Richard Betts

The world is beautiful,
Life is fine.
The world is frightening,
And life is unkind.
...

As I stand here in the chapel
Praying for God to grant you His peace,
A deluge of questions rains down,
But the answers provide no relief.
...

People we love are a lot like flowers,
And we are the gardeners who reside.
We get to choose which flowers
Are the centerpieces of our lives.
...

Do you know what I remember
About that final, fateful day?
I recall how blue the sky was
As I watched you walk away.
...

How many ticks does He permit?
How many beats does one heart hold?

How many spring showers will I see?
...

If the moon and the sun waged a war,
Who would win? The moon, I'm sure.

The sun would fight face to face,
...

When the night refuses to relinquish the dawn,
Your love inspires me and makes me strong.

When heaven's breathe has turned harsh and cold,
...

Your most loyal lovers seem to
Loathe your most basic commands.
Your most faithful followers
Fail to meet your simplest demands.
...

The night; it beckons me,
And the wind; it calls my name.
The moon; it smiles at me,
But the stars confess their pain.
...

I strive to do my best,
To live by the rules and survive.

I do everything I can,
...

What do you see when
The demons come calling?
What do your dream
When night has fallen?
...

It took me a long time to figure it out, but - after quite a bit of consideration - it finally came to me.

Much of what we do and say and think and feel reveals not what we think about others, but instead offers some insight into what we think of ourselves.
...

I know you are holding back,
I just can't understand why.
Are you afraid to search yourself,
Fearful of what you might find?
...

We blindfold you,
so you know not what we do.

So you cannot see
...

Oh, these politicians make me laugh
With their casual talk of war.
They say diplomacy has been exhausted,
And armed conflict is the cure.
...

Why do you wear my love
Like a cloak and shield?
Is it to protect you from
All the pain you feel?
...

I went to your grave.
It was covered with snow.
I went hoping that you
Didn't feel so cold.
...

Years ago, when I was young,
I often dreamed I possessed the power to fly.
At night, I would shed the weight of my fears
And slip into the wonderful sky.
...

I have never been this consumed,
And worn such resentment on my face.
And in our united sense of purpose,
I can feel His hand of constant grace.
...

When you mock me,
Do you feel like a bigger man?
Do you not know that your words
Sting like the back of a hand?
...