A Brand New Day

A Brand New Day

It’s been another trying night,
But now the Dawn has broken through
The closed fist grip of despair and fright
It’s a new morning, it’s a new day
What can I say in response—
To the beauty I see displayed?

Hark the triumph of the skies
When the light first reached my eyes
How could have ever been so dim
Worrying through the night
With a new sunrise, I should have known
Everything would be alright

My bed was soaked of sweat and tears
From all the troubles that plagued my fears
And all the creeks and groans
Echoing from this present time
Showed me how precious a commodity
Peace was to find

Unhappy beginnings don’t have to lead to
Unsatisfying endings—yet
It shouldn't be such a surprise
How quickly the clouds of doubt flee,
When the warmth of sunshine
Hit my eyes.

But things are always changing,
they seldom stay the same
It’s a shame the every morning
Can’t be as glorious as this one
But life’s not meant to be this way
Out of mistakes, there will always be…
A brand new day

So cease the moment,
And take hold of the day
Though its difficult now
It won’t always be this way
Rejoice in mourning – troubling as it is
For in the morning, it will always be …
A brand new day.

July 16th, 2009
Greg Butz

I wrote this poem in a Mexican Restaurant in Hong Kong. It was a lovely meal, after a storm the previous night. It was quite a contrast to the previous poem written, and unfortunately a contrast to the next few poems that I will post.

The Doldrums of Life

The Doldrums of Life

Well there's not much to say,
When life's got you feeling this way--
And after all this time,
I'm stuck in the doldrums of life.

And I've packed up all my bags,
But there's no place to go --
And there's no place that feels like home
In this doldrum of life.

I wish that the winds would just blow,
The direction wouldn't matter--
While you say, "what's the matter?"
But I'm not even moving slow.

I would even wish for a storm,
Then I could feel the movement of waves
But its not how doldrums behave,
It's the stillness that's the norm.

I would even wish for an undertow,
Or a vicious maelstrom
Something to take me away from here,
I don't even like where I'm from.

I'm a dingy cast in the sea,
With the sea as far as I can see
But you can't get much help here,
When your stuck in the doldrums of life.

By Greg Butz
July 15th, 2009

I'm Leaving Hong Kong, my tickets have been purchased three weeks ago, and two weeks ago I went in to collect a VISA they told me would only take 4-5 days. It still has not come in. Along with other thoughts or feelings has made me much maligned.

One Day When I Leave This Place

One Day When I Leave This Place

One day when I leave this place,

I’m going leave with a bang—

I’m sure if you’ll remember my name,

But I hope you never forget my face.

Will you remember my passion?

Will you remember my strengths?

Or will you dwell on that which is true,

That I was imperfect, just like you.

I had no ambitions to change the world,

At least not in tangible ways—

But I determined in my heart,

To try to make a better today.

I’m not sure I did all I wanted,

Nor did I accomplish all my goals—

But I served Christ with all my heart,

And lived to give others a fresh start.

But life was quickly fleeting,

With a time span unguaranteed—

Don’t measure the wealth I acquired,

It’s not how I wanted to succeed.

I did my best to live a different way,

Striving in life seasoned with grace,

So when others looked at me,

They didn’t see me, they saw His face.

So now that I’ve come to the end,

But it’s not over for me, it only begins--

With one foot in the door

Stretching between now and eternity.

I know how you feel,

I’ve felt this way before

Don’t cry for me,

Don’t shed a tear

Unless its one for joy

Though I’ll miss your embrace

But it’s time I left here

And went on to a better place.

Greg Butz

June 22^nd, 2009

A Poem for My Little Sister

A Poem for My Little Sister

This is a poem for my little sister,

Who is growing up, right before my eyes.

I marvel as I’ve see all the changes –

That are occurring, throughout your life.

I smile when you dance with joy

And the times you run with glee,

And laugh at all the things in your life

That lift you up and make you happy.

Though you may not have seen

Any of these tears of mine—

I’ve cried gushing wellsprings

When you are saddest in your life.

But I’m thankful to call you little sister,

And that I could be your brother.

I am proudest of all the things in life

That you have already discovered.

Even though you don’t have all the answers

To life’s trickiest of questions –

I know you desire Him faithfully,

And diligently follow His decrees.

And God is doing wonderful things in your life.

As He shapes you into a godly woman.

So continue to run to Him with all your might—

And never stop listening to His heart beat in your life.

And though trouble times may come upon you,

And your thoughts may scream, “What can I do?”

Just listen to the quiet voice in your life –

It’s the Father loving you saying:

“Everything will be all right.”

