July 2015 – Rivers Renewed

First Fridays – A Psalm

Psalm 42: 1-5

As the deer pants for streams of water,

so my soul pants for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When can I go and meet with God?

My tears have been my food day and night,

while men say to me all day long,

“Where is your God?”

These things I remember

as I pour out my soul:

how I used to go with the multitude,

leading the procession to the house of God,

with shouts of joy and thanksgiving

among the festive throng.

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.

Here the Psalmist expresses to us how he is searching for hope. He is going through a very tough time, or did just recently, and he is saying that he first needs to seek some solitude. He realizes, that he needs some light to break through. There is actually a dialogue going on within, as he examines his thoughts. More importantly he recognizes that he is struggling internally, and he acknowledges his pain, and his lack of trusting, the Almighty.

It wasn’t always like that. At one time he was filled with faith, and went to celebrate with everyone else. It seems as though he is remembering, what he used to be like, in order to encourage himself. His mind is saying, “Everything is going to be alright”, and yet his heart is having trouble believing it. This is expressed in the questions he asks. “Why are you downcast, O my soul?”

I’ve been there a time or two! The encouragement here, is don’t let problems in this life get you down. Keep going strong, keep looking up, and trust the Creator. He knows what you are going through.

Be blessed, have a great weekend!

Peace.

Bible verses from the New International Version

video from youtube

“If you love nature, you will love people.”

First Fridays – Blessings

So I have this idea for the first Friday of each month. Yes I know it’s not August yet, but today is an experiment. The idea I have is that one day a month, I play music like this, have some commentary, or maybe some words from the Book of Psalms. I have faith and you can see that in the blog, but I know preaching makes people uncomfortable. I don’t like it either. Well ok, maybe once in a great while! You signed up for nature poems, love poems, quotes, and some stories with good endings, and I love writing in these ways. This is a creative writing blog. Yet there can be incredible beauty in faith.

So today I will see what kind of interest there is. You let me know. I really enjoy your comments, so please feel free.

This song by Laura Story is so incredibly beautiful, I really wanted to share it with you. I love the poetry here. We all go through tough times. Maybe there really is healing, in the tears.

video from youtube, music by Laura Story

Peace and blessings to everyone.

“If you love nature, you will love people.”

Stillness

When the river is quiet,

there’s a stillness in my spirit,

an assurance of calm,

that builds me,

lifting me, higher,

that says to me,

you know the way,

just walk,

clocks,

don’t matter here,

choose,

the path, you’ve been given.

Turtles, on the bottom,

stirring mud,

don’t fly very high,

watch the fish hawk instead,

and copy,

his courage.

Go deep,

and be filled,

never expecting darkness,

plow for the stillness,

when the river is quiet.

Peace and blessings to everyone.

“If you love nature, you will love people.”

On the Lake

When I saw the water,

I thought about our time on the lake,

up before dawn, slipping into the water,

our paddles waking up the blue,

mist,

as the sun was coming up –

warm air, comforting,

hearing a loon surprised us,

a bull moose rustling and feasting,

on the shore,

we were drifting, floating,

my mind wandering through time,

when the earth was new and fresh,

a few campfires with the first people,

“Can we go back and get some breakfast?”

your question,

shattered my dream.

You were right – I turned to smile,

you blew me a kiss,

we laughed,

and paddled, as fast as we could,

yelling, racing, and laughing,

breaking the silence of the eco-system.

I made a joke about moose,

and you lost it — howling!

We laughed so hard the canoe tipped over,

next to the shore, water sparkling,

soaking wet, we held each other,

staring,

into the light of oceans,

I love you.

Peace and blessings to everyone.

“If you love nature, you will love people.”

The Windows of the Cafe

When God looks in on us,

through the windows of the café,

do you think He smiles?

Does He approve of us staring,

into each other’s eyes?

Is holding hands too much?

some would condemn us,

wag a finger, shake their head,

trying to clothe us, in condemnation,

remember that time some church people,

questioned us, for holding hands?

I don’t need to be 20,

I just want you to know,

how I feel.

I think He does approve,

as He looks at us,

through the windows,

of the café.

Peace and blessings to everyone.

“If you love nature, you will love people.”

On This River

A Prose Poem

It was on this river that once flowed, her parent’s blood. She would never forget the image in her mind, of them running towards the river, screaming and praying, when the rifles rang out. Her parents went face down in the water, while she hid in the bushes. The white’s idea of war, included women and children. The did not fight like men. Even Grandfather died when his heart gave out.

The question was, now what, after 20 years? She didn’t like the white minister, he was always saying things that made people feel bad, but he did say one thing she liked. It was about forgiveness. As she watched the river flowing over the rocks, she was asking herself, could she? Could she no longer be angry and forgive?

She did learn that not all whites were evil, only some. Some were also for peace. She liked the people of the Quaker Tribe, they had love in their hearts. Some of the women even reminded her of her mother. She looked intently at the water. There was something here, something calling her, perhaps the Creator. But she could not, she just could not forgive. She prayed for strength, and decided she would try again tomorrow.

image from google

Peace and blessings to everyone.

“If you love nature, you will love people.”

Scenes of Summer

I love the smell of the living green,

leaves in the breeze,

the warmth of the early morning sun,

hiking with you,

on the trails, pretending,

we are the only people left,

and the earth is reborn.

Adam and Eve?

a new beginning, in the woods,

the sky watching us,

looking at the veins of a leaf,

you can see the Creator.

Hours of talking, and walking,

sensing the earth,

and where we belong,

then hiding, in the cabin,

when it gets too warm,

eating a bowl of oatmeal,

with a side of fruit salad.

I love summer.

Peace and blessings to everyone.

“If you love nature, you will love people.”

In the Passage of Time

In the passage of time,

our bodies have shifted,

not according to plan,

but hearts strong,

and our love grows deep.

So I wonder how we will be,

at 80 years old?

Will there be a spark?

or will we be, two embers,

fading, isolated from each other?

You looked at me and said,

“By His grace,

we will still have, the hearts of lions,

fighting the war of love,

a bonfire of light,

in spite of the aches and pains.”

You’re right My Love,

we ain’t done yet,

your smile says it all,

and I love,

the sparkle in your eyes!

Peace and blessings to everyone.

“If you love nature, you will love people.”

Clouds

When I see the clouds,

parting for the sun, moving,

for the light,

I know that I am real,

head for reasoning,

walking farther, with lungs,

hearing with my heart,

beyond the mountains.

I know of a man,

who never knew love,

until he found her,

opening his eyes to the gold,

and the Creator.

And when he writes,

he pushes the clouds,

to the side, not listening,

when people laugh,

or critique his theology.

He will love anyway,

he will write to the sky,

and to her,

to see her smile again.

Peace and blessings to everyone.

“If you love nature, you will love people.”

The Escape XIII – JLo and JJ

Microfiction

They were both surprised by a surface to air rocket, that went after the back of JJ’s F-18. “Lookout!!” JJ took evasive action, turning his plane upside down, to the left, down and then up again. The rocket barely missed him.

JLo swung around, to the right and away, banking sharply. She came down low in a turn, until the pirate vessel was in her sights. She was barely 50 ft. above the water, with the engines screaming. She yelled, “Locked and loaded, you sons of devils!!” She flipped up the plastic cover over the trigger button. The M2 Browning, from the pirates, started blasting. JLo yelled, “Go back to hell…… now!!!” She pushed the red button, and two rockets launched simultaneously. She pulled up, and banked to the right. Both rockets met their target, resulting in a ball of fire on the ocean. JLo continued with, “…..where you belong….”

The four people on the Escape saw the ball of fire, but it was very brief. After a minute even the smoke and steam were gone. The two F-18’s swung around, and then together came down low, to make sure it wasn’t there. As they flew over, there was nothing left, except a few boards, floating on the water. “And the ancient evil was destroyed”, JJ said in a low tone. “Is that from a poem?”, JLo asked. He responded with, “Yeah, but I can’t remember who said it.” “Was it Tennyson?”

Jonathan asked Belinda to head for the Dominican Republic, and Costa del Sol. “We’re flying back to New Jersey as soon as possible”, he said. They all understood. Elaine wasn’t looking well. In fact, she looked terrified, and said, “I can’t wait to get off this boat”. And she meant it.

A few minutes later the two F-18’s flew over the Escape, waving their wings in victory, and saying goodbye. They pulled up sharply, and very quickly they were in the clouds. They leveled off, and headed home. The sun was fully up now and filled the sky with beautiful colors.

At 5,000 ft, JLo said, “So, you owe me a dinner at La Plata Grande…….”. “Yeah I know….but you’re worth it!” he said. Privately he wished he’d never said anything about a bet.

JJ turned to his partner, and asked, “So are we ever going to get married – or what?” He had asked her before, in a more formal way. She turned to him, looking through their cockpit windows, and said, “JJ, my Mama didn’t raise no fool!” She broke off to the right, laughing to herself.

“Hey wait a minute!” JJ yelled at her, “What the heck does that mean??” He broke off to the right too, and followed her. Privately she was having great fun, but knew she should say something else. “It means JJ, that sooner or later we should get married!” “I would be a fool not to.”

Now that was something, he thought. “Sooner or later” she said. So there was hope after all. JLo slowed her F-18 down, and the two best friends were once again flying…….wing tip….to wing tip.

To be continued.

Blessings to everyone.

“If you love nature, you will love people.”

Month: July 2015

First Fridays – A Psalm

First Fridays – Blessings

Stillness

On the Lake

The Windows of the Cafe

On This River

Scenes of Summer

In the Passage of Time

Clouds

The Escape XIII – JLo and JJ

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