Category: faith

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! This weekend around the world millions of people are celebrating the risen Christ. New life, and the defeat of death are amazing to think about.

And Happy Passover to all my Jewish friends! You know, without the Passover, today’s celebration of Easter would never have happened. God saved His people from death and pulled them from slavery in a dramatic way.

You see Jesus was Jewish. He grew up Jewish and celebrated Jewish holidays, including Passover! Isn’t that amazing? And the Last Supper was actually a Passover Seder. Did you know that?

I also have a lot of friends here from a number of faiths. I’m so happy to say that, and I’m so glad you’re here. You are a wonderful part of my blog! Thank you!

May each of us enjoy this season of renewal and rebirth. The Earth is becoming new again!

Peace and wonderful blessings to each of you.

Writing and Image Copyright © 2022 rivers renewed

You Need to Know

If you came here thinking I was a conservative Republican, you need to know that I’m not….and never will be again. It happened long before king for a day #45.

I am pro-mask (only when needed), pro-vaccine, pro-common sense approach to science and faith.

Here’s some science…..ready? When I look up at the sky and it’s blue with white puffy clouds it means it will probably not rain that day. Storm clouds mean it probably will rain. That’s science and it’s that simple.

Science is simply drawing conclusions from evidence. Thin wispy clouds in a blue sky? This usually means it will rain in a day or so.

I will never be part of the AR15 culture that is mostly right wing white people. I’m sorry but it’s true. I watched the January 6th riot live as it happened. Next to each other, side by side, were banners of white supremacists and confederate flags with assault rifles painted on them, and unfortunately some Jesus banners.

I saw three Jesus banners. That’s not who I am and never will be. To be honest I don’t think I can survive another president like king for a day #45. There’s simply too much brutality and lying.

I would not leave this nation and our medical insurance is here which we so desperately need. Yet I wonder if Ireland is accepting American immigrants?

Writing and Image Copyright © 2022 rivers renewed

Solidarity

I’m flying the flag of Ukraine today in solidarity with the people there. May this war be over quickly. My heart is with them.

Ukraine has about 44 million people and has a democratically elected government. They have been an independent nation for about 30 years. Did you know that?

Some are surprised by Russia’s aggression, but we shouldn’t be.

No comments supporting Russia will be allowed here today. I will squash them quicker than a fly swatter squashing a fly. Was that strong enough? Russia is a bullying dictatorship. I do not allow bullies here!

Send some positive thoughts and prayers for Ukraine today.

Peace for Ukraine!

Writing Copyright © 2022 rivers renewed, image public domain

P.S. I should be back tomorrow with a new post, but this one is important.

Where I Live Now

Did I move to another site?! No. Did I migrate to Twitter? Nah! Not interested.

However I wanted to share where my poetry and other writings come from. In my heart I do seek renewal, wholeness, and the beautiful healing of nature simply because…..I know what broken is.

We all have tragedies that take place in our lives and Rumi wrote about brokenness being where the light comes in. I know what this is like for sure!

My wife almost died from cancer years ago, and she has had cancer several times since then but a different type. Or rather what she had morphed into tumors. She still receives treatments today.

I remember her being in ICU the first time around, her kidneys were shutting down, and she had several heart attacks. It was not looking good. Pain and grief almost took me down completely. I was terrified for years.

It was a blood cancer, in other words the cancer was in her blood. She did recover from that and she’s a walking miracle. Thank God! Now though she deals with tumors.

Yet I want that light that comes through brokenness. I embrace it. Even through other tragedies I seek light that comes through, bringing healing.

The other area my writing comes from is love. The love I have for my wife is incredibly and wonderfully powerful. Love also motivates me in my faith towards God.

I want you to know I am a person of faith, but we are not a part of the far-right weaponized mentality that is destructive. You will never get a Christmas card from us holding assault rifles or shotguns. We would never do that.

Our faith is one of peace, love and tolerance.

So to summarize: my writing comes from embracing the light that comes through brokenness, great love, and faith.

This is where I live now.

Wishing you peace.

Writing and Image Copyright © 2022 rivers renewed

The Legend of Holds the Fire

Perhaps there have always been healers and seers among the People, but one in particular is still talked about today. All the People could see she was a very special child from the moment she was born. To this day her mother says that when she was born, Holds the Fire sang instead of cried.

No one understood the language, and some said it was an ancient one from when the People were first created from the Earth.

When she was 3, Holds the Fire ran to the injured Songbird, when she was attacked by a bear. At first, Holds the Fire was pushed away, but she snuck through the crowd and touched Songbird. Everything changed from that moment. Holds the Fire’s beautiful brown skin changed to red and then orange, glowing as if embers from a holy fire.

It was in her hands. Healing was in the hands of Holds the Fire. Songbird, who had been screaming in agony and fear, immediately calmed down. Healing washed over her as waves from the sacred lake. And Holds the Fire spoke in that ancient language again, the language no one could understand.

When she was older there was much work to be done. Rattlesnake bites, war wounds and emotional trauma took their toll. And no man was brave enough to ask her to marry. Maybe she didn’t want that type of life anyway.

To this day though…..all the People know….. she is their Mother.

Writing Copyright © 2021 rivers renewed, image public domain c.1900

Note: I’m bringing an early Christmas present today! This is brand new. Merry Christmas!