God's abundance

Responding to Isaiah ch. 55.

Haiku of welcome

Hey, thirsty people,

here's water in abundance;

don't wait, come and drink!

No money? No probs;

come and eat, drink wine and milk,

no need for money!

You spend your money

and waste your labour on things

that can't satisfy,

Listen carefully,

eat what is good, take delight

in food that gives life.

God's offering you

a covenant that's lasting;

if you'll receive it.

It's there, before you;

seek the Lord while he is near,

turn from wicked ways.

God's invitation:

turn back, the Lord is waiting

to show his mercy.

God is not like us.

God's ways are higher than ours,

willing to pardon.

© Ken Rookes 2025

Complaining place

Haiku for the thirsty

Water; essential

for all creatures, without it

there can be no life.

Understandably

they thirsted, craving water;

I would complain, too.

In the wilderness

with no river, pool, or spring;

what was he thinking!

How about it, Mo?

Did you bring us here to die,

along with our kids?

Where’s your God, Moses?

It’s getting hard to believe

when our throats are parched!

Okay God, your turn!

They are ready to stone me;

what am I to do?

Take your staff, Moses,

stand at the rock of Horeb,

I’ll give you water!

Moses struck the rock,

water gushed out. He called it,

Place of Complaining.

© Ken Rookes 2023

Rivers

Haiku of the Spirit

Thirsty, dry and parched,

worn out and desiccated,

eager for a drink

At the festival,

interrupting proceedings,

he stood: Come to me!”

If you are thirsty,

come! Life renewing water

will flow deep within!

From the seeker’s heart

shall flow rivers of water,

living, Spirit-filled.

Rivers of water,

gushing strong, splashing with life

and with the Spirit.

The Spirit will come;

open your eyes, you will see

what God is doing.

* * * * *

Can’t be a prophet,

they say he’s from Galilee.

Not prophet country!

© Ken Rookes 2020

When you are thirsty

Haiku for parched souls

When you are thirsty

and someone gives you water,

you take it gladly.

A surprise meeting;

the Samaritan woman

and the Jewish man.

The well: this image

of life splashed with hope, purpose,

and filled with spirit.

Life, not limited

by all the negative stuff;

full and unconstrained.

Drink this life, woman,

man, child; all of you who yearn

for truth and fullness.

The hour is coming

for all the true worshippers

to reveal themselves.

What will be the sign,

how will we recognise them?

One thing; by their love.

I know that he comes,

the Messiah sent from God.

He is with you now.

Go, tell the city,

don’t keep this news to yourself;

others also thirst.

© Ken Rookes 2020