Discovery
Waiting
Patience breathes
Unlocking God’s goodness
Prayer opens willing heart
Peace
Invitation
Trusting
Morning’s light
Nourishing with hope
Daily bread of grace
Love
Journey
Receiving
Word’s truth
Replenishing faith’s roots
Risen Christ welcomes all
Joy
Overwhelming
Shadows of war
Destiny speaks
Coming ashore
Future’s darkness
All light erased
Freedom removed
Feeling misplaced
Opposition
All dissent crushed
Outlook grows dim
Speaking now hushed
Heartache cries out
Resistance fades
Hope extinguished
Hiding afraid
Tomorrow’s breath
Empty of pulse
War carries on
Grinding impulse
All images courtesy of Pinterest.
Writer’s Note: I’ve been watching the History Channel’s documentary on World War II, hosted by Tom Hanks. The images seen inspired the writing of this poem.
From Genesis 6:8: “But Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord.”
Trusting God
Noah will listen
Finding favor
Peace glistens
Bearing hope
Honor found in God
Blessings descend
Darkness thawed
Seeing light
Noah works each day
Building God’s ark
Called to pray
Path made straight
God clearing away
Each obstacle
Truth’s new way
Believing
God’s glorious plan
Meeting each need
Noah can
From Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”
Preciousness
Morning’s rising face
Energizing peace below—
Fresh outlook embraced
Boundless
Clear night sky arrives
Breathing with infinite peace—
Tomorrow on deck
Permanence
Intimacy felt
Transforming peace covers earth—
Creator’s presence
Early morning’s reversing wind
No longer facing fierce headwind
Life takes comfort in day ahead
Thrilled to be awake, out of bed
Skipjack sailing away from home
Leaving Choptank’s berth, free to roam
Adventure waiting, take it on
Facing nature, ready with brawn
Pride of Maryland’s Eastern Shore
Nathan of Dorchester explores
With summer day’s life-giving breeze
She skims across these waves with ease
Distant river shoreline fading
Chesapeake Bay, now invading
Each crew member tackles his tasks
Loving this boat, each effort basks
With warm breezes, life’s sails now fill
Each port of call, sharing goodwill
The inspiration for this poem comes from my travels to Maryland’s Eastern Shore along the Choptank River at Cambridge. While I haven’t sailed on the Skipjack Nathan of Dorchester (yet), it is something I would enjoy experiencing during a future summer trip back to my wife’s hometown.
Originally published March, 2021.
From James 1:2-4: “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trials, consider it all joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing.”
Creator’s lessons
Persistent light
Filled with endurance
Growth taking flight
Father’s watchful eye
Every detail
Patient, daily breath
Peace without fail
Creator’s guidance
Grace fills each day
Molded through His love
Faith’s only way
Father’s faithfulness
Hope’s rising tides
Tireless in nature
Mercy untied
Creator’s impulse
Daily outreach
Always on target
Wisdom shall teach
From Proverbs 2:9-10: “Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path, for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.”
Truth Enshrined
Witnessing
God’s covenant
Forged through fire
Pair of stone tablets
Following
Hope Answered
Embracing
God’s commandments
Meeting His expectations
With wisdom comes discernment
Trusting
Hunger Fed
Reading
God’s Word
Holy and divine
Nourishing heart’s inner soul
Understanding
Defining sunrise
Another touch of peace
Harmony’s interactions
Nature’s timely release
Embracing daylight
Morning’s joyfulness speaks
Each illustrated landscape
Nature’s waiting mystique
Inserting wind’s breath
Grove of tree branches sway
Scattered pollen taking flight
Nature’s open gateway
Mixing up colors
Hues of unique design
Tranquility delivers
Nature’s scenic pipeline
Fulfilling vision
Hope offering her hand
Empty canvas finished
Nature’s spirit commands
From Philippians 2:1-2: “If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”
Led by Jesus Christ
Humility follows His light
Captured in every breath
Outlook painted in white
Encouragement breathes
Bathed in blessings of Scripture’s Word
Humility’s heart warmed
Joy found in all that’s heard
Pride moving away
Humility infused with love
Credit given to God
Glory shines from above
Christ’s comfort received
Peace descends upon angel’s wings
Humility’s presence
Forever, mercy sings
Hope in tomorrow
Humility’s mission complete
Others placed above self
Gifted with faith’s front seat
From Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.”
Transplanted
Children’s transfusion
Grace opens heart to transmit—
Love flowing outward
Committed
Trust joining twin hearts
Husband shares love with his bride—
Both rising with peace
Fulfilled
Love’s innocence shines
Decades can never erase—
Hearts forged together
Big Sky Buckeye 