Don’t think of betrayal, rejection, disappointment, or failure as deprivation, rather a nutrient-rich, bitter bite. Trees are pruned in slices, without ruth, to the life-giving quick of a bearing branch. The inward, blue stripes of brokenness–that rite of passage called surrender–produces the most impassioned, sweetest, and lasting fruit. You will rise again to re-plow, re-seed,…
Tag: writing
August’s End
Bathed in sunlight and surrounded with a thickly woven emerald carpet and a singing chorus of flowers in rioting colors, summer’s glorious days draw down to a few. It’s beauty though forever remains ephemeral and perpetual at once. Here I find strength in the hope of You, Creator. Father. Friend. Confidant. Savior. Here I am …
Golden Harvest
I will plant seeds in the barren soil of your heartache and loneliness. I will water the hard ground with your tears, shed in the secret disappointments of your heart. My smile will burn through the your weary darkness and scatter the storm clouds. I will grow a harvest from what you rejected, wasted, and…
Words and the Sea
The sea is awake and the sand asleep. Waves wash over the uncombed glittering grains with generosity. Over and over they move in tandem, in rhythm—the washing in and out of great salty waters. My heart stings as the saline potion washes clean the wounds of yesterday. Collapsed and cradled in the arms of the…
Crucible Trophies
To the evenings without heat and mornings without water. To the showers that ended in the middle and scratchy blue crepe that doubled as toilet paper. To the rough and long drives from Myaki to Odessa, and the unreliable but wonderful poconetcom. To the red jeep, with conspicuous Texas license plates, that carried us across…
Firsts
My grandson, Emmett, wiggled and wiggled as I tried to put on his pajamas. His silly mood made us both giggle and fall on the bed with laughter. Then suddenly, Emmett grew quiet and still for a moment, and his eyes gleamed and grew as big as planets. “Marmee, we saw Christmas lights tonight!” “Yes, we…
Summing up 2024
And preparing for 2025! Poetical Christmas thoughts as I discern the times and transition into a new season. The Needless Loss I hear the whys within the questions And wait. I see the darkness within the night And grieve. I see the tears within the weeping And groan. I hear the cries within the screams…
Kneeling
I’ve spent a lifetime bandaging my feet, partly from ill-fitting shoes, traveling too many miles in a day, losing my way, making a wrong turn, or carrying too many burdens. Also, there are the roads I’ve traveled long just to gaze upon ancient stones, a rusted filigree, or become dizzy with the scent of an …
Every Sparkle Shouts
It’s easy to look at the condition of the world and despair or grow cynical about the message of the birth of Jesus: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:14. At Bible Study Fellowship, we have been studying the book of Revelation. We just finished chapters 4…
Transformation
Transformation Is there any gold in the world more valuable than this— other than the golden moment when the red, red rose bled into the desert wasteland, transforming it into a green green garden? Bonnie Saul Wilks Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring…