A Bend in the Road

Southbound

Mark Horner — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:27:38 +0000

Smug
In the certainty
Of their perfect salvation

Not realizing
They may not have the patent
On perfection

Not comprehending
They may not know
The full truth

But very confident
In condemning others
To their self-assured

Damnation.

(Welcome to the south.)

Cold Outside

Mark Horner — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:22:52 +0000

There must be
Some ably-appropriated
Beauty

Startling
Stunning
Sitting
Right next to me

Or maybe
Miles
Away,

Waiting
Wryly
Wishing
To be discovered

Hopelessly,
Helplessly
Optimistic

There must be
Still
That someone
Waiting for me

Not sure where they are
But I know they exist

At least
In my ideal
Mind’s eye.

A New Year

Mark Horner — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:20:58 +0000

As we look forward to beginning our seventh year, I thought I’d share my New Year’s Resolution with you:

I Resolve to Give My Time to People Who Need It. You know how many Facebook friends I have? 220. Every time I turn around, it seems my Facebook news feed is bursting with updates from people I don’t know—people I sent or accepted a friend request from on the spur of the moment. So, at least once a month, I cull my friends list down to only people I know personally.

This is actually a very healthy process, separating, as it were, the wheat from the chaff. It also frees me of the pitfall of thinking that being friends with certain people will somehow make my life better. (It doesn’t; it just makes my life more time-consuming.) Are you devoting your time to people who don’t reciprocate your care and concern? To those whose guilt and negativity drag you down? I’ve decided I’m not going to waste my time on them. There are far too many people in this world who genuinely need our commitment and compassion, those forced to the fringes of society by where they were born, who they love, or what they believe. They are every where around us. So, enough catering to people who drag us down. It’s time to minister to those who need to be lifted up.

Happy New Year, friends.

M B H

Your Christmas Gift

Mark Horner — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:59:23 +0000

I can think of no finer Christmas present to give you this year, dear reader, than Justin Lee’s blog, Crumbs from the Communion Table.

Justin is the director of the Gay Christian Network.

His blog centers around “living out an intelligent, Christ-centered, compassionate Christian faith.”

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

M B H

My Weekday Evening

Mark Horner — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:03:48 +0000

I know,
Someday,

I’ll miss it

The freedom
To choose

With no particular person
To answer to

And no specific set
Of things to do

To not be
Trapped by the zoo

Even though
I’m occasionally blue

Don’t worry,

I’ll get through.