Turning a page

 

 

 

 

 

despite the bruising

 

 

 

there it is
on a day
full of gray

the sun
failing to sparkle
to fill