehend.

Jesus our miracle worker

Multiplication immense...

Didn't stop there

Twelve baskets in excess

His love for

His children

Immeasurable

Unfathomable

Measured perhaps

By the weight of

Our sins on His Son 

On the cross.

Or the stripes 

that He bore.

Or the blood

That flowed.

The innumerable

Riches we inherit 

In Christ

Not through merit

But only His grace.

Lets stop 

And pause 

A minute 

Or two.

The sands of time

Trickling through.

Our blessings

from above

poured out so richly

From the Father of love

Gifts 

without number

Mercies

and Kindness

Abundant life

In all its fullness

Be channels 

of His grace

In our small spheres

of influence.

In His Kingdom

Which is upside down

The small are great

The numbers don't make sense

But that's how He operates

Through the humble and weak.

In willing hearts and lives

Laid at His feet.