Lessons from Lucas

By Daniele De Girolami

In some respects, this second book of poetry is quite similar to the first. In other ways, it is quite different. This particular book of poetry encompasses a broader range of subjects that have not only influenced me but society as a whole. I welcome this revelation as the future of our society seems bleak without us coming together in one spirit and not divided along any lines that would cause inferiority or superiority between humanity in general. There is great hatred that has permeated our culture from its inception.

It is my belief and hope that through love, we can come together to appreciate our differences and our similarities. I fervently believe that the path to perfect love is only obtained through the love of God. As a Christian, I have come to embrace my great weaknesses and the courage to commit my life to not judging others but loving them. This book of poetry attempts to convey this message by glorifying the Person of Jesus Christ through the humility of words. I'm forever indebted to God for my family, without whom, the inspiration for many poems would not have come about.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9798885408110

Book preview

Lessons from Lucas

Daniele De Girolami

ISBN 979-8-88540-812-7 (hardcover)

ISBN 979-8-88540-811-0 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Daniele De Girolami

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Tree of Life

Stand

Make the Good People Nice

This Is This

To Live Is Christ

Convicted

Genny

The Cross

What You Bring

Insurgence

Just Passing Time

This Child of Mine

Ducks in a Row

Mud Pies

Do You Love Me

How Long

A Curse

Evil

No Ordinary Day

A Puff of Smoke

Valentine's Day

The Righteous Live by Faith

Heroes

Babylon

Dark

Zeitgeist

Moral Monster

The Forest

Babel

Undone

Tell Me

Wednesday

The Theanthropos

Discipleship

Who

Paradigm Shift

Come and Follow Me

A Great Divide

If God Loves Me

Who Am I

Surrender

Faith

The Dreamer

Who Inspires Me

Australia

Desperate Cries

Blessings

Envisage

What Can I Say

Covet

A Longing

The Shepherd

Good

The Landscape

No Words

Mamma

So

Acuity

Ask

Trust

Holes

Comfortable Christian

The Velvet Room

Scoffers

Lowly

Proof of Life

I Never Knew

The Clone

From Here

God Is Ineffable

Not Alone

Lessons from Lucas

Lies

A Consuming Fire

The Gift

Vanity

Metamorphosis

Feed My Sheep

Listen to Understand

What She Told Me

A Dozen Things

Nocturnal Feast

The Book

Lightning Bug

Unbelief

Steadfast

A Respite

Giving Thanks

There's More to the Story

Sam

Original

Broken Man

Black Lives Matter

Father's Day

Today

To the Person in the Pew

The Turning Point

Daughters

The Fountain

Water

On Your Day

And on This Day

For Dan

About the Author

Tree of Life

It's hard to put into words all the things the writer of this book is to the community he has built around himself. He's far more than a poet; he's a doctor, a husband, a provider, a leader, an apologist, a Christian, a friend, a confidant, and so much more. But to me, he's just dad, my papi.

When he asked for a photo for his book, I felt stumped. How could I create a photo worthy enough of his art, a book filled with his vulnerability and impressions of the world around him? Everything I came up with felt void of what this book means. Then it came to me.

There was a special memory I had with him, a moment we shared by happenstance, a day where something went so wrong that it provided us with a father-daughter moment that was just right.

I had just left his house. I was on my way home when I stopped at some stables to sit, think, and take a seat before making the long trek back to Chicago. It wasn't long before I realized I had run into some car trouble. I had either left the keys inside or the car was stuck—I can't quite remember what the issue was. The important part of this story isn't the car but how it brought about my father and I sharing something I'll never forget.

Panicking, I reached out to him to see if he could help me. He didn't hesitate and told me he was on his way. I sat by the car, staring out at this tree. The tree was standing tall and firm, casting a reflection in the pond beneath, dominating the view as I looked forth.

I wondered how this could be happening, and what did I do to deserve this unlucky streak? It was about twenty minutes or so later when he showed up. I felt defeated, overwhelmed, and bent out of shape, but there he was—calm, cool, and collected. Giving me a big hug, we sat down together, overlooking God's creations.

We looked on together, watching the scenic tree, the birds that flew above, the light that slowly fell into night, and the magic of the peaceful moment that surrounded us as we sat by each other. The beauty of nature always touched us both and helped us understand each other in ways where words sometimes fell short. We talked for hours about life, beauty, the miracle that stood in front of us, pain and suffering, and finding grace and peace. He shared his wisdom, and I did the same. It was our moment.

In all the murky history that is our relationship lay some of the most powerful, remarkably significant moments I've ever experienced. They are treasures I keep with me as I continue down this road called life. They are irreplaceable.

This tree and my dad shared a similar stance. They are both imperfect, with branches that hang too low and some that bushel at the top, standing alone in a stretch of water, providing sanctuary to the creatures that depend on it. It stood tall, dominating a horizon of trees and sky in the distance, never wavering in the wind, and never faltering when birds came to sit on its branches. A reflection that never faded in the crystalline water below. They both stood as two firm totems for the ecosystems that surrounded them.

I took a picture of the gorgeous beauty in front of us, hoping my camera could do justice to what our eyes had witnessed, hoping I could capture some magic from the day to keep with me forever. To look back on this photo and remember what the presence of my father meant to me on that day. It is this photo I chose to share. It is this one I believe represents the same significance that these poems hold—warmth, firmness, gentle guidance, and unwavering love.

Gabriella De Girolami

10/15/2022

Stand

Who do you stand for

What do you know

Is it for Jesus

Is it for show

Is it for glory

Just to save face

Are you the champion

Is it for grace

You're winsome, you're humble

Or are you so proud

Your vanity shows you

Your head's in a cloud

And why do you do it

What prize do you claim

The works that you show off

You think it all gain

For better, for worse, then

It's all about you

Or maybe you're scared that

They've got something on you

Reflection in sepia

Where truth is not clear

You're covered in secular

With so much to fear

The world is unfair, then

The banner you wave

There's no expectation

Redemption you crave

See, humanity is lost

They forget where they're from

They make their own gods

Carved from vanity's crumbs

And where is your place, then

What mark will you place

In showing your plumage

In colored disgrace

And what are you trusting

Your faith in mankind

Archaic your thoughts, so

Please leave them behind

Been blessed by Almighty

This grace, don't deserve

You stand up, you're ready

But haven't the nerve

To go out proclaiming

That He is the one

Who gave you salvation

Who gave you His Son

You sit there belittled

You've done something wrong

But Christ is the Savior

That's where you belong

No works or applauses

No part that you've done

Could ever replace what

His victory won

So, what do you stand for

What is it you want

His victory paid for

All sin that we caught

Exemplify Jesus

In word and in deed

Proclaiming His glory

So many to feed

And stop with excuses

I can't make a stand

Hey, no one will listen

I haven't a plan

It's not in your hands, now

The Spirit takes hold

He'll give you the wisdom

Just let Him unfold

It's not about you, then

Diminish, you must

With faith and with reason

It's all about trust

So, humbly, I tell you

I hear the words too

Just stand and deliver

It's Jesus, not you

Make the Good People Nice

A prayer with such advice

Unfettered and unfurled

Make the good people nice

To God, from a little girl

The message, loud and clear

No blemish, from a child

The good don't want to hear

Their holiness defiled

And what would Jesus say

You followed all the rules

The Pharisees of today

You think that you can fool

What have you done for Him

To glorify His name

You've gone out on a limb

Your heart is still the same

To pick the narrow road

The one with trials and pain

Instead, the broad unfolds

It's not for Christ, your gain

Idolatry, deceit

You cannot hide your hate

With pleasantries, defeat

Think heaven is your fate

No work, no test of faith

Could ever rest assured

The judgment that you bathe

When love is more and pure

Ahead, go forth and state

O Jesus, Savior, Lord

Be careful of your fate

Contempt is thus forlorn

Consequence, when sin

Controls your every move

Be born again, begin

Or else, your fate, reproved

Relationship, He asks

His love shown on the cross

Discard your prideful mask

He took on sin, your loss

With love in Him, obey

Of you, He wants your love

In each and every way

To all and God above

The message, simple, clear

The little girl's advice

Like Jesus, without fear

Be humble and be nice

This Is This

In every thought of you, so sweet and wholly sublime

The mesmerizing trance of you, before me ever shines

What once was blinded spiritually, and now I truly see

In you, the vastness of His glory, His wondrous mystery

The sage, no words of eloquence could hardly so convey

Whatever past embarked, what so envisioned; then, today

The depth of love, as shown, beguiles any breadth, imagination

The confidence she brings in me, shakes the depth of my foundation

Let us, not in prideful adulation, ever so forget

That God has brought us forth with grace from looming stark regret

Without Him we are lost in pain and agony; reflect

No consequence so thwarted which our God cannot affect

Liar, cheat, destroyer, from birth, Satan sought to prey

Your deeds, you think rewarded, God's providence rules the day

We trust, though faulty in our thoughts and deeds; to pray, rely

In God, our awesome, mighty Lord, to save us from our pride

Sweetheart, let us praise Him wholly, God triumphant, blessed King

The love we have resplendent, in trusting God, we fully bring

To all who would impede us, let them