Hey Neighbor!

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Fred’s backyard shed is filled with his treasures.  When he is busy tinkering and grooming his immaculate yard, he is often seen heading to his shed to find another tool or implement of some kind.  Because he works from sunup to sundown every weekend, he is known around the neighborhood as “Farmer Fred.”

His next door neighbor, Milt, is a sociable and friendly sort of guy.  However, he has one irritating flaw.  He doesn’t own too many tools and such to help with his own yard work.  And of course, he feels a need to keep up with Fred’s pristine garden oasis.

Every day or so, Milt walks over to Fred’s backyard.  With a smile and a familiar voice, he calls out, “Hey neighbor!” 

He asks Fred if he can borrow one of his precious tools from the shed.  Fred always gives Milt the “okay” and watches him take it back to his place.

Over the next several days, Milt borrows a nearly endless list of Fred’s treasures . . . shovel, rake, wheelbarrow, trimmer, and even his brand new lawnmower.

On Saturday morning, Fred walks out to his nearly empty shed.  He thinks to himself, “Yes sir!  Milt has just about taken every piece of my valuable equipment and more to his place.”

With a scowl hidden by his ever-present smile, Fred swiftly marches over to Milt’s yard. 

“Hey neighbor!”

Time’s Traveler

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Generations marching

Clock’s hands never stand still

Time’s traveler journeys

Years navigate downhill

 

History’s recorder

Passport to each event

Time’s traveler writing

Every book’s contents

 

Stories fill with people

Exploits reign paramount

Time’s traveler sees all

His recollections count

 

Worldly landmarks indexed

Mile after mile recalls

Time’s traveler postcards

Destination now calls

 

Energy never sleeps

Chronicles each step

Time’s traveler breathing

At library’s doorstep

 

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Monday Memories: Harvest God’s Treasures

From Luke 12:32-34:  “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  Sell your possessions, and give alms.  Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in Heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

agriculture asia autumn barley

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Mankind endlessly searches earth’s treasures

Wandering and looking under each rock

Few ever deliver much to measure

As time flees, few seconds left on a clock

 

Treasures worth seeking, always to be found

Depositing the seeds of faith with God

His Word brings a richness, lovingly bound

Accept now His Grace, with a “yes” and nod

 

No earthly treasure can compare to this

Eternal life awaits, accept His call

Taking up our cross, we follow God’s list

His Holy treasure, never fails or falls

 

Following our Lord, no need to measure

Christ’s blood brings a harvest of treasures

man holding sheep statuette

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America’s Minister of Encouragement, Dennis Swanberg, writes:  “There is absolutely  no evidence that complexity and materialism lead to happiness.  On the contrary, there is plenty of evidence that simplicity and spirituality lead to joy, a blessedness that is better than happiness.”

 

Nature’s Rhythm (Haiku Series #166)

Raven

Flying high above

Gray sky’s lonely sentinel—

Solitary spy

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Spirited

Unchecked challenges

Emotional behavior—

Nature spills over

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Simplicity

Season to season

Creation’s precious treasures—

Never growing old

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Life’s Morsels (Haiku Series #135)

Exploration

Perseverance roams

Ingenuity flies high—

Planet “Mars” explored

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Discovery

Hidden by dense woods

Living through generations—

Treasured, seasoned home

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Harvest

Sowing fertile fields

Nurturing with tender care—

Tomorrow’s goodness

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Coming Home

This poem is dedicated to the many lives which have come and gone along the tracks of the Great Northern Railroad from years ago.  Perhaps you can feel the living spirit still riding the Empire Builder passenger train across the Hi-Line of Montana.

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Feeling a bit like heaven

Blessed Big Sky, almost home

Paradise spelled as two words

Riding free, spirit’s train roams

 

Scanning God’s creative touch

Mountains shaped by nature’s hand

Valleys carved out by rivers

Dreaming of this treasured land

 

Stirring up past memories

Iron horse roaring at top speed

Long ago, been here before

Coming home, spirits now freed

 

Flashing by Hi-Line’s vast farms

Cropland caresses these tracks

Golden fields of wheat ripen

Waiting for harvest’s comeback

 

Fading daylight turns to night

Darkness covers Montana’s peace

Town lights twinkle here and there

Thinking back to life’s past lease

 

Climbing through Marias Pass

Glacier Park saying good-bye

Big Sky’s wonder never fades

Ageless spirit, dropping by

 

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Beyond Compare

From the words of English novelist and poet, Mary Webb:  “Nature’s music is never over; her silences are pauses, not conclusions.”

