Power

Hold Tight

Every life is precious.

This finger holds my history

The beating of my heart

The years of my life

The finger extends to assure the future

Hold on dear child

To the history

The love

The years

The knowledge

In your baptism

The waters that flow

The hands that hold

The oil that anoints

We the family

Commit to love you

To bring you to the table

To teach you the stories

To sing you the songs

To shower you with God's love

This is your day, dear Eloise

BELIEVE

Old Blue Eyes

circa 1920

"Carl has great big blue senstive eyes. He is sensitive. that expresses it best. His eyes are soft and his voice is soft. .... Carl smiles if a person just walks past him.

"It is 9:30 now, and Arthur is holding one and Amy the other. They are both real patient with them. Arthur helps so much around the house and with them. Arthur is so good natured and he talks all the time, and he is so affectionate to Amy and the kids, and fusses over them all the time. Arthur says, 'This is the life, meaning twins!

....

"Carl moves his feet up and down [in the little bath tub on the kitchen table] and then he looks at Amy and smiles. He is so lovable!"

Happy 90th Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday to You!

To those out there today, for whom you celebrate your day of birth ... may it be a wonderful day! Today is my mom's birthday ... I was going to track down a picture of her from years gone by, instead I give you a garden of flowers! Enjoy them ... as their beauty is short lived.

Tulips you see are like us ... planted carefully in one season ... blooming in another. Their beauty only lasts a short amount of time and during that time they bring such joy to folks.

Each of us knows someone who is celebrating a birthday today ... check your contacts ... give them a call! see the beauty in them!

Tulip Bed

ahhh such a delightful colorful bed!

makes me smile just looking at it.

Evening Reflection

I often do my writing and reflecting in the morning. But now that spring is here I find myself drawn once again to the soft translucent colors of dusk. Its often the greens outside my living room window that call to me ... but tonight as I headed to the park near my house I found the reflecting pond (where soon there will be ducklings swimming around) .... then the discovered the yellows and oranges of the setting sun reflecting on the trunks and in the distance.

So as spring moves into your neck of the woods ... take a stroll at dusk!

What do you see?

Goodbye in Zanesfield

with this rose

i say good bye

with this rose

i say i love you

with this rose

i again cry for you

with this rose

i grieve

with this rose

i say goodbye

the white rose, traditionally stands for purity, innocence, spirituality and sympathy, as well as remembrance, honor and reverence

The Answer

From Sunday April 25th Henri Nouwen Society.

"We spend a lot of time and energy raising questions. Is it worth it? It is always good to ask ourselves why we raise a question. Do we want to get useful information? Do we want to show that someone else is wrong? Do we want to conquer knowledge? Do we want to grow in wisdom? Do we want to find a way to sanctity?

"When we ponder these questions before asking our questions, we may discover that we need less time and energy for our questions. Perhaps we already have the information. Perhaps we don't need to show that someone is wrong. For many questions we may learn that we already have the answers, at least if we listen carefully to our own hearts."

I often wonder why certain things come across my plate (or email) when they do. This was in today's email. Came less than 72 hours after I "raised a question" ... which created the "storm". More food for thought.

I do know this ... nothing is ever black and white ...

Tears of the Heart

So much progress seems to have been made. yet with one question it seems as thought everything is undone and the hurt returns. Sometimes I just don't get it. A question. That's all it was. A question, not an accusation. A wondering.

The heart ... the relationship torn. Tears. Stinging words. It was just a question. An apology for asking the question offered ... yet not accepted. Tears of the heart.

It wouldn't matter, if I didn't care.

A random verse, sitting on my coffee table when I got home:

"In the world you will get kicked around, but keep cheerful. I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Ahhh ... if it were only so easy.

Sleep will heal the heart

Markings: Vagmarken

We never travel alone.

There have been others before

There will be others behind.

We travel it together.

What do you leave as your mark?

The Opening

Sometimes it seems as though there is no way out, around,

through, over or under.

Maybe all we need to do ... is walk a few steps ...

and there it is ... the opening.

Time to take it ...

Rock of Ages

Transitioning

Called to walk down the lane

Not knowing what is ahead

Yet a sense of security

With rows on either side

Walking into light?

Walking into dark?

