Monday, November 7, 2016

What If?

What If?

Yesterday was the last day of the "Forty Days for Life." Tomorrow is the election for our new president. The two are tied together.

One candidate believes that the fetus inside a woman is not life and the other believes it is. As a Catholic I believe that life starts from the moment of conception. As a scientist I believe that the possibility of existence should have priority over the extinction of possibility. (e.g. "Don't waste good" - Gibbs NCIS, "Don't waste life" - God, Heaven.)  I have heard many Catholics say that they would not have an abortion but believe that it is the woman's choice. Since Adam and Eve's choice in the garden was their own then I guess God does let us choose. This does not make our choice correct however, and does not mean that it will not have repercussions much as Adam and Eve's choice did.

What if life starts at conception? What if the soul enters this fetus at conception? If this is true then this fetus is a living being, neither the mother nor the father. The genetics show us that at the moment of conception the fetus has genes that are distinct from both mother and father. In a criminal court of law this distinction would be enough to identify a distinct individual, yet not for a fetus. The word fetus itself attempts to hide from us the actual facts of this genetic distinction. If life does not start at conception then we must abandon our use of genetic markers to identify individual living human beings in criminal cases.

If life starts at conception then the fetus becomes an infant and has rights like any other human. People argue that the child is dependent on the mother.  The mother does not have to honor that dependance, especially if it risks her life. I will not get into this argument, however most all abortions are for convenience and not to save the mother's life, making this argument mostly irrelevant. This is especially true since modern advances in medical care have made this less of a problem.

If life starts at conception then it is murder to destroy it. If life starts at conception then it is a child of God. If life starts at conception then it is part mother, part father, and part God's creation. God has a plan for each of us. It is one thing to destroy our own part in God's plan but it is much worse to destroy another's part. God sees the faces of these little ones. God's mother, Mary,  protects these little ones as her own. Look into the night sky and you can almost see the souls of these little ones twinkling as stars in the night. The light you see is a reflection of God's face.

Copyright 2016 Daniel Strizak




Sunday, November 6, 2016

Litany for the Unborn


Litany for The Unborn


For the conceived, Lord protect them.
For the conceived who are loved, Lord protect them.
For the conceived in danger from natural causes, Lord protect them.
For the conceived who are unwanted, Lord protect them.
For the conceived who are unloved, Lord protect and love them.
For the conceived who cannot defend themselves, Lord protect them.
For the conceived who have no rights, Lord protect them.
For the conceived who are viewed as soulless, Lord show them your Spirit.
For the conceived inches from life in this world, Lord protect them.
For the conceived longing to draw their first breath, Lord fill their lungs with your breath.
For the conceived thirsting for mother's milk, Lord let them suckle their fill.
For the conceived aching for a mother's touch, Lord let these mothers' hearts ache until they hold these tiny ones.
For the conceived aching for their father's firm hold, Lord let these dads' hearts ache until they hold these little ones in the protection of their strong arms.
For the departed unborn who never tasted life, Lord give them your everlasting life.
Lord for those unborn who's possibility of life was stolen from them, avenge them with the sword   of your pure love by wounding their thief with a permanent emptiness of this loss.
Lord bless those fighting for these unborn with a special blessing.
Lord bless those fighting for these unborn by surrounding them with the millions of unborn souls in the times when all seems lost.
Lord bless those fighting for these unborn by surrounding them with the millions of unborn souls at the hour of their death to guide them to their rest with you.
Father give us your guidance.
Jesus give us your strength and wisdom.
Holy Spirit give us your love.

Amen.

Copyright 2016 Daniel Strizak

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Mother of Flowers

Mother of Flowers
(Our Lady of Guadalupe)

Knots are all around of me,
knots as far as I can see,
all my plans and hopes and dreams,
a tangled web it would seem.

Loving mother, heaven's queen,
at the Father's hand unseen.
Womb that held God's very Son,
Spirit's spouse and holy one.

When I have no place to turn,
for your mother's arms I yearn,
as you spread God's grace on me,
from this tangled web I'm freed.

Mother you hold your Son's power,
beauty is your strength, O flower.
 With all men I've been deceived,
show me your Son, second Eve.

Evil it will kill and slay,
evil might now hold the day,
evil one day will not stay,
like the mist it burns away.

Now where flowers use to be,
there her picture I can see.
flowing freely on the floor,
victor of God's "Flower Wars"

(Pray for Life!)



