Past Favorites: Man-Cave Friends

Exercising tonight on my stationary bike

Making me feel very much like a young tike

 

Listening to a playlist of songs from the past

Hoping that my strength and stamina will last

 

Setting a quick pace as the pedaling begins

Missing a day on the bike would be quite a sin

 

Biking regularly in this Man-Cave each night

Looking around the room, there is quite a sight

 

Sharing space with a sofa full of Teddy Bears

Watching and smiling at me as they all stare

 

Pushing and pulling the handles in front of my face

Pedaling with high energy at a fast and furious pace

 

My biking adventure will continue all of this week

Realizing these “beary” friends will be here to peek

  

The photo at the beginning of this post is taken inside Mrs. Buckeye’s “Bear Room.”  While I use the room to workout on my stationary bicycle from time to time, the real purpose of the room is obvious.  

Monday Memories: At the Door

Photo by Luis Quintero on Pexels.com

Jesus stands ready

 

He understands life

With its hardships

 

He’s walked there

Experiencing it all

 

His body bears

Marks of death

 

Hands forever scarred

Feet harshly pierced

 

He defeated death

Empty tomb proclaims

 

He understands thee

Life’s never-ending turmoil

 

He offers hopefulness

Encouraging and loving

 

His reassuring voice

Calming all worries

 

Life’s sufferings appear

Generating lasting tenacity

 

Trusting in Him

Rock of Salvation

 

Sending steadfast love

From heaven above

 

Faithful and righteous

Extending into Eternity

 

Never be afraid

Always trust Him

 

Hearing His words

Praising and soothing

 

Giving peaceful strength

Against harsh times

 

Open one’s heart

Closed door opens

 

Jesus stands ready

  

Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Pexels.com

This Christian poem was written and published in July, 2019.  Writing faith-based poetry continues to be one of my favorite places to be.

Healing Brokenness

From Psalm 103:1-5:  “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all His benefits—who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

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Scattered by earth’s hopeless winds

Relationships, bodies, hearts

Life filling with brokenness

Divine healing, God imparts

 

Father, Son, Holy Spirit

Healing comes from purest source

Balm of hope offers treatment

Mind, body, and soul endorse

 

Amazing grace saves sinners

Hope now strengthens and rebounds

Mercy and love rebuild faith

Forgiveness heals and surrounds

 

Healing balm making us whole

Caring for lifetime of scars

Miracle restores fullness

God’s Glory shining from stars

 

Finding places and people

Savior Jesus leads our way

Bearing our burdens as well

Healing brokenness this day

 

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A traditional African-American spritual, “There Is a Balm in Gilead,” serves as an inspiring complement to this poem.  You are invited to take a moment to listen.

Curious Trivial Facts

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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.

More pizzas are sold and delivered on Super Bowl Sunday than on any other day of the year–a primary reason that Super Bowl Sunday ranks second (behind Thanksgiving) as the biggest day for food consumption in the United States.

The penny is the only currently minted U.S. coin featuring a profile [President Abraham Lincoln] that faces to the right.

These facts have been discovered in I NEVER KNEW THAT by David Hoffman (2009).

Past Favorites: Oceans

This  poem was  published in July, 2019, and features an early attempt at writing poetry using mystery-filled imagery.  It was originally written in March of the same year as an  entry for a poetic publication.  While the poem didn’t make the cut, it has been well-received here on WordPress.  

Photo by Sebastian Voortman on Pexels.com

A life can sometimes seem deep and dark

Just as the oceans’ waves find their mark

 

From season to season, a person splashes along

Just as the oceans redeploy, intense and strong

 

Hardships and misfortunes grudgingly arrive each week

Just as the oceans’ depths mask secrets, waiting to seek

 

Morning’s sunrise embraces, cheerful and bold

Just as the oceans splash water, much too cold

 

Today brings a bit of uncertainty and sadness

Just as the oceans bring a light of happiness

 

One wonders and dreams of a better life

Just as the oceans dispense little strife

 

A walk along the sandy beach sounds great

Just as the oceans’ tides deliver a final fate

 

The gentle waves engage loneliness for a swim

Just as the oceans’ surf arrives without a whim

 

A final desperate, draining breath takes one under

Just as the oceans stand still and start to wonder

 

 

 

 

Precious Time

Photo by Oladimeji Ajegbile on Pexels.com

Every hour

Holding precious time

 

Every day

Devouring life’s checklist

 

Every week

Running endless errands

 

Every month

Loving family time

 

Every year

Filling life up

 

Every hour

Cherished minutes

 

Every day

Another blessing

 

Every week

Career focus

 

Every month

Birthdays celebrated

 

Every year

Vacation time

 

Every hour

Savoring

 

Every day

Energizing

 

Every week

Achieving

 

Every month

Maturing

 

Every year

Remembering 

 

Photo by Anete Lusina on Pexels.com

Navigating Change

Photo by Alex Azabache on Pexels.com

Time’s ever-changing river

Hours flowing day after day

Navigating change, life’s song

Destiny travels our way

 

Tomorrow’s adventure calls

River flows with rapid pace

Navigating change, be safe

Ambition now giving chase

 

Facing Niagara Falls

Calling out new direction

Navigating change, new route

River journey’s correction

 

River experience counts

Night’s campsite, overcrowded

Navigating change, next choice

New site empty, not crowded

 

Life shadows shifting river

Requires flexibility

Navigating change, time calls

Now teaching humility

 

Photo by Valentin Antonucci on Pexels.com

From the words of American business pioneer and founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, Mary Kay Ash:  “When you come to a roadblock, take a detour.

Steven Spielberg Quotes

The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.

You never really know how good of a leader you are until there is something there to lead us to, toward or through or to overcome.

Vanishing Prairie

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Vanishing prairie hangs on

Isolated town foregone

 

Time long ago, grand premiere

History fading each year

 

Showing up on highway map

Road’s wide spot, taking a nap

 

Middle of farming country

Seldom find even one tree

 

Boarded-up wood-frame schoolhouse

Empty, forgotten courthouse

 

No longer town’s pride and joy

Critters, varmints now employ

 

Railroad track hides in tall grass

Recalling past trains, first-class

 

Grain elevator hanging on

Memories live, town’s swan song

 

Single street light standing guard

Night’s shadows, lasting vanguard

 

Yesteryear’s grandest of homes

Mystery for Sherlock Holmes

 

Faded sign for Ruth’s Café

Long absent dinner entrees

 

Movie theater shuttered

Smelling fresh popcorn, buttered

 

Few remember town’s past times

Hearing nature’s windy chimes

 

Past glory days, now long gone

Dim sunset, well past its dawn

  

Courtesy of Pinterest.

During my teaching career, I taught 25 years in the eastern prairie country of Montana.  Today, many small farming communities struggle for survival while others such as the one in this poem live on only as memories.