Deepest ocean trench
Pacific’s Mariana—
Unfathomable
Himalayan peaks
World’s blessed Mother Goddess—
Everest’s glory
Icebergs gathering
Floating, titanic struggle—
Ocean’s ships, keep out!
Photo by Bich Tran on Pexels.com
Looming, life’s challenges come from left field
Invading life, pushing through safety shields
Sheltering-in-place brings many changes
Experiencing new rules, with broad ranges
Occupied at home, juggling novel ways
Overcoming change, yet lost in life’s maze
Closing businesses, routines now shuttered
Feeling suddenly strange, life seems cluttered
Playing underfoot, young children amaze
Showing adults, innocence shows new ways
Living with this new normal, upside down
Sensing loss, emotions creating frowns
Praying for those needing support and care
Tapping our faith, God leads with His bright flare
Remaking daily habits, life’s new pace
Shelving normal, left high on a bookcase
Growing each day, uncertainty prevails
Ticking clocks, second hands moving like snails
Hunkering down, persistent virus sprawls
Waiting day by day, patience makes its call
Photo by Shawn Stutzman on Pexels.com
Originally published April, 2020 (near the beginning of the Covid pandemic).
From Psalm 86:11: “Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere Your name.”
In perfect world
Always scoring
Tasting success
Every inning
Imperfect life
Trials crashing
Testing resolve
Emptiness reigns
Lessons in trust
Spirit nurtures
Kneeling at cross
Jesus teaches
Answers come forth
Faith’s walk deepens
Learning God’s ways
Grace enters heart
Battle strengthens
Darkness vanquished
Walking with Christ
Light victorious
God’s mercy flows
Just as He planned
Steady guidance
Growing each day
From Ecclesiastes 3:14: “I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor anything taken from it; God has done this so that all should stand in awe before Him.”
Scaling
Mountain’s challenges
Faith’s promised cornerstone
Light delivers trusted grace
Overcoming
Navigating
Stormy seas
Light from above
Counting on faith’s compass
Reassuring
Traversing
Enemy’s darkness
Faith leading forward
Righteous light strengthens faith
Illuminating
Sailing to endless shores
Harmony fills each breeze
Journey’s fluent rhythm
Replacing life’s unease
Sailing beyond darkness
Newness spilling over
Journey’s fluent story
Viewing life’s changeover
Sailing from rising tides
Novel approach tunes in
Journey’s fluent verses
Catching life’s peace within
Sailing from day’s troubles
Warm melodies sing out
Journey’s fluent cadence
Finding life’s faithful route
Sailing with keen insights
Outlook crafted anew
Journey’s fluent tempo
Weaving life’s beads of dew
From Isaiah 43:2: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
Road ahead narrows
Stumbling with each step
Burdened with mistrust
Lack of faith, leads to missteps
Spirit joins each step
Uplifting at dawn
Life’s route flattens out
Mercy calling out, hang on
Tomorrow arrives
Trusting in God’s grace
River passing through
Each faithful step, keeping pace
Wilderness watered
Blossoming new leaves
Harvest steps forward
Deliverance, wrapped in sheaves
Eyes focused on Christ
Leading steps with love
Journey energized
Guided, by Spirit above
From Romans 8:27: “And God, who searches hearts, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
Nourishing landscape
Radiating at sunrise—
Creator’s spirit
Enduring sunrise
Wakening morning’s treasures—
New day beginning
In early dawn’s light
Nighttime passes her baton—
Horizon’s sunrise
Photo by Marllon Cristhian Barbosa on Pexels.com
Watching Saturday’s unhurried sunrise
Feeling gratefulness, spirit shall arise
Being retired, life moves at much slower pace
Realizing, there’s no need to win life’s race
Remembering grandfathers, crisp and clear
Teaching life lessons, steady and sincere
Growing up, learning from their example
Tasting life with every new sample
Loving family, with kindness and care
Treating marriage, with love beyond compare
Passing on wisdom, making good choices
Sitting here now, hearing cherished voices
Accepting their torch, these years move along
Being a grandfather, where love belongs
Filling up life, grandchildren sharing love
Joining other grandfathers, fits like a glove
Photo by Kelly Lacy on Pexels.com
Originally published April, 2020. Edited September, 2023.
From Psalm 37:5-6: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act. He will make your vindication shine like the light and the justice of your cause like the noonday.”
Trusting always, Lord’s righteousness
Living under His cherished love
Filling each heart with His desires
Praises reign from heaven above
Trusting always, Lord’s promised light
Committing to His divine way
Shining upon mercy’s justice
Darkness vanquished, fading away
Trusting always, Lord’s faithful path
Sending love with His timely grace
Accepting redemption’s blessing
Peace extended, let all embrace
Trusting always, Lord’s hallowed Word
Reading as His blueprint unfolds
Gathering spirit leads us forth
Faith growing from Gospel’s foothold
From Psalm 37:39-40: “The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their refuge in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and rescues them; He rescues them from the wicked and saves them because they take refuge in Him.”
God’s
Unconditional love
Covering our shortcomings
Filling valleys, leveling mountains
Grace
Faith
Strengthened daily
Scripture’s inspirational light
Savior’s grace at work
Hope
Today’s
Looking forward
Christ’s fulfilling peace
Opening faith to grace
Tomorrow’s
Big Sky Buckeye 