From "Poems in the Shade of the Tree of Life"  by Dan Strizak

Copyright 2016 Daniel Strizak


Battle Cry For The Unborn

Battle Cry For the Unborn


Our King is calling us to join the battle. He is moving forward with or without us. He stands with those who are the smallest castaways. He is surrounded by his unseen army. Unsheath your rosary and pray from your hearts!  If we stand with him, the strong wind will blow us backwards, but the whirlwind will push us forward. If we stand with him we will find our strength, his spirit. He will make his home in our heart. If we stand with him we will never be alone. If we cannot see these things of God around us then, listening very hard, we will hear the victory cheers of millions of unborn souls knowing God has won.  They cannot lose again. Their heavenly mother and her angels are always with these small ones. Her heal shall crush the serpents head. Unsheath your rosary and join his army in prayer! Our King is calling!

(Pray for Life!)

See  "Poems in the Shade of the Tree of Life"  by Dan Strizak

www.godseendimly.blogspot.com

Saturday, October 8, 2016

For the Love of God the Spirit

For the Love of God the Spirit


Spark of life and pure fire of love,
power of power rains from above.
Man he can build from all that he sees,
but God breathes power, a still in the breeze.

Can you build a life out of the ground,
weaving the seasons into your crown?
Can you turn a thought into a dream,
growing love from a drop to a stream?

Now what have you built from your own hand,
that when you fade will hold fast and stand.
Love of the father, love of the son,
forever God's pure love three in one.

All that you paint and all that you leave,
was from your own heart, yet spirit breathed.
Love all around yet not taken in,
Spirit awaiting to enter in.

Life, father sparked and then mother born.
Life Spirit breathed and never forlorn.
Life a brief flash that passes away,
gone yet alive in the Lord of days.

(Pray for Life!)



From "Poems in the Shade of the Tree of Life"  by Dan Strizak

Copyright 2016 Daniel Strizak

Friday, October 7, 2016

For Love of God the Son

For the Love of God the Son


Who is this hanging on that tree?
Who is this king from Galilee?
 Between two thieves, his court he holds,
O Son of God, O Lord of Souls.

No army comes to rescue him,
hanging alone upon that limb.
King of all kings, lowers his head,
passes from life and joins the dead.

Lamb of God he takes my sin,
and weeps for all Jerusalem.
Though innocent he takes from me,
my guilt upon his dying tree.

Rise up my Lord and conquer death.
Rise up and breath again your breath.
Rise up and birth anew my soul.
Rise up again and make me whole.

Lord of all love and flame of life,
create in me your paradise,
while from your grace I'll drink my fill,
I love you Lord, I always will.

(Pray for Life!)



From "Poems in the Shade of the Tree of Life"  by Dan Strizak

Copyright 2016 Daniel Strizak

Thursday, October 6, 2016

For the Love of God the Father

For the Love of God the Father


Father, Father, Lord of time,
ticks the rhythm, pens the rhyme.
Author of creation's song,
breath of life, sparked souls burn strong.

Father of the night and day,
giver of both sun and rain.
Bringing forth the tree of life,
sweetest fruit in paradise.

Flames of life upon the earth,
seconds to the universe,
forever in the fathers heart,
burning flame within love's hearth.

Catch the fire and feel the heat,
father's love still burning deep.
When your second's come and gone,
 with your father you belong.

Father, father keep me near,
my "I love you's" in your ear.
As each new born life unfolds,
creator's love, forever told.

(Pray for Life!)



From "Poems in the Shade of the Tree of Life"  by Dan Strizak

Copyright 2016 Daniel Strizak

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Birth

Birth

Deep within the recess of my mind,
past old thoughts I thought I'd left behind,
past the chasms of old faded dreams,
ever churning time within a stream,
forward still I move not knowing where,
am I getting close or am I there,
grasping for the missing piece I seek,
tightly clutch the things I can not keep,
sight and sound and touch and feel and smell,
all these things I know yet still can't tell,
onward ever onward still I drift,
tween body and soul this endless rift,
as I look upon this world I see,
flowers bursting forth then go to seed,
casting forth my heart into the wind,
till I see his face I'll never win,
Lord I seek and can not see you still,
with closed eyes I guess I never will,
open up the eyes within my heart,
in this soul please break this pride apart,
let me rest my head upon your chest,
heal me Lord and then please give me rest,
hold me in your arms don't let me go,
fill me with your love and let grace flow,
in this world I'll always be alone,
till you touch my heart and take me home,
light of light now bring the dawn of day,
life from death you melt the dark away,
as I start to fade and loose my grip,
safe into your arms please let me slip,
there each burst of life my heart can trace,
seen on that sweet new born infants face,
so as now I leave this endless race,
newborn hope now comes to take its place.



(Pray for Life!)


