As a young student of English and literature, it was not permitted to read the last chapter first—not officially—but unofficially. Who wants to spoil the fun of traveling through the intrepid chugging and cascading roller-coaster plot and twists brought to you by perfect words placed in perfect order? The compounding mystery is the journey leading…
Pond Real Estate
I’m envying the sunbathing turtles across the pond, flippers splayed upon the muddy beach and heads raised to the sunshine. Most days they come and settle in for hours—the mud on the edges of their shells and skin drying to charcoal grit. Oh the luxury, the decadent extravagance—to sink deeply into the earthen shoreline and…
A Deeper Solace
Faith is a daily consolation, but it takeson an active, deeper solace when we awaken to know the lion share of what and to whom we anchor in a storm is developed through heartfelt gratitude. In the embracing of thankfulness upon the mountain and in the valley, an incandescent joy and strength burns a consuming…
Vespers
Amidst autumn’s burnished copper leaf mirrored across the pond, lighted houses are pressed into dusk against chilly November winds. In this moment at day’s end, let me tell you of my gratefulness. Let me say thank you. The leaves I raked today are resting on the shoulder of the road—bagged and still warm with life….
Lavender Shirts Not Required
Leaning against the wooden porch fence at the wayside barbecue stand in his crisp lavender shirt and black dress pants, he explained that he’d just come from the church up the road. With a defined zest for life, the man spoke about local news and history to us that stood in line for our Sunday…
Roundstone, Ireland
Roundstone, Ireland I walked the stony beaches of Roundstone, Ireland, and stood under the shadow of the old lighthouse. The salty, icy Atlantic wind blew through to the heart of me. I saw the sun glistening upon lapping water pools by ancient, abandoned stone houses where Irish fisherman lived and died and sustained a generation…
Orion and Pleiades
On summer nights in Colorado, I sat on a weathered wooden chair from Mexico that adorned our front porch. Little girl against the dark and cold of night, I engaged with the stars. Surrounded by a midnight blue velvet curtain loaded with millions of pin pricks shining clear, bright light. I found Little Dipper first…
Soul and Spirit
Soul and Spirit The searching-truth poet asks with every word penned, “Is the soul awake?” assuming that all revelation finds epitome in that dominion. But the dead man knows the spirit must arise to life. And you recognize that it teems with life when the sword of betrayal pierces the heart, and the spirit pauses…
A Walled Garden
I love a walled garden and especially a vine that grows over the wall. There’s something so life-giving about living beauty and fruitfulness that goes beyond the limitation of borders. Think about the life of Joseph. Upon his father’s deathbed, Jacob prophesied this. “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose…
Generational Healing
Someone once told me that the best years of life happen after 50. Since I was in my early 40’s, I rejected the idea completely. It rang in my heart as unrealistic and Pollyanna-ish. Now that I am approaching my 71st birthday, I see the truth and beauty packed in that statement. There is a…
Bonnie Saul Wilks 