The Cry of the Gospel Donkey

Zechariah nine nine

The Coming King… “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

“Song of the Donkey” is the first poem Barbara wrote for “Duet for Wings and Earth,” and it is very close to her heart. It came to Barbara as a dream in the night and speaks of her cry to write about, and pray for, those who are in great distress and sorrow.

The Song of the Donkey resonates in my own heart as I reflect on our Lord entering Bethlehem on this holy throne. The cry of the gospel echos from the heartsong of the lowly donkey and I pray that we reflect the humility of God as we bear the gospel across our great nation as our hearts sing,

'Hosanna'!

Song of the Donkey

Lord God, there is much I don’t understand, and to me almost everything is a mystery.

If I could count the stars and give them names, I could tell you why you named me Sorrow; and why my old master beat me every day, so I am marked with stripes along my head and underneath my belly.

Yet, Lord God, you chose me, least of donkeys. You came to the field where I was hobbled for the night; you patted me, fondling my ears; you spoke into my healing welts and bruises and told me that the song of the angels, shepherds and wise men would be incomplete without me!

Now you send me on a journey with my new master, and a woman who is going to have a baby. The woman strokes my muzzle; she makes for me a bridle of tenderness. Each evening the man brings me fresh hay and water; with gentle words, he makes for me a harness of mercy. My ears swivel to the sound of their voices.

Under the majesty of the stars, I trundle along with saddle sores: this is the only prayer I know.

If you had asked me to carry the sun and moon and stars on my back, I would have knelt and tried. But you have only asked me to join my harsh heehaw to the song of the angels. I will sing to you as long as I live. I will open my mouth and bray for the homeless, the lost ones.

Lord God, I have tried to bray your name and failed; but when all creation catches its breath in pain, I cry out Heehaw, and it is the cry of the beaten child, the wheeze of the refugee---

Lord God, I am practising, I am practising all along the road to Bethlehem:

Heeeee....
           haw    
                   H’Jee....

                                 haw...h’s

                                    Jh’eee...h’s   saw  hs

Is it enough?

Lord God, I can almost say

J’eeee
            s’aws.

About the Author

Barbara Colebrook Peace is the author of two poetry books: Duet for Wings and Earth (Sono Nis Press, 2008), which won an award from The Word Guild, and Kyrie (Sono Nis Press, 2001.) She also co-edited P.K. Page: Essays on Her Works (Guernica Editions, 2001.) Her work has been published in major literary journals, and several poetry anthologies. She has performed her poetry on CBC, and in settings ranging from cathedral and university to Word on the Street. Her poetry has been displayed on buses in the B.C. Poetry in Transit programme. She lives with her husband, Terry Peace, in Victoria, B.C. Contact Barbara at:  www.barbaracolebrookpeace.ca.

Mark eleven seven ten

Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

Hosanna!

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
That comes in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna in the highest!”

The Psalm of Poetry

“And in the hidden part, you will make me know wisdom.”

psalm fifty one six

Heartsong poetry touches the hidden place buried deep within us. Over the next few weeks, poets will offer a cry that only the heart can defend to the mind. As with David’s ancient cry, God’s wisdom is released to those daring enough to receive the psalmist’s offering. May the cry of the poet, heal the ache of our great nation.


Steadied by the hand of God, Alice Marlene Reback pens the cry of her heart with holy purity. God uncorks her bottled up pain and releases a healing fizz that balms the soul.

From Tragedy to Triumph

   by Alice Marlene Reback

How is it possible for me to explain?

My tragic life so bound by pain.

Each day I wake up raring to go.

Driven by pain, refusing to go slow.

A perfect mask was achievement and success.

But deep down inside, everything was a mess.

The greater the pain, the more I’d suppress.

Fearful that one day, the pain I’d have to address.

Exhausted and broken, that day finally came.

The years of pain I could no longer contain.

The tears poured like never ending rain.

Vulnerable and frail, my strength was gone.

What was left for me to depend upon?

Thoughts were racing through my mind.

How could I have been so blind?

Thinking I could hide it all.

Never expecting that I would fall.

To my pain I’ve come face to face.

No matter what I do, it’s happened and that I can’t erase.

One day at a time, I will try

and on God I will rely.

Yesterday’s pain I’ve left behind.

My life’s a journey and serves to remind.

Victory and blessing await the courageous and kind.

About Alice Marlene Reback

Marlene has a deep compassion for those in pain and writes poetry after much time in prayer. Marlene’s love and faith in God remains strong for she believes that God is good all the time. Her book of poetry entitled from Tragedy to Triumph is available through Guardian Books at http://www.essencebookstore.com/.