From "Poems in the Shade of the Tree of Life"  by Dan Strizak

Copyright 2016 Daniel Strizak

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

A Life

A Life

A thought, a word, a bird in flight,
a vision in the dead of night,
a steady beating of a heart,
a single union from two parts,

a wave of life within a vein,
a warmth flows back and forth again,
a face brushed by a gentle wind,
as if touched by a long lost friend,

two eyes behold a morning sky,
an artist canvas hanging high,
too many colors to behold,
reaching to touch but not to hold,

stealing a single breath within,
only to give it back again,
taking from it the force of life,
the Spirit giving day from night,

to understand what's up and down,
to understand what's all around,
yet not to understand my fears,
or fathom one small tiny tear,

life is a flower in the breeze,
life is a warmth within a freeze,
life is a kick within a womb,
life means God's heart always has room.

(Pray for Life!)


From "Poems in the Shade of the Tree of Life"  by Dan Strizak

Copyright 2016 Daniel Strizak

Monday, October 3, 2016

Talking With God

Talking With God

Man
Just what, Lord, do you see in me,
and what, Lord, would you have me be?
One step behind the sands of time,
leaving all that I thought was mine.

God
You are my child made from the dust,
one day in me you'll place your trust.
I'll never leave you in the dark,
upon your soul I've set my mark.

Man
Why so hard to choose my path,
and when will I be free at last?
I wind up where I would not guess,
forever on this endless quest.

God
So close I stand and call to you,
I call but sometimes can't get through.
Please know I never leave your side,
I send my love to be your guide.

Man
Around, around, around again,
I hear your voice but cannot bend.
So drawn to every thing near me,
adrift upon this endless sea.

God
One day my child you'll leave this earth,
I'll free you from this endless curse.
Freedom you'll have if you choose love,
I'll rescue you from far above.

Each soul I've placed upon this earth,
I breathed it life before it's birth.
This earthly shell time will destroy,
but not the love of God my boy.

(Pray for Life!)


From "Poems in the Shade of the Tree of Life"  by Dan Strizak

Copyright 2016 Daniel Strizak


Sunday, October 2, 2016

Looking


Looking


Looked into a sun I could not see,
it's brightness was just too much for me.
There I thought I'd found His loving grace,
only found a shadow of His face.

Took a breath and deeply breathed the air,
hoped that I would find His presence there.
I breathed deep and took the air I could,
only smelled the scent of piney wood.

Looking up I saw a darkened cloud,
I heard a voice thunder sharp and loud.
I could not make out a single word,
only felt the rumble that I heard.

One drop at a time, I felt the rain,
hoping He would wash away my pain.
Water running quickly off my cheek,
only left His trail for me to seek.

My wife holding tight our tiny child,
mirror of my self, inside that smile.
Finally now I see God's loving grace,
clearly a reflection of God's face.

(Pray for Life!)


From "Poems in the Shade of the Tree of Life"  by Dan Strizak

Copyright 2016 Daniel Strizak

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Understanding Love

Understanding Love

King of all Kings, I left my scepter there,
entered your world a child amid despair.
I joined you and stood by you as a man,
what part of love do you not understand?

I joined your marriage celebration fest
and made you wine from water at it's best,
blessing the union of woman and man,
what part of love do you not understand?

I reached out to the sick and made them whole,
day after day this healing took it's toll.
I spent for you my strength, that was my plan,
what part of love do you not understand?

At our last supper I gave all I could,
body and blood left on that altar wood,
as bread and wine, a holy meal for man,
what part of love do you not understand?

Judge me and call me liar if you must,
in God who is my father I will trust,
I came here as ransom for all of man,
what part of love do you not understand?

I died for you so true love could survive.
I died for you to keep your souls alive.
That life, union of woman and a man,
what part of love do you not understand?

(Pray for Life!)


From "Poems in the Shade of the Tree of Life"  by Dan Strizak

Copyright 2016 Daniel Strizak

Friday, September 30, 2016

The Whirlwind

The Whirlwind 

Whisper, whisper in my ear,
in my eye a single tear.
Just a gentle quiet breeze,
barely lifting up the leaves.

Whisper, whisper, all you know,
in my heart this soft wind grows.
Inside me a whirlwind,
shakes my very soul within.

Whisper, whisper tell me more,
light of light whom I adore.
You shake all I thought I knew,
stirring thoughts I hide from view.

Whisper, whisper show me now,
how can I find love some how?
Chasing leaves caught in the wind,
just beyond my grasp again.

Whisper, whisper, always there,
sweet perfume within the air.
Author of the breath of life,
bonding husband to his wife.

Whirlwind, whirlwind force of love,
author of life from above.
Flower of union, woman, man,
can't turn back that wind again.

Whisper, whisper, hear his call,
always reaching to us all.
If you hear him in the wind,
open your heart, let him in.



(Pray for Life!)


From "Poems in the Shade of the Tree of Life"  by Dan Strizak

Copyright 2016 Daniel Strizak