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Creation’s wonders, lasting treasures

Beyond compare, by any measure

 

God’s unique Spirit molds, creates

Earth living as His domain, first-rate

 

Forests dazzle with matchless beauty

Witness to our Lord’s sacred duty

 

Animal species roam, some quite rare

Others appear to be everywhere

 

Distinctive flowers color the land

Their music soothes, like any jazz band

 

Unequaled majesty reaching high

Rugged mountains climbing to the sky

 

Creatures with their eccentric pursuits

Actions showing off, fun attributes

 

Man taking note of what God has done

High praises, He stands second to One

 

One and only one master designs

Each day, smiling at His nature shrines

 

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From Genesis 1:29-30:  “God said, ‘See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food.  And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’  And it was so.”

Ridgetop Treasure

From above the ground, a trellis provides a fertile place for grapes to grow.

From a ridgetop garden

Nature’s treasure hides out

Offering its harvest

Flora lives all about

 

Flowers blooming early

Winter now disappears

Colorful bouquets reign

Sweetest fragrances cheer

 

Warming springtime sunshine

Changes the ground cover

New, tender shoots of grass

Young deer will discover 

A young deer finds the tender grass to her liking.

Trellis roof shelters grapes

Ripen in summer’s sun

Fill with juicy flavor

Birds enjoy tasty fun

 

Apple and black walnut trees

Shading nature’s grand shrine

Fruit dropping to the ground

Squirrels and deer will dine

 

Former home site lives on

Garden paradise waits

Coming alive each spring

Winking back at its mates

Apples ripen in the warm summer sun.

All of the photographs were taken during a couple of recent morning walk at Chestnut Ridge Metro Park, which is just minutes away from Canal Winchester, Ohio.  The hilltop garden remains long after the house (built in the 1930s) was abandoned.  I was blessed to spend several minutes photographing a very cooperative deer while I was quietly standing near a tree.  

Treasures as Friends

This poem was inspired by Lisa’s post where she shares a series of brilliant and encouraging quotes about friendship.  Take a moment and visit her post at The Road Back to Life.

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Destiny unites true friends

Transforming life with its spark

Sincere friendship fills two hearts

Never alone in the dark

 

Never take friends for granted

Honesty, laughter, and tears

Staying connected insures

Treasures shared over the years

 

Sharing life’s pain, healing wounds

Long-lasting friendship endures

Glue holding life together

Truly caring, reassures

 

Always count on each other

Offering silent support

“Forever minutes” share love

Caring never falling short

 

Life travels through forest trails

Friends together, all these years

Brings us home through darkest times

Greatest love when friendship cheers 

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From Proverbs 18:24:  “Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one’s nearest kin.”

Father’s Identity

man in black leather jacket wearing black framed eyeglasses

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Beautiful melodies

Cellos and violins

Stirring memories

New lives, set to begin

 

Father with daughters

Growing up with each one

Precious treasures to bless

Through Father, Holy Son

 

Music playing, forevermore

Images of each step

Laughter filling their rooms

Love knocks at our doorstep

 

Afternoon tea parties

Playing games, singing songs

Favorite storybooks

Life perfect, never wrong

 

Seeing their eager eyes

Savoring school’s first day

Playing in autumn’s leaves

Days never seem too gray

 

Watching each girl mature

Life’s incredible ride

Graduation moments

Wedding days at their side

 

Playing in the background

Peaceful serenity

Past, special moments

Father’s identity

My life has been blessed with a splendid and loving trio of daughters who have made fatherhood a true blessing.  I was listening to a rendition of Johann Pachelbel’s “Canon in D Major” as I wrote this poem.  I especially enjoy strings or piano (all three of my daughters are accomplished piano players).  Here is a sample of the music.  Enjoy!