Greg Butz

2-13-09, (Revised June 22^nd)

I had the choice to either watch a movie, or to write a poem for my little sister. I chose of course to write the poem. This was a very easy poem to write -- because the feelings are very sincere. This poem is for my little sister, along with all the little sisters who are in my life. These include my friends at church as well as former and current students. One of the greatest joys in my life – is to be an older brother, for all my little sisters. No matter how old you become, you will always be my little sister =)

This is not a goodbye

This is Not Goodbye

We’ve known each other through the years,
The hardships, troubles, and with all of our tears.
It’s a surprise to find, that we’re moving on—
So goodbye, I can’t believe that you’re gone.

We took for granted all the time we shared,
When I looked at you, I knew that you cared.
I’m clinging to the memories of our good times,
But I never thought that we’d say “goodbye”,

Those times we talked for hours into the night
You seemed so close, yet you were out of my sight…
As we drifted apart, unclear of the reasons why
You went your way, and I went mine, “goodbye.”

Out there seems so large and confusing—
Though today, we seem to be loosing our way.
I’ll take comfort in knowing that—
Forever doesn’t end with our goodbye today.

One day we’ll bump back into each other
We’ll forget this moment—
Like we were friends forever!
When I see your face again,
A simple “hi” will erase the pain of this goodbye.
So I guess in the end, this was not a goodbye.

It can’t be the end,
We’ll meet again.
This is not goodbye.

Life will be greater,
When I see you later,
Again, this is not goodbye.

Greg Butz
June 21, 2009

Four Not Three in the Fire

Four not three in the fire

In a far away place, men of a different race

Gathered together to respect their king.

Decreed by He, to love and adore

And fall and worship their lord.

Three men, from a different tribe

Faced an impossible choice—

To worship a man undeserving of praise,

Or be cast into a furnace of flames.

Unwilling to bow their head to an idol

They abandoned their hope in earthly guile.

Choosing the pain – instead of the shame

They willingly went into the fire.

And the Flames burned through their bondage,

Delivering them from their captors

And appearing in the midst such a strange sight to see

There were four, not three in the fire

Who could it be that was with them?

"How were they alive?" thought Neb,

The fire has no affect on their bodies

The fourth one must have saved them!

"Praise be the God of these three men,

How mighty are His wonders!

His kingdom will last an eternity

And he’ll reign forever victoriously.

Now we go through various trials

Not that were threatened to be thrown in a fire

But to serve the Lord, or to fall away

Which one of these will you choose today?

By Greg Butz

Summer of 2008.

I wrote this poem just shortly before going back home last summer. I intended for it to be made into a song, but instead decided to publish it here in its poem format. I hope you enjoy it. (It's the story of Daniel's three friends by the way

The Watchman

The Watchman (pt. one)

Loneliness becomes him, as he sits waiting expectantly.
While the others have departed, he will not abandon his post.
They say many different people, live more exciting lives
With a sigh he waits knowingly, that his duty matters most.

A quite life, alone and removed, he watches life go by—
Never missing for a moment, the life he left behind.

His position and duty is to keep his people safe--
Safe from the dangers that rear when the people fall asleep.
Though there are distractions, in his life that is removed—
Yet he cannot leave his watchtower, His post he must keep.

The town never quite realizes, how much of him they are in need—
But if his horn were ever to blow, then his voice they must take heed!

Even when it’s dark, the threat of danger is the worst.
Watchman keep the fire burning, flickering through the night.
And keep your eyes fixated off to the distant horizon,
The lives of everyone, is depended upon your keen eyesight.

And if the enemy attacks, he must arouse the alarm to array
But until that day arrives, he waits silently and he prays.

Greg Butz
June 12th, 2009

Perhaps one of the most significant poems for me. This poem was first written two years ago, as I was preparing to go to Hong Kong and begin teaching. I later wrote a second draft of this poem, while I was in Macau (walking up a hill to fortress). The idea of being a watchman is very significant to me. Ezekiel was commanded by God to be the "watchman of his people." A watchman is someone who guards and warns the people of danger (Ezekiel 33). Why this is so significant to me, is I believe in similar fashion God has called me to be a watchman of some sorts -- its in my namesake. The name Greg literally means "the watchman" and I believe that there is still significance in this calling. Often I feel removed, giving advice through my perception-- i see things differently than others.

Sadly, the second version of this poem was lost when my prayer journal disappeared, but the Lord gives and he takes away. I unexpectantly located the first draft of it, updated it giving it a slightly different rhyming scheme, and now uploaded it for your enjoyment!