Mirror’s morning view
Witnessing facial laugh lines—
Wrinkles . . . never mind!
Five seconds to go
Dropping a slice of pizza—
How clean is the floor?
Some parts left over
Backyard gym now assembled—
Who needs instructions?
This poem reflects upon the journey of a young boy who has the opportunity to travel on a train back in the late 1960s. I will always remember this trip with my father. Originally written in December, 2018, the poem has been updated for both content and style.
Lying awake in bed on hot, sultry summer nights
Young boy listens to moving trains, far out of sight
Dreaming of riding passenger trains, brings thrills
Reliable North Coast Limited quickly travels at will
Riding the Northern Pacific Railway’s pride and joy
Father takes son on his first-ever train trip—oh boy!
Sitting together in the comfy coach car, so much fun
Experiencing all that connects a father with his son
Shuffling down the aisle, steward offers snack foods
Restaurant in Glendive soon satisfies hungry moods
Making its journey to Montana’s “Gateway City” today
Hustling train passes many small towns along the way
Flashing quickly by—Custer, Hathaway, and Terry
Steady North Coast Limited acts as trusted ferry
Feeling safe with train’s constant rocking motion
Son’s eyes soon close, sleeping to its locomotion
Waking up, train slowing for a scheduled stop
Town of Forsyth, pausing for quick eavesdrop
Picking up steam, locomotive continues on its way to the East
Yellowstone River runs alongside, train powers up like a beast
Finishing this exciting journey and reaching their destination
Glendive will serve as today’s ending Montana train station
Accompanying his father as he takes care of his affairs
Enjoying dinner and staying overnight without any cares
Returning back home to Billings the very next morn
Son believing train travel should be his new norm
Sitting in cozy dining car, both treated quite well
Elegantly set table makes pancakes taste swell
Moving up to the observation car, enjoying beautiful views
Autumn’s harvested farm fields, lining up straight and true
Hurtling by more towns—Rosebud and Fallon go past
It’s much too bad this captivating journey cannot last
Remembering again those images and sounds of the train
Memories of the North Coast Limited shall always remain
From 2 Peter 1:5-7: “For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.”
Our Father’s goodness
Glory, God and King
Bless and praise His name
Mighty greatness sings
Through generations
Honor His great deeds
Infinite goodness
God’s faithful Word leads
Glorious splendor
Kingdom never ends
Eternal, Holy
Wondrous works, God sends
From Psalm 145:8-9: The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and His compassion is over all that He has made.”
His greatness declares
Lord everlasting
Praising righteousness
Mercies broadcasting
Cries, our Father hears
From darkness, redeemed
He stands, always near
God’s goodness, esteemed
Truth, call upon God
Grace, freely given
Love, witness a Cross
Sins, now forgiven
From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Charles Swindoll: “There are four words I wish we would never forget, and they are ‘God keeps His word.'”
Alone and isolated
Empty calendar pages
Absent family and friends
Life walking in Dark Ages
Hour’s darkest shadows lengthen
Day’s hope missteps and stumbles
Sudden tears, any moment
Faith now tumbles, then crumbles
Day awakens, same old drill
Memories fade, bit by bit
Miles from nowhere, so alone
Silence fills heart, not close-knit
Few good days dwarfed by bad ones
Sunny smiles becoming few
Lonely heart needs titan’s lift
Shining light makes its breakthrough
Make it a point today to reach out to someone who could use a warm hug, a trusting smile, or a kind word. Lonely hearts fill many people with emptiness; share your light.
Listen
Life’s surroundings
Hearing God’s peace
Sharing blessed, warmest transitions
Faith
Precious
Holy moment
Holy Child’s birth
Holy Father’s glory revealed
Gift
Promised
Holy Spirit
Sin’s righteous judgement
Steering us to follow
Truth
Words used every day
Little or much to say
Used in positive ways
Conveying life’s essays
Mindful, powerful voices
Daily, humble choices
Impacting other lives
Celebrate with high fives
Disciplined purpose speaks
Positivity seeks
Sharing tender kindness
Truthful, without blindness
Careful to help and heal
Offering a square deal
Words paying it forward
True and straightforward
Thoughtful expressions said
Weaving with tender thread
Replace evil with good
Words plain and understood
Honest lyrics in song
Carried through all day long
Life unfolds from our text
Watchful where words go next
This poem was written several days before January 6, 2021. Its intention was to praise and encourage the positive power of words. The events taking place in Washington, DC on January 6 showed the negative power of words. How will our future words speak?
From Romans 6:6: “We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.”
Today’s world fills with darkness
Hiding earth’s moral decay
Needing to live as Christ lived
Removing evil, God’s way
Dying and rising in Christ
Baptized into Jesus’ death
Raised up like Him from the dead
Walk in newness of life’s breath
Sinful nature saved through Christ
Vanquished through body and blood
Walking away from the flesh
Carried far from sin’s sour flood
Accepting our Savior’s love
No longer walking in sin
Past selves redeemed at the Cross
Chains of sin’s power grow thin
Like wearing a worn-out shoe
Dark, sinful life doesn’t fit
Living as new creations
Trusting Christ, His love acquits
From Colossians 3:1-2: “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Reminded today
Keep the main thing, the main thing—
Christ front and center
We’re never alone
Fed by the Holy Spirit—
Love’s chain reaction
God seeks each of us
Unholy and unrighteous—
Gathering the lost
From Psalm 107:28-29: “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out from their distress; He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they had quiet, and He brought them to their desired haven.”
Life meeting relentless turbulence
Perpetual, never ending storms
Shaken by overwhelming defeat
Sinking beneath unending harsh swarms
Downtrodden, now hungry and thirsty
Clinging to life, in darkness and gloom
Shackled by sin’s shame, harshest irons
God’s steadfast love delivers from doom
Crying out to our Father above
At final end of life’s fraying rope
Nowhere else to turn, escape darkens
Realizing now, God’s way restores hope
Cutting and freeing lives from bondage
Storm’s wrath consumed by transformation
Into valley of richest harvests
Redeeming lost souls from damnation
Fleeing life’s turmoil, rescued by God
Trusting Him leads to gladness and praise
Faith grows by yards instead of inches
Life’s turbulence quiets, hope ablaze
From American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “God knows we sometimes need to reach the end of our own resources before we will turn to Him.”
With the start of a new year with fresh beginnings, an opportunity arrives to discover the light pointing us in a new direction. May we appreciate the smallest blessings each and every day as our lives restart. One of my goals for the year is to write a note each day . . . there is something to be thankful for.
Year’s flame extinguished
Darkness fills this void
Life’s sad shortcomings
Past times to avoid
Life’s heavy anchor
Blackest thoughts surround
Pulling soul beneath
Surging waves abound
Eternal goodness
Light pointing ashore
There’s always something
To be thankful for
Life says, “Keep breathing”
Understand always
Smallest of blessings
Cuts through foggy haze
Share blessed moments
Smiles fill empty heart
Cup remains half full
Color life’s restart
