at evening time

when they came

the words were less

than a whisper

lighter than

mist

“oh child

of mine,

it is time

to

rest”

“God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer.”  Mother Theresa

among the lily pads

they are there

among the lily pads

in the variation

the variegation

of lines

the subtlety 

of color

pristine proofs

of everything

every

little

thing

finely

and faithfully

fitting

together

"He is before all things. And in Him all things hold together." Col. 1:17

“This passage can be applied to the structure of the atom. The nucleus of every atom is held together by what physicists call "weak" and "strong" forces…..

There is thus an active force imposed on the universe, which actively holds the very atoms of the material world together moment by moment, day by day, century by century.” 

                                     Physics and the Bible, Lamber Dolphin

home place

there’s a stream

that flows

by the side of the road

where the grass

is the greenest green

choke cherries bloom

white 

and the morning dove

the dove of

mourning

coos softly

I've been spending a lot of time at the home place lately. Though it’s a beautiful spring there, it’s the season of winter in my parents lives. Change is in the offing. And with that,  in a few days we will be celebrating the marriage of our youngest son. Joy and sorrow mingled. What could convey that paradox more than the presence of Good Friday and Easter Sunday back to back in the pages of history? 

Happy Easter friends. In the end, JOY wins out. 

“Behold, I am making ALL Things new!”  Revelation 21:5

late march

truth be known

i enjoy

winter

but this one

has been extremely 

long

and i too

am ready 

for birdsong 

and blossoms

a tiresome virus

has kept me in

even on nicer days

but at last 

i am feeling good again

and ready to embark

on a leisurely walk

so it’s off to the park

getting out of the car

i glance up 

to the tops

of yet bare trees

in their nakedness

they charm me

offering a beauty

never seen

when  summer’s leaves 

are lush

and green

Look up my friends. See the silhouettes of branches bare…..while there is still time. :)

"Never say there is nothing beautiful in the world anymore.There is always something to make you wonder…..in the shape of a tree or the trembling of a leaf."  Albert Schweitzer

february light

it’s hazy today

and i lazily stroll

down the path

somewhat subdued

by the tilt of the earth

at this season

the mood of the trees

and their reason

of nakedness

does not winter

diminish us all

does she not 

lay us bare 

too?

Prayer….

Thank you Lord that when we are diminished, we are most in need of your grace.

And that even in february there is light.

Writing this post reminded me of a great old hymn: He Giveth More Grace….I especially like the 2nd stanza:

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done;

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,

Our Father's full giving is only begun.

James 4:6

He gives more grace. Therefore the Scripture says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

bearing gifts (the snow)

in the stillness of snow
we can let go
of so many things

in the whiteness of snow
we are given to know
grace

"How many lessons of faith and beauty should we lose, if there were no winter in our year."
                                      Thomas Wentworth Higginson, 1861

December 26, after Christmas walk

it was warm 

for a december afternoon

and rain fell steady

inserting my ear phones

i started the walk

to the songs of les mis

another christmas 

had passed

i couldn’t help but wonder

if it would be the last 

with mom and dad

or might tragedy 

of another kind

befall 

before the halls

were decked again

then came the voice 

of young cosset

i slowed my steps

to listen well

and while 

her fragile words

settled in my heart

the weight of dread

took flight…

“there is a castle 

in the clouds

where no one’s lost

and no one cries”

(where there are

no sad goodbyes)

the song

like a snowflake,

faded quietly away

but other words

ancient and few

surfaced 

from memory

“FEAR NOT”

“For behold!”

how 

had i forgotten 

so soon?

“Behold!” 

“Behold”

and be held

all you who know yourselves

to be poor

“a baby 

is born!”

And He 

is the lamb

of God

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. “

                                                              ~John the Baptist

“He shattered the space between heaven and earth 

and came naked and breakable for you in a creche.  

Then he lay naked and broken by you on a cross. 

You don’t have to try to save yourself.  Behold Him everywhere and be held.” 

                                                        Ann Voskamp, The Greatest Gift

My “word” for 2019 is remember. :)

What’s yours?