You number my wanderings; Put my tears into your bottle; Are they not in your book? When I cry out to you, then my enemies will turn back; this I know because God is for me…

psalm fifty six eight nine

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

by John Boyne

“The thing about exploring is that you have to know whether the thing you've found is worth finding. Some things are just sitting there, minding their own business, waiting to be discovered. Like America. And other things are probably better off left alone. Like a dead mouse at the back of the cupboard.”

Bruno, an eight year old boy moves from his childhood home in Berlin to a dark and mysterious house at a camp where his father is the Commandant. Bruno goes exploring in his backyard and discovers the camp separated by a barbed wire electrical fence. He approaches the fence and meets a boy his age named Shmuel, dressed in striped pajamas.  The two forge a deep friendship through the man made fence, unaware of humanity’s chaos that surrounds them.

The film, based upon the book by author John Boyne explores the deep desire for intimacy in the human heart and the friendships that can exist in the midst of generational worldview chaos. 

An electrical barbed wired fence separates the two boys, limiting the physicality of their friendship but not the intimacy of their conversation. In hushed voices they speak:

“We're not supposed to be friends, you and me. We're meant to be enemies. Did you know that?”  Bruno adds, “Why do you wear pajamas all day?”

“The soldiers...They took all our clothes away.”

“My dad's a soldier, but not the sort that takes people's clothes away.”

I watched the movie with my thirteen year old son, Michael. I am not sure which moved me more; the poignancy of the movie or the raw emotion expressed by my son.

“They just want to play with each other, don’t they mom?” Michael asked with tears in his eyes.

With mirrored tears I answer, “Yes, Michael, they just want to play with each other.”

Later that night I explored the response of my heart and discovered the dead mouse at the back of my heart’s cupboard. I build fences. I hand out worldview striped pajamas making the decision that some friendships are not worth exploring.  My own heart has been electrocuted by the generational worldview fence that separates us. I play peek-a-boo through the wire longing for intimacy with the very one who handed me pajamas.

But if we stay focused on the love of our Father, together we can remove worldview fences. A hole is dug not to let Shmuel out but to allow Bruno in. Hand in hand they walk through the dangerous camp understanding that intimacy through the Father is worth overcoming fences and worth putting on the enemy’s striped pajamas.

It takes generations to build worldview fences but it only takes one friendship to tear it down. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a brilliant film that rips the heart wide open if we are willing to explore the dead mouse that sits in the back of the heart’s cupboard.

Forgive us Father, for the stripes and fences that separate us. Thank you for loving us so much that you took our stripes and died on the very wood whose fruit fenced us from you.

Do it Afraid

Recently at Write Canada, a writer’s conference sponsored by The Word Guild (www.thewordguild.com) I had the privilege of sharing a meal with Grace. When I expressed the cry and hope of my heart she smiled and said, ‘do it afraid, Jane.’

Her words haunted me; but they also released me.

‘Doing it afraid’ I created this forum for Canadians to share the cry and heartsong of their hearts for community, for relationships, for our land, for our nation.

Thank you Grace for inspiring me to ‘do it afraid’!

DO IT AFRAID

by Grace Fox

I’m writing this at 32,000 feet, somewhere between London and Budapest. My final destination is Resita, Romania—the industrial city that produced the steel to build the Eiffel Tower. My reason for this trip is twofold: to minister among teens and young adults living with HIV/AIDS, and later, to help lead an evangelistic family camp in Poland.

Upon hearing about this venture, some people said, “Wow, good for you! I’d love to do something like that, but it won’t happen.”

I questioned them. “Why not? What’s holding you back?”

Some replied, “I’m scared to fly.” Others said, “I’m afraid of contracting HIV.” Some said, “I’m afraid of traveling in a country where I can’t speak the language.”

My answer? “Acknowledge those fears and then do it afraid.”

FEAR: FRIEND OR FOE?

Fear wears many faces: the fear of inadequacy, the fear of rejection, of failure, of financial insecurity, of an unknown future, and more. If we don’t recognize and deal with it, it will hinder us from embracing life as God intends and prevent His purpose for us from being fulfilled.

I’ve struggled with debilitating fear in the past, but I no longer let it rule me. I now view it as a catalyst for spiritual growth. For example, I believe that when God gives us tasks that stretch us beyond our comfort zones, saying yes forces us to depend on Him. It guarantees an opportunity for us to experience His presence, power and equipping. Fear, then becomes our friend.

I’ve found this to be true in my writing and speaking ministry. This was not a role I sought. Rather, at age 41, I sensed God telling me to write. He gave clear instructions: interview two specific women and write their profiles. I felt totally inadequate and feared failure. But I said yes and did it afraid.

The result? Ten years later, I’ve written hundreds of articles for more than 40 magazines, authored four books, and produced a Bible study and teaching DVD about—you guessed it—moving from fear to freedom.

My writing ministry quickly expanded to include speaking at international women’s events, writers conferences, and on radio and TV. It’s been a white-knuckle ride, but I’ve experienced God’s presence and power in ways that I would have missed otherwise.

I’ve also found this to be true in my role as national co-director for International Messengers Canada (www.im-canada.ca). My husband and I assumed leadership in 2007 after the U.S. office asked us to do so. At first we wondered whether we were qualified for the new responsibilities. One of our roles would be to recruit, train, and lead short-term ministry teams to Eastern Europe. What if no one volunteered? What if our best attempts failed? Humanly speaking, we had good reason to feel scared. But we believed God was directing our steps, and so we said yes and did it afraid.

The result? We’ve witnessed God in action: He provided housing, a rent-free office, an administrative assistant, and short-term volunteers. This is our tenth ministry trip to Eastern Europe since 2007 and we’ve seen spiritual hunger satisfied as men and women have come to understand God’s unconditional love for them. What a thrill to be part of God’s kingdom-building team in the post-Communist bloc.

My tagline is “Leading Women in Fearless Faith.” Does that mean I never wrestle with fear? No. It simply means that I no longer allow fear to intimidate me. Rather, I counteract it by admitting it to God, asking others to pray for me, filling my mind with the truth of God’s word, and then moving forward—doing it afraid. That’s my prayer for you, too.

When God calls you to a task that leaves your knees knocking, say yes and do it afraid. Move forward and trust Him to equip you to get the job done. I guarantee you’ll discover a greater understanding of who God is and what His purposes are for your life.

Freedom from fear is the cry of Grace’s heart. If we, the church ‘do it afraid’ imagine what we could accomplish together in building God’s kingdom.

About Grace

Grace Fox is national co-director of International Messengers Canada, a ministry that offers creative short-term and career service opportunities in the post-Communist bloc – www.im-canada.ca She’s also an international speaker and author of several books. Her latest release is a Bible study and accompanying 7-part teaching DVD titled Moving from Fear to Freedom: A Woman-to-Woman Conversation. Available at Amazon.com and other online stores, and www.gracefox.com (groups discounts available there). Join her on FB – www.facebook.com/gracefox.author.

The Village Crier

Matthew five one two
And seeing the multitudes Jesus went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His Disciples came up to him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: Blessed…

I am fascinated with town criers and yesterday, I met Port Perry’s own, Bill McKee. His costume, his bell, his loud bass voice caught the crowd’s attention. Ringing his bell, in his booming voice he called us to assemble at the gazebo in Palmer Park to hear the town’s message.

This morning as I prayed the Sermon on the Mount, God opened my minds eyes to see that Christ is ‘the’ world’s town crier!

Jesus did not need a costume or bell to get the town’s attention. His mere presence drew the multitudes. By simply ‘opening his mouth’ the crowds listened to the cry of his heart.

In the quietest voice He spoke, “blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled…blessed are those who are persecuted, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Truth after truth, Jesus voiced the cry of his Father’s heart to the multitudes assembled. The village crier simply ‘opened his mouth’ and his heart cry spilled out for those who would listen.

I need to be my Father’s town crier.

“Whatever I command you, you shall speak.” Jeremiah one

I don’t require a costume, a bell and a booming voice to share the truth of His cry. The authority that is given to me is all that I need. I must ‘open my mouth’ and speak the cry of my Father’s heart.

Father, forgive my silence and for not voicing your heart cry to the multitudes.

Matthew seven twenty nine
“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."

Oh Canada!

John fifteen thirteen
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

It is fitting that I share my heart cry on Canada Day. Those who know me appreciate the deep wail cry that God has put on my heart for our Canadian soldiers and their families.

A few years ago, God changed my heart through the lens of a camera while photographing a military parade. Moved to tears, I witnessed a young cadet talking to an elderly veteran. These two unknown heroes captured on film that day have forever changed my heart. In that instant, as I clicked the shutter, I realized how much I took peace for granted and how I took our Canadian Soldier for granted.

I cry out to God for these Canadian men and women who so courageously keep my homeland safe for my family. 

My prayer is for healing for our heroes whose heart has been affected by the silent wounds of war. Please join me today in prayer for those who serve.

To all are Canadian soldiers; thank you for your service; thank you for your courage. I confess that I took you for granted. Thank you for your heart for Canada and for laying down your life for me, for my family and for all Canadians. 

Lest we forget.

Thank you Soldier

By Anna Twohey-age nine

Thank you soldiers for saving our land

We stand in peace hand in hand

We pray for you from the bottom of our hearts

Hope you stay safe, finish to start.