Let's not grow weary

Responding to Galations 6:1-16

Haiku for doing good

Seek restoration

of one who has fallen short;

be gentle with them.

Shoulder the burdens

of your sisters and brothers;

so fulfil love's law.

Assess your own work

honestly; comparisons

only lead to pride.

Sow to the Spirit

and that is where you shall reap,

life that's eternal.

Let's not grow weary

in standing for what is right.

We must not give up.

When chance comes your way

do good for all; specially

the fam'ly of faith.

Boast in Jesus' cross,

not in earthly signs; turn from

the grasp of the world

Take no notice of

physical signs; what matters

is new life in Christ.

If you get this right

you will be blessed with God's peace;

you'll be a blessing.

© Ken Rookes 2025

For freedom

 

Reflecting on Galations 5:1, 13-25

Haiku of life

That we might be free;

so Christ has set us free. Stand

firm; don't let it go.

Freedom's not doing

what you want; it is about

loving and serving.

All law is summed up

in the one commandment: love

neighbour as yourself.

The things you desire

are of flesh, not the Spirit.

The Spirit gives life.

All the bad stuff; strife,

envy, quarrels, drunkenness,

don't lead you to God.

Live in the Spirit;

you'll bear fruits of love, joy, peace,

patience and kindness.

Generosity,

faithfulness, self-control, these

go beyond mere law.

You belong to Christ.

The flesh must not hold you, let

the Spirit guide you.

© Ken Rookes 2025

Small voice

Responding to 1 Kings 19

Haiku of hope

He's in deep trouble,

Elijah. Happens when you

stand against evil.

Jezebel the queen

sends word: Sort out your affairs;

tomorrow you die.

Elijah shoots through,

fleeing for his life. Frightened?

What do you reckon?

He left his servant

at Beer Sheba and headed

off into the bush.

After a day's march

he cried: Let me die, O Lord,

I have had enough!

He got up, ate, drank,

and travelled forty more days;

reaching mount Horeb.

In a cave God spoke:

Why have you come, Elijah?

They seek my life, Lord.

They turned from you, God,

they have pulled down your altars,

and killed your prophets.

Go to the entrance

of the cave. Watch; you will see,

your Lord passing by.

A great wind split rocks,

an earthquake shook the mountain,

and then came a fire.

Sheer silence followed.

In the silence God is found,

not in flash display.

Return Elijah;

it will be all right. Know this;

you are not alone.

© Ken Rookes 2025

Wisdom calls

Responding to Proverbs Ch. 8

Haiku of the wise

Sofia cries out

in the streets, where all can hear!

Will anyone hear?

From the beginning,

the first of God's creation;

Wisdom came to be.

Before the oceans,

the mountains, the world, the stars,

or all else: Wisdom.

Present with the Lord

as he laid the foundations

and set boundaries

Wisdom, born ahead

of the hills, the fields, the clouds,

the dust of the earth.

First in the Lord's mind,

God's partner in creation;

taking great delight!

Wisdom, rejoicing

in God's presence and taking

delight in mankind.

Wisdom, God's great gift,

calling out to humankind:

will anyone hear?

© Ken Rookes 2025

They named it Babel

Responding to Genesis ch.11

Haiku for a scattering.

A primeval yarn

to explain how languages

divide humankind.

Once we were all one,

one people, language and speech;

so the story goes.

Humankind agreed,

let us build a tower, high

to reach the heavens.

With mortar and clay

bricks fired like stone, the people

began to construct.

How clever we are!

Our name shall surely be great

throughout the whole earth!

God comes down to see

what's going on. Takes one look,

expresses alarm.

Behold how clever

these people are, now nothing

will be beyond them!

Confounding their speech

becomes the means by which God

institutes limits.

Scattered across earth

with languages that divide;

that's where it went wrong!

They named it Babel.

© Ken Rookes 2025