expression

Expression

I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.
Psalm 139:14-16

“Never confuse the size of your paycheck with the size of your talent.”
Marlon Brando

God gives to each a gift to express,
its type or size is immaterial;
That our gifts are given expression
is the thing.
Our nature seems to be to compare how we’ve been made
with others,
but that’s akin to comparing crocodile feet
with bird wings.
One is not greater,
or of higher quality
than the other.
They’re each perfectly made
for fulfilling their being.

© Joel Tipple 12/02/2018

Walk In It

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6


There is power
in saying yes.
There is power
in saying no.
There is power in expressing God’s truth
as His word reveals it to you.
Walk in it.

There is power in being
the person God says you are
and moving in the direction
He’s told you to move
even if when you turn around,
no one is following you.

There isn’t always a script,
or a well-worn path.
You may feel as though
you’re falling through clouds,
but He’ll catch you.

© Joel Tipple 11/2/2018

Why I Write (the short version)

I don’t always know what to say.
Sometimes the
words
just sort of
fall out.
Sometimes
I don’t know what
I really think
until
I write it.
And yet
for a long time
I resisted
exercising my voice
and vision.
I’ve given up
wasting energy
fighting it.
And
that’s a good thing.

© Joel Tipple
303

Noise

It’s noisy out there…
city fare constant pounding
resounding
to the tune of progress

engines winding up
and winding down
moving citizens round
where do they stop?
they don’t stop…
they rebound

even listless feet
beat the street while
other feet
passing
are in sync
creating rhythm

no chance
for tedium
from the strum
of a corner
guitar whose star
waits
to be discovered

there will be others
to take his place
when the pace
is too fast
and at last
a pause
in the action
occurs

what would it be
worth
if all the
noise on
earth
simply stopped?

would we be
deafened
by the
silence?