I'm not certain

Yet am called to move forward

The sun rises

Only in the fashion designed by a benevolent God

The sun rises anew today.

The skies are blue

The birds sing trusting that spring is on its way

The cross .... by which you were sealed at your baptism

Welcomes you home

In loving and warm memories

my friend Phil

The End of the Day

at the close of today the sun sets

colors blare

wisps of clouds

changing patterns of the sky

as day becomes night

and God saw that it was good

it was beginning and end

the alpha and the omega

God ever present

giving life

giving death

death that is only the setting of the sun

for it is the eternity

to which we are born

the eternity to which we die.

Thanks be God

In peace we die

In hope we die

In grace we love.

Amen

The Fog

Sometimes things are clear

Sometimes they are foggy

Within the fog is clarity

Walking through the midst

Is really part of the journey.

Softness

Sharp and clear?

No ... life is not always like that ...

In the blur discover the

softness

gentleness

comfort.

Clarity has its place too

But maybe not today.

Enjoy the blur!

Quiet and Home

It seems like I was traveling for hours to get home.

I finally crossed over that bridge.

Now here I am.
Quiet
Candles
Silence except for the tapping of the keys

I am constantly amazed at how I fill my life with such noise ...
Visual and auditory noise
The noise of food.
The noise of the mind.
Yes, the noise of the internet.

The addictions to over stimulation in so many facits of our lives.

Now I am home.
Now I am here.
The clicking of the boiler.
The breathing of Teddy.

Not much else.
Just home.

Now to turn this off.
And just sit.
Absorb the space.
Become one with it.
Slow the breathing.
Slip into sleep.

Make a Splash

Somedays you just have to make a splash.

Don't hold back ... just go for it!

Heck ... I think today is your day!

Go for it ...

Then tell me ...

What did you do?

For Phil and Vi

The ocean is so reflective of life. It comes in so gently some days while others it crashes and knocks us over. But it is the rhythm of the heart that it reflects ... constant ... such that we don't even notice it.

Springing up from the depths of the deep ocean floor are mountains and ridges so high and mighty. These in Hawaii have ridges (much like ruffles have ridges :))!. The are so mighty I haven't a clue how to capture them through the camera lens.

Ahhh God created a beautiful place here in Hawaii. The sun, the water, the mountains. Such beauty surrounds me there.

The Serious Business of Getting on the Door!

Okay mom, I'll stand still.

But what is this all about?

Why dear, this is where Gammy and Papa keep track of how we grow.

See, there is Nik.

And look its Dana.

Here is your Auntie Kelsey

And this is me!

All the grandchildren are here

And now today you get the mark.

The first great grandchild!

Papa will help us

We need a pencil

And of course the yard stick (you know the kind they used to give away)

Stand here ... we'll mark it.

The newest addition to the door!

yup ... I made it!

Coming Home

Returning to places of my childhood. So many things fly through my mind ....

Then not once, but twice during the worship the melody of Beautiful Savior came ... as an anthem, as a hymn. Harmonies and words of my childhood ... Comfort ...

A wonderful way to glide into the season of lent. A time to get grounded ... to journey ... to journey to the cross ... the cross that we are to carry ... to carry forward in hope and love and security that we are not alone ... that we are like the lamb carried by the shepherd ... we are loved.

My mind today is much like this ... just there ...

I wish I could be more productive ...

But ...

So I tried to capture the crayons ...

not quite right

but getting there.

Tonight will be better.

I'm wondering

so ... I'm wondering ...

What do you think?

I really do like you ...

I really care ...

So ...

What do you think?

God's Street Light

There's something pretty amazing about a full moon.

Its like God left the street light on all night.

Beams bouncing off the snow covered ground

Shadows paint the floor through the windows

Absolutely delightful

A beam lights the way down the hall

Crisp frozen snow sparkles with the patterns of limbs

The sky the earth become one

Light and dark merge and take their places in the grand scheme

The moon sets to the west

Night sky transitions to dawn

With the temperature hovering around 0

All is still except the lighting of the sky ...

Ever so slightly

Ever so gently

Morning has broken

And in it .... the still small voice of God

Shhhh ... listen

To the words of love of promise of hope.

