Author: Dennis Snell

As a Code Wrangler at Automattic, Inc., I spend my days reticulating splines. As a nomad, I own very few things and enjoy living simply. I love cooking, engineering, photography, and my faithful God, Jesus Christ.

A prayer for our nation

Dear Lord,

You have taught us that when we set out to pursue our own gain
that we will stumble and strive and find confusion.
You have taught us that when we seek to love one another
and serve one another and pursue the things you care about
that we will find peace and joy and contentment.

But dear Father, right now we have all turned astray from your ways.
We have traded that love and hospitality for fear and a promise of personal gain.

I have walked past the hungry because I was too occupied with my own musings
I have withheld from the needy because I denied how much you have given me
I have desired violence and strife and chaos over harmony because it excites me
I have chosen pain over healing and brokenness over reconciliation because they are easier
I have remained silent because I wasn’t the victim

Because when I stopped thanking you for the bounty in my life
I feared that the comfort I grew accustomed to might disappear
I feared that the story I made up at the time might crumble before me
I feared that there was no one to protect me

Because when I turned my eyes away from you and onto myself
I lost sight of your provisions and strength
I lost sight of the larger story you are crafting
I lost sight of the merciful way you shield me

But none of this is new to you, oh one who is beyond time
and you have seen it in the past and you will see it again
So in this moment our savior, save us from ourselves
and restore among us love, peace, and faith.

For you have given to us in abundance and we thank you for that
and you have delivered to us a story more beautiful than we could imagine
and you have promised us that there is nothing to fear within your presence
and you have waited patiently for us in our wayward wanderings.

Heal this people, heal this nation, heal this heart of mine, Lord
There is no hope lest you intervene
There is no salvation lest you intercede
We are speechless and lost and know only that things are broken
that our best wisdom and effort and ways are nothing
Please lead us home.

a prayer for when climbing through the thorns

dear heavenly father,

you told me this would happen
you told me that when i took my gaze off of you
that i would veer and get lost
and end up in the slough of despond

in my pride i forged my own path
because it seemed better
because i didn’t know where to look
because i had no idea

then came the weeds and
then came the thorns and
then they pierced me hard and
then i was hurt and cold and then

where were you?
i hurt so much and the pain was so loud
it was so loud i couldn’t see you
it hurt so much it’s all i could feel

so the hurt broke me more
no matter how hard i tried
so the broke me hurt more
no matter how hard i tried

lost and in the desert
alone and without help
hopeless yearning for light
proud and still fighting

this is what you told me would happen
this is your answer to my question
how is man to humble himself before God?
what more could i possibly do?

???

silence
darkness
fear
doubt

!!!

in the arena
the only fight worth fighting
with everything on the line
there was nothing i could do

i could do nothing
i was powerless
i was defeated
i was humbled

…

you told me this would happen
you told me that when i cast my gaze on you
that you would restore me
and give my feet their way

your word is a light unto my path
because you are gracious
because your mercy knows no limit
because wisdom is fearing you

then your love is enough
then your reward is enough
then trusting in you is enough
then in the storm you shelter and then

there you are!
my pain is fierce but i am alive
you give life freely
you have overcome death

so trust in you healed me
no matter how great the pain
so healed me trusts in you
no matter how perilous the route

sorry for running away
repentant for every choice
grateful to find my way home
humbled and still fighting

this is what you told me would happen
this is your gift and promise
if i should walk humbly before you
if i should cast my gaze on you

***

peace
purpose
love
trust

~~~

in the arena
the only fight worth fighting
with everything on the line
you are the victor

you have done all things
you can do all things
you are victorious
you are my strength

…

trust and obey
in you i will trust
your words will i obey
there’s simply no other way

amen.

longer shorter faster

Very recently I had the chance to visit my dear friend and former roommate in Singapore where he now lives with this wife. The flight from San Francisco is one of the longest commercial flights lasting more than seventeen hours from takeoff to landing. The return trip took fewer than fifteen hours. This difference in time is matched by a difference in flight path and can be explained by the affect of the jet stream.

Continue reading “longer shorter faster” →

Fake News is not our problem

some have told me that fake news did it
that there was no chance
that faceter and twitbook made us
believe it

some have told me that we must forbid
that an alarm should sound to eliminate
that no alternative fact exist lest we
believe it

some have stirred to try and prevent it
that the algorithms see through
that the censor do its work and
hide it

some have stirred to ask, what must we
that people not see it
that the reader not read it
hide it

but I do not blame the lie
because it was always there
just as the pasture gate leads away
from the highway and into the field
and from the field and into the pasture
and from the pasture and into the slop

the signs lead the way
once we may be fooled
but twice is on us
as the saying goes
and from the noise and into the discourse
and from the discourse and into our mind

some have challenged me to come and reason
that I may discern my path
that I might oblige my duty
question it

some have challenged my entitlement
that my feet may learn the path
that my way not be misled in the dark
probe it

some have challenged my response
that we not simply believe
that we not hide and cower
that we filter the noise
that we treasure our minds 
that we question
that we probe
that we ask
that

To those who feel like a burden

When we feel like we are a burden on those who love us, we’re usually blind to the fact that supporting one another brings us joy. “Being a burden” is usually a lie we believe that holds us down. We are worth far more than we realize.

My good friend Anne shares in one of her many honest and helpful posts about the reciprocal nature of friendship and help in times of need. She writes many words but they are worth the read.

agm

This is for those of you who feel like burdens to friends and who are valiantly trying to shoulder the weight of your struggles by yourself.

Please give others the opportunity to help. Please don’t fight alone. Please treat yourself as you would a dearly loved friend.

In the last year, I’ve had too many conversations with too many incredible humans who are hurting alone and who timidly come to me at the very end of themselves.

“I don’t want to be a burden.”

“I’m sorry I’m calling again.”

“I’m sorry to bug you.”

They don’t want to be burdens because they know how heavy what they are carrying is and they don’t want to involve anyone else. They don’t want anyone to feel the way they do or to be trapped in the same emotional struggle they are. They don’t want to reach out only to not find help…

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