Worries and fears grow
Never-ending appetite—
Consuming spirit
In darkest of times
Winning race with final push—
Running with boldness
Day’s delightful pause
Joyous memories drop in—
Dancing in one’s heart
The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all of the other ages you’ve been.
Because we fail to listen to each other’s stories, we are becoming a fragmented human race.
Madeleine L’Engle (1918-2007) was an American writer and poet who frequently wrote about her Christian faith as well as her interest in modern science.
Sitting eerily silent after these forgotten years
The abandoned firehouse rests without fears
Remaining alive, vivid memories reign again
Quietly remembering all that had once been
Rising above a busy street, the firehouse stands
Firefighters arrive on deck, with powerful hands
Living quarters on the second floor make due
Firefighters’ labors never seem quite through
Recalling a flawless safety record that shines
Teamwork and training work together just fine
Feeling safe, homes and merchants live nearby
They all witness courage as every day races by
Filling the ground floor, two red engines wait
The ensuing alarm will signal their next fate
Waiting side by side . . . shiny, clean, and bright
Pumper and ladder engines, eager to take flight
Providing basic firefighting is the pumper’s place
While the ladder reaches high floors, just in case
Visiting a nearby grade school one October day
The ladder engine shows off in a marvelous way
Encouraging children ask the ladder to go high
Accommodating firefighters look prepared to fly
Returning to the firehouse, a calm and inviting sight
An alarm goes out, both engines prepare for the fight
Sliding down a pole, firefighters destined for action
Their special clothing assembled, ready in a fraction
Rolling out to the street, piercing sirens wail
These seasoned warriors intend never to fail
Weaving through traffic, the engines arrive in time
Quick response calms the fire before it can climb
Remembering the past, the excitement is long done
The old firehouse stands ready for one final, fire run
We look at the world once, in childhood. The rest is memory.
I could live almost completely in imagination.
American poet Louise Gluck (born 1943) is widely recognized for her unique style and poetic voice. She has received numerous awards including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2020 and the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1993.
From 1 Peter 2:2-3: “Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
Believers searching
Seeking Father’s plan
Bible revealing
Spirit touches man
God’s blessed children
Salvation growing
Tasting His goodness
Spirit’s gifts showing
Breathing righteousness
Man’s actions molded
In likeness of Christ
Spirit’s tasks unfolded
Holy and treasured
Chosen cornerstone
Glorifying God
Spirit in Christ sown
Long ago searching
Heeding sovereign will
Now finding God’s plan
Spirit flows downhill
From 1 Peter 2:9-10: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Forgiveness is the economy of the heart . . . forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.
From Luke 11:4: “And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.”
Hannah More (1745-1833) was an English playwright, poet, educator, and religious writer.
The inspiration for these verses comes from recent headlines in the newspaper. When a reader ventures away from the front page, there is a treasure of life’s stories waiting.
Weather vanes invented with single aim
Adding visual symbolism’s acclaim
Wandering away from life’s busy streets
Nature offers solitude’s finest seats
Rescuing two lives in one single day
Sixth grader’s actions blaze this hero’s way
Local diner evolves, now town’s flagship
Coffee and donuts to full menu trip
Treetop’s aerial gliders taking flight
Flying squirrels airborne, astounding sight
“Fiddler on the Roof” shares fabled story
Cultural icon relives its glory
Simplify cooking steps for more success
Start early and share duties, with less stress
Democracy threatened by world’s neglect
Time to promote common good’s architect
Embracing its increasing attendance
Art museum’s lasting independence
Heartbreaking storms, compassion now descends
Neighbors’ lasting love bringing help to mend
This informative post will be posted on Saturday along with my usual writing. We can all appreciate some of the lesser known facts from around the world.
The first flight attendants were men whose main job function was to handle baggage. When United Airlines decided to put women on their planes in 1930, all of the stewardesses they hired were nurses, based on the theory that nurses would be most capable of handling passengers’ needs on bumpy flights.
Fred Astaire’s famous dances with Ginger Rogers were some of the most romantic moments in movie history, but Astaire actually developed the numbers with choreographer Hermes Pan, who filled in for Rogers during choreography, then later taught her the steps.
These facts have been discovered in I NEVER KNEW THAT by David Hoffman (2009).
You gotta hang out with people who have big dreams and believe in that dream.
Surround yourself with supportive people. All the negative people, man you have to push them aside.
Faith
Grace refilling
Every precious day
Father, Son, Holy Spirit
Eyewitnesses
Walking
Never alone
Holy Spirit’s voice
Yielding to His guidance
Transformation
Darkness
Hiding sin
Divine light’s guidance
Grace nurtures Christ’s forgiveness
Believe
Big Sky Buckeye 