Gone Memory

No one will care about me when I’m gone,
it really doesn’t matter they don’t care,
they have their lives, and they need to move on,
I do hope some remember me in prayer.

And I hope all my sins have been forgiven,
and though are done my days of deeds on earth,
God lets me do good by my prayers in heaven,
which have from there--more than here--greater worth.

Who cares if all have here forgotten me,
for soon there will be left none of my friends,
they will have joined me in eternity,
where their love, just like God’s love, never ends.

What matters is I leave here--as above--
an everlasting legacy of love.

                          by Pete Voelz       2/16/15

Dear Valentine

My Valentine to You, O Lord, is cheap,
it did not cost me even just one penny,
yet here so dear this promise I must keep,
this valentine of faith can cost me plenty.

Humility and courage cost my pride,
it’s hard for me to love You more than me,
to help me face my selfishness inside--
this hero known for his love and loyalty.

When Rome stopped Christian matrimony true,
priest Valentine married them secretly,
caught Valentine, they made a saint of you,
the “patron saint of lovers” you would be.

Dear Valentine your martyrdom severe
shows that love’s valentine can be so dear.

                      by Pete Voelz       2/14/15

Proof for Faith

I put my faith in God more than in me,
I’ve less with Him, with me He has more clout.
How can one doubt His creativity?
He’s earned the benefit of any doubt.

Christ won my faith the way He lived and died,
there’s proof enough in Scripture and His words,
the only block to faith is just my pride,
my stubborn lack of faith is for the birds.

Christ’s Church has also earned this faith of mine,
though in this world, full of imperfect people,
not so its Founder, perfect and divine,
its history great, the grace beneath its steeple.

Need more proof yet, before Him I embrace?
Then, Lord, I’ll earn no heaven and no grace.

                          by Pete Voelz       2/13/15

Evasive God

Evasive God, I chase You every day,
I sense You near but still avoiding me,
I want You close so I can go Your way,
not wander in the fog of mystery.

You wake me up and then evade my gaze,
You want me to be spiritually aware,
to search for You and make it through the maze,
You want me to desire You and care.

To get to know You better’s not a science,
but You want me to see You in their face,
Your image we show deference, not defiance,
and aiding them, I won’t evade Your grace.

What looks like an evasion’s when You lead
me to You lurking in my neighbor’s need.

                by Pete Voelz       2/12/15

Almost All God

God made me to be now and put me here,
God breathed my self to be when He made me,
God sent my father and my mother dear,
God formed my soul so imperceptibly.

God gave me life and set me on a hill
to see but not to know His mystery,
God gave me power to do His or my will,
to exercise my choice, He made me free.

How little do I own and yet how much,
my knowledge is just what He lets me see,
I only touch the things He's made to touch,
and yet He's let me set my destiny.

Your contribution’s great, Lord, mine so small,
yet mine is all, and Yours just almost all.

                       -- by Pete Voelz       12/07

Creation Traits

Which traits did God employ for His Creation,
the greatest, best for His eternal style?
In Genesis He lights up His narration,
His motive free and perfect with no guile.

Omnipotent, God used His power with care,
omniscient, God knew all with clarity,
He in control had to be everywhere,
from chaos--order, law and symmetry.

With no deceit, all of His rules were true,
He made all very good, so He declared,
and bringing life, it was all beautiful too,
for man, all was with infinite love prepared.

Almighty God, all wonderful and smart,
why do I waver when You seek my heart?

               by Pete Voelz       2/10/15

God's Incarnations

Christ buried in the God of Trinity,
the Three together doing Their Creation--
a mix of matter-spirit mystery--
though Christ alone becomes The Incarnation.

Christ is both physical and spiritual,
then God made us both soul and body too,
we are an incarnation miracle,
the human-supernatural through and through.*

Christ’s Church shows incarnation every way,
the Sacraments with visible signs of grace,
each statue, picture, station helps us pray,
the Eucharist that hides His Holy Face.

Blest water and cross, Christ’s power in disguise,
cast out the demons right before our eyes.

* The great priest-paleontologist Tielhard de Chardin
said, “We are not humans with a spiritual side,
we are spiritual beings with a human side.”

                             by Pete Voelz       2/9/15