Be still and know that I am with you.

some times words are inadequate

My Red Chair

Am not sure what the feeling for the day is ...
Ever had a long day?
And just want to sit back and wish it all away?
My red chair is in the basement
Maybe it should come back upstairs?
Be in my office?

Ahhh

But when the red chair isn't there
I can just remember
Recall the "kodak" moment

I wished it all away ...
I can't help but smile ...

Ahhhh

I wished
It didn't go away
But the energy is renewed to move forward

Do you have a "red chair and a hat?"

Amazing

7AM
"The sun awaits its rising as the earth yearns for warming
And the reminder of a new day lived in
Grace and
Hope."
JSM

7:30 AM

as morning broke on the eastern horizon

A layered cake outside my window

through the screen of limbs and wires

subtle hues of pink blue white orange

layered one on top of the other

A quick grab of the camera doesn't do it justice

But the amazement of glory we felt deep inside my core

Such a gift to see it

Such a gift to feel it

Such a blessing to be alive.

Go in peace today ...

Crisp

CRISP

Cookies

The morning air

Fresh

Firm but easily broken

Carrots

Chips

Clean

Alert

Awake

The word of the day ... CRISP ....

A walk in the morning when it is crisp and clear. as the view are clean and not clouded by particles of smog. At dusk as I emerged from a day in the the office I commented about the wonderful crisp evening it was ... perfect for a photo ...

Learnings

Ahhh ...

Learning

A simple yet complicated and critical process

Learning

Ribbon

Colors

Curls

Soft

Crunchy

What did you learn today?

Temptation

Sometimes it seems so close .... you can almost taste it!

That was Teddy's experience last Saturday when I was baking cookies.

Those chips ... folded in with oatmeal, butter, flour .... well you know the rest.

What tempts you?

Be Alert

Be alert for signs of God ... the trinity.

As you walk .. as you read .. as you live

Sparkled throughout our journey you can find God

Ever present

A shadow

A smile

A tear

A hug

In our brokenness

In our gifts

In our hearts

In our lives.

Look ... the tree ... the shadow ... the trinity ... the sun burst.

Be alert ... be open ...

God is here ...

I don't know why

I really don't understand much of the world and why things happen.

Earthquakes ... plates adjusting deep under the surface. One source even said that these plates are always moving ... at about the same speed that our fingernails grow. This week: 7.0 in Haiti. Thousands have died and more will die in the days ahead.

Community. A few nights ago, three families sat around a table enjoyed a full meal, laughter, prayer, conversation, candles.

Violence. Last month a university professor was arrested for strangling his wife. He called 911. No previous history of domestic violence. She a gifted a photographer. They sang together in choir had many friends. No one knows what happens. One dies.

Beauty. The sun sets off Waikiki and hundreds stand along the beach hoping to capture that moment in their hearts and on their cameras.

Hate. An airplane crashes into the World Trade Tower, followed by a second, followed by a crash in a field in Pennsylvania. Thousands die.

Life. A couple discover they are expecting a baby. The long expected and desired child.

Death. A woman walking along a country road she walked daily is hit by a car and killed instantly.

The Unexpected. After a long cold winter, iris' bloom in the mountain village. Across the country a transplanted iris blooms in the spring then surprises its own with a second bloom in the fall.

I don't know why these things happen.

Yet I do know that God does love us.

God is eternal, infinite ...

I am simple, limited

I am a broken pot.

I don't know why

Yet I do know and believe in God.

No, Pat, God did not do this to Haiti

There is beauty before during and after the storm.

I don't know why and I can live with that

What I do know:

I have been called by name, I am God's

When I pass through the waters, I am not alone

How do you define spirituality?

Stirrings

Portal

Intentional

Ritual

Individually

Touchstones

Unwrapping

Anew

Living

I am yours

Tangible

Yearning

The Secret Garden

The garden is there

Right off Mt. Hope

It really isn't a secret

But it calls to folks

Where is the garden

Why is it hidden

But my garden

My garden is within

The garden is mine

I just need to enter

It is within

12th Day of Christmas

Today the season ends.

The 12th day of Christmas.

The kings have found their way to the baby.

Let us go forth and let the light shine in our daily walk.

Lighting the Way

Charlotte Lighthouse, Rochester, NY

What lights your way?