Quelling emotions
Welcome each blossoming change—
Sunrise sets table
Friend’s steady guidance
Tomorrow’s journey brightens—
Today’s welcome steps
Encouragement’s light
Harvest of welcome choices—
Resilience well-knit
From Galatians 5:22-25: “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.”
Seeing mankind standing along the road
Bearing heavy burdens, life’s overload
Stopping to say, travel the other way
Sharing some kindness, from our Lord today
Shining Jesus’ light, for all to follow
Hearing His Word, rich wisdom to swallow
Overlooking life’s narrow-minded walk
Sharing some kindness, truth becomes our rock
Lending helping hands, sisters and brothers
Showering daily grace, like none other
Forsaking life’s blindness, opening eyes
Sharing some kindness, never in disguise
Helping others who travel beside us
Inviting them, catching rides on God’s bus
Loving with patience, goodwill overflows
Sharing some kindness, warming hearts aglow
Recalling Christ’s call, handing out His love
Sharing His mercy, planted from above
Paying it forward, kindness shared each day
Harvesting endless treasures from God’s way
This poem is inspired by singer Glen Campbell’s classic tune, “Try a Little Kindness.” Here is one of his renditions of this remarkable song. Pay it forward, show the world some kindness.
Originally published December, 2020.
Fateful ember glows
Another shared memory—
Seeing tomorrow
Kindness extended
Grace added with every breath—
Character defined
Diploma in hand
Open road’s invitation—
Adventures ahead
God invites us to come directly into His presence by way of His own dear Son.
From John 14:6: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”
W. Phillip Keller (1920-1997) was born in Africa as the son of missionary parents. His life’s mission would allow him to become a world citizen as a photographer, agronomist, and Christian author.
Wind’s inviting voices
Welcoming from shadow’s past
Harmonizing spirits
Bright skies trying to hold fast
Darkness taking shortcut
Wakening to rising sun
Searching for tomorrow
Ahead of each setting sun
Wind chimes at every hour
Reminding of yesterday
Wishing for better times
Memories’ daily ballet
Today never backtracks
Writing journey’s blessed song
Soaring ahead, true joy
Nature’s essence comes along
Wind gathers final breath
Inviting darkness back in
Following every star
Round of dreams, ready to spin
Sitting home, isolated and alone
Taking virtual trips, changes life’s tone
America’s landscapes invite us in
Scenic mountain vistas, adventures grin
Alaska Range, home to our northernmost peaks
Denali “the tall one” forever speaks
Cascade Range roams the Pacific Northwest
Snow-capped volcanoes offer stunning quests
Sierra Nevada’s enchanted land
Host national parks, majestic and grand
Rocky Mountains form this nation’s backbone
Stunning beauty, more precious than gemstones
Sawtooth Mountains salute from Idaho
Endless summits bring skiers to the snow
Bighorn Mountains, sacred to native ways
Montana-Wyoming border sings praise
Adirondack Mountains, New York’s playground
Winter skiing, fall foliage—best around
Great Smoky Mountains push for Tennessee
Fog-covered peaks, spellbinding all agree
Blue Ridge Mountains welcome us back home
Free-flowing Shenandoah smiles and roams
Wherever you live or where your travels take you, you may have a favorite mountain paradise. One of my precious favorites is the Beartooth Mountains in south-central Montana, a stone’s throw away from Yellowstone National Park.
You are invited to share one of your special places in the comments.
Originally published July, 2020.
Dawn’s welcoming sign
Sunrise offers daily grace—
Unforgettable
Morning showers fade
Rainbow’s vividness appears—
Testament of peace
Evening’s curtain drops
Serenity’s sunset glows—
Time’s faithful footnote
Inviting
Abundant life
Quenching spiritual thirst
Clutching Father’s steadfast promises
Relationship
Seeking
Lasting nourishment
Spiritual hunger fulfilled
Following our Father’s way
Peace
Hearing
Angelic voices
Bursting with praise
Mountaintops full of love
Joy
This series of poems (written in the German-inspired style of Elfchen or Elevenie) shares a total of eleven words in each poem, with a sequence by line of one, two, three, four, and one words.
Our loving heavenly Father invites us to bring our burdens to Him and accept the strength He offers.
From Psalm 55:22: “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Someplace beyond morning’s rainbow
Hidden behind radiant sun
Residing in distant chateau
Tomorrow’s dreams forever spun
Clouds pushed aside for open door
Daily invitation calls out
Stirring every eagle to soar
Higher and higher, sky’s lookout
Opportunity always waits
Passage to high heavens above
Flying over more open gates
Treasured gifts, overflowing love
Visions transforming into night
Moonlight shining, fully ablaze
Dancing stars, filled with neon lights
Darkness anxious for sunny rays
Rain shadows early daylight’s peace
Sunrise waiting, shrouded in clouds
Rising colors, set to release
Morning’s rainbow, sweetness endowed
Big Sky Buckeye 