 | Agnieszka on Gone Fishin’ |
 | Pat on Beauty is All Around |
 | Anita Lewis on Gone Fishin’ |
 | hugo esparaza on Beauty is All Around |
 | Mary Clavin on Happy Landing |
A snowman with a top hat,
a fire hydrant with a snowy dome,
a morning walker bundled up against the chilly breeze -
Early February days beckon us outside to enjoy the calm
after a winter storm.
The stillness only slightly disturbed by the crunch, crunch
of newly fallen snow under foot -
The sun grows stronger now on the horizon.
Spring cannot be far off.
“Slow down, you’re goin’ too fast.”
Winter snows can say a lot about
our customary routines very quietly.
When a foot or two of snow drops into our January calendar,
it says, “Relax!
Take some time to think about life.”
Pleasant days to you.
Both on the football field
and on the field of life,
the man in the middle plays an important role.
He may be referee between the competing teams
or newly-inaugurated President in the midst of groups
fiercely lobbying for their cause on the national stage.
In either case, the man in the middle needs our prayer.
May he remain unscathed by the combat as he exercises his duty.
Soft, quiet, blanket of white
Covering field and house,
Summer porch and frozen garden -
January pause after December rush.
Nature has a way of slowing us down
by bringing our rush-hour traffic to a crawl,
whether we like it or not.
Why fight it?
Enjoy the beauty, quiet and softness
of January snowfall while it lasts.
May Christmas and New Year 2009
bring you a season of love and grace
with discoveries you did not expect.
Jesus was born into a world where war was common,
Suffering was part and parcel of daily life,
And people of faith longed for peace and love.
Both in the first and the twenty-first century,
Christ is the answer to our longing.
Once the leaves of summer have fallen away,
the spindly tree branches become more visible
against the morning sun’s heavenly canvas.
Fragile fingers lifted skyward
as if to remind us that we too should lift heavenward
our own hands, be they strong or frail.
Advent’s invitation abides.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Blessed Thanksgiving to all!
Those of us who enjoy health,
freedom to express ourselves creatively,
the opportunity to worship,
and even the liberty to travel from one place to another,
today give thanks for the rights and gifts denied to many people.
The best way to show gratitude to God is to share the fruits of our life.
May your daily life become a gift for all who know you,
as well as all who cross your path, even if it is in cyberspace!
The bow in the clouds which colorfully follows summer rains
will not be seen during the winter months.
But autumn has its own rainbow of different leaves tumbling onto one another.
We, too, citizens of planet earth can be thrown together haphazardly at times.
Nature teaches us to see the possibilities in diversity.
Chance encounters we never planned can lead to rich friendships.
Where there is variety, life abounds.
Autumn’s beauty endures for now,
Strong sunlight bringing out the contrasting colors
for all to enjoy.
Though the leaves will soon meet their fate,
the trees will weather the winter winds
secure in their cloak of time-tested bark.
It’s time to look for our coats too.
