I believe in kindness. Also in mischief. Also in singing, especially when singing is not necessarily prescribed.
For poems are not words, after all, but fires for the cold, ropes let down to the lost, something as necessary in the pockets of the hungry.
Mary Oliver (1935-2019) was a best-selling American poet, who received many honors for her work. Her love of nature can be found in much of her writing, and it resulted in honors from the National Book Award in 1992 and Pulitzer Prize in 1984.
Heavenly message
Writing with new hope
Lifting spirits high
Praising faith’s bright scope
Heavenly boldness
Persevering grace
Penetrating love
Praising faith’s new base
Heavenly mercy
Blessing with each breeze
Filling lungs with peace
Praising what faith sees
Heavenly goodness
Sharing righteous voice
Adorning with joy
Praising faith’s best choice
Heavenly greatness
Descending to earth
Filling one manger
Praising faith’s rebirth
From 1 Kings 3:5: “At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, ‘Ask what I should give you.'”
Life’s adaptive landscape
Father’s faithful seeding
Walking new avenues
His wisdom interceding
Dreams flow with endless peace
Father’s mercy speaks
Offering new insights
His wisdom strengthens what’s weak
Sunrise brightens each mind
Father’s steady view
Filling one’s righteousness
His wisdom comes shining through
Day brimming with praises
Father’s grace feeding
Finding mountain meadows
His wisdom superseding
Light shall topple darkness
Father’s goodness flows
Choosing each time and place
His wisdom sends love to grow
From 1 Kings 3:9: “Give your servant, therefore, an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil, for who can govern this great people of yours?”
Speaking to others
Thoughtful grace shining outward—
Revealing kindness
Enthusiasm’s voice
Sunshine brightens one more life—
Spirits lifted up
Nurtured, fertile ground
Cultivation’s happiness—
Spreading seeds of joy
Your presence is the most precious gift you can give to another human being.
Peace cannot be built on the foundations of fear.
Marshall Rosenberg (1934-2015) was an American psychologist, author, and teacher. Much of his work was framed around the development of supporting partnerships and resolving conflicts.
David praises the greatness of God through Scripture found in Psalm 145, and these verses inspire this poem.
Each day life seems too normal
Monotonous and mundane
Beautiful bundle arrives
Hallmarks of our Lord’s domain
Blessing us each precious day
Spontaneous surprises
Praising our Father’s great name
Goodness comes in all sizes
Reaching depths of every sea
Loving each generation
Eclipsing highest heavens
Honoring God’s creation
Awesome and vast deeds come forth
Witnessing God’s mighty acts
Glorious splendor singing
Filling what life truly lacks
God’s everlasting kingdom
Harvesting abundant gifts
Faithful words stir greatest feats
Balancing life’s slips and shifts
Singing of God’s righteousness
Showering with compassion
Tasting His Holy goodness
Remembering His passion
Blessing His name forever
Amen
From Psalm 145:8: “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
Originally published June, 2020.
If a window of opportunity appears, don’t pull down the shade.
Smile if it kills you. The physiology of smiling diffuses a lot of anger and angst. It makes your body and soul feel better.
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was an American naturalist, poet, and philosopher. Influenced by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne, many of his writings reflected upon living in natural surroundings.
Things that make us alike are finer and stronger than the things that make us different.
The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life.
American activist Jane Addams (1860-1935) was the second woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. Her accomplishments are many as she labored as a reformer, social worker, and author. She was a timeless voice for world peace and women’s suffrage.
The real object of education is to leave a man in the condition of continually asking questions.
The desire of every man to have his own way becomes all the stronger when he knows that his way is a good way.
Mandell Creighton (1843-1901) was a British historian as well as a bishop in the Church of England.
From Psalm 31:24: “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.”
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Immense weight of the world
Resting on our shoulders
Crying out to our Lord
Pebbles fall like boulders
Darkest thoughts undermine
Harshest mental torment
Hidden physical foes
Hopeless, stuck in cement
Our Lord hearing, He cares
Listening to whole hearts
Filling with confidence
Piercing conflict, like a dart
Forever with our Lord
His refuge, without fuss
His righteousness delivers
Strong fortress, saving us
Cities under fearful siege
Virus shadows each street
Lord, lead us and guide us
Your goodness won’t retreat
Our Father’s steadfast love
Covers our affliction
Blessed be our Lord God
Faith, hope . . . our conviction
Trusting in the Father
Facing vicious disease
Your face shines upon us
We pray upon our knees
Photo by Immortal shots on Pexels.com
From Psalm 3:8: “Deliverance belongs to the Lord; may your blessings be on your people.”
Originally published April, 2020.
Big Sky Buckeye 