I am yours.
Monday, December 21, 2020
LAST Sabbatical Reflection: Words on a Page #36 I Remember
I am yours.
Friday, December 18, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #35 Farmers Words
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #34 Painting Clouds
Monday, December 14, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #33 The Power of Words
Friday, December 11, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #32 Rambler
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #31 Tree Symphony
Monday, December 7, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page#20 Hidden
Friday, December 4, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #29 Peace
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #28 Perfect Redefined
Monday, November 30, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #27 Crutch
Friday, November 27, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #26 TV-The Sad, Sad Truth
TV- The Sad, Sad Truth
They feel like family, these pretend friends.
Lights, sounds and transmissions flicker on the screen.
I come home from school and I can't wait!
Backpack dropped. Coat and shoes chucked off.
Quick! Grab a snack...
Drop down into the well-worn couch.
We eat together, and I tell you about my day.
I watch you laugh and it brings me comfort.
Each day, I visit my mother and my father living in a box.
After school cookies and milk with Julie, our cruise director.
Ice cream with a Silver Spoon and Benson.
Learning the Facts of Life with Jack, Janet and Chrissy.
Alone in this world, I watch you cry and fight.
I cringe while you escape fire and disease and I am with you.
I join you to laugh. I join you and I cry.
Your safety is my joy. Your victory my win.
My young heart feels connection.
Someone else had a hard day!
We commiserate together over chips and soda.
You say the words of love I long to hear.
Signals traverse through the air, they warm.
Like a much needed hug, the wrap around me.
Transmissions touch the gaping hole of loneliness.
You are there every day, my friends!
Your presence just a click away.
Hours and hours and hours together.
Your fun and antics tell me I am not alone.
These are the 80s realities.
Raise your glass... Cheers!
Let's drink to television!
What in the world have we done!?
So, are the Days of Our Lives.
Written September 2020
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #25 Unseen
Monday, November 23, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #24 The Best Medicine
Friday, November 20, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #23 Your Face
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #22 Depth of Sadness
"It is better to enter a house of mourning than a house of feasting, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance is good for the heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure."
(Ecclesiastes 7:3)
Monday, November 16, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #21 Freedom's Call
Friday, November 13, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #20 Midnight Call
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #19 They Come to My Window
Monday, November 9, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #18 Stargazing
Friday, November 6, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #17 My Man
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #16 Pain
Monday, November 2, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #15 The Climb
The Climb
One step at a time
One foot in front
What seems impossible
and beyond,
can become reality
With one step
One foot following the other
Sit for a while. It's okay.
Don't look too hard for the end.
Steady your gaze.
Glance back!
See how far you have come.
The destination feels distant.
Even arduous.
Sit for a bit.
Then, begin again.
Keep your eyes right in front of you.
Just one single.
step.
at.
a.
time.
The climb.
Written July 2020
Friday, October 30, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #14 The Word
The Word
A firm rock
A solid stepping stone.
It lifts me, to see more.
I peek just over the wall.
A place to settle.
To sit and rest from the noise
My home.
I take warmth in refuge.
My doorway to beyond...
More of You, more of me.
My gateway to light and truth.
I walk through and see.
My river to life,
To drink from, to wade in, to swim!
My raft.
The vessel that carries me.
My rock.
To hold me and lift me up
The place I find rest, light, and life!
The place I find You.
Written July 2020
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #13 The Sky
Monday, October 26, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #12 Mrs. Tree
Mrs. Tree
Old, rugged, worn.
How long have you been there, Mrs. Tree?
You stand so tall, so very stable.
As new growth climbs and entwines,
encircling itself in and around you.
You seem untouched. Firmly fixed.
What have you heard, Mrs. Tree?
The comings and the goings of life.
The laughter, tears, cries and triumphs.
Building up all around you.
Breaking down, falls and rubble.
Days and years passing.
Have you felt the sadness?
Or, rejoiced in the triumph?
Have you felt the frustrations?
Have you pondered or considered why?
How long have you watched as your friends,
your neighbours are destroyed?
What have you seen?
Generations come and go.
Littles run around your feet,
Aged rest in your shadow.
The young carve their hearts' intentions.
Who has noticed you?
Old and new.
Ancient and aged being replaced.
Yet, you remain still.
Years after years.
What was, is no more.
What is, will always be.
How many winds have run through your branches,
How many rains have rustled your leaves,
torn and tugged at you... made you dance?
Do you worship while you sway?
Do you know the hands and mind that made you?
Do you 'laugh at the days to come'?
How long will you be there, Mrs. Tree?
My time will have come and long gone by, I am certain.
Yet, there you are. Old, worn and rough.
Steadfast and sturdy.
With 'strength and dignity'.
There you will be.
Written July 2020
Proverbs 31
"For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people" Isaiah 65:22
Friday, October 23, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #11 Rubrics
Rubrics
Colour on a page
Do you know what it is?
These easy going, even fun...
Grace-filled criteria.
Rubrics in place.
to judge
to know.
And, yet,
Yet, even the colour is not bright
...enough.
Not muted enough.
Not smooth
...enough.
Not well textured or blended...
...
My very existence
My every. moment. of. every. day
Not enough.
Falls short.
Do I know what it is?
A splash of colour on the page.
This day.
This being.
Me.
Written June 2020
Reminds me of this post I wrote in 2019
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #10 This Old House
This Old House
This old house---
Same old house
Same smells and sights.
Corners and walls
So familiar.
The wallpaper needs changing---updating.
No, actually, the foundation.
Pull up the floor boards!
Rot underneath. Rip them out!
Rebuild with lapis and turquoise.
A foundation laid and layered with faults and cracks
Burn it down!
Start again!
Sounds of shifting sand echo and warn.
This house will fall!
But, alas! the land is secure.
This rickety structure was built on a rock which is firm.
Faithful. Steadfast.
Before the foundations of the earth,
hesed was. Hesed always is.
Yes! Mold and mildew may lurk deep within these old walls.
Disease lingers.
Pour over with the cleansing water and ash.
With hyssop, scarlet and cedarwood,
Clean this old house!
Written June 2020
Leviticus 14
Isaiah 54:11,12
Monday, October 19, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #9 How I See
Friday, October 16, 2020
Sabbatical Reflections: Words on a Page #8 The Moon Again
I watch for you each evening.
Waiting and wondering.
Like a child longing for dessert,
When is dinner time over?
How many peas must I eat first?
I anticipate.
I wonder and wait...
when will the dark become
dark enough!
Enough to reveal your glory.
Each night I see a different sight
A new shade and perspective.
Light reflected, revealed, radiating.
Or tonight... covered, shroud, hidden.
Yesterday's dusk brought deep, dark clouds
Across my vista, shadows swept thick with movement
Dense with a heaviness that slowed their race overhead.
Each step they took across the sky laboured.
I waited. I watched.
Wondering if I would see you when these dark ones parted.
As the clouds trudged through the murk of the evening sky
I wanted...
Willing just one glimpse...
One quick view of your face.
For I knew you were there.
Even if hidden.
You are always there.
Positioned there long ago,
you remain.
Not yet shaken, always firm in place.
I know you are there.
Now, I watch for you every evening.
Written June 2020
...reminds me of this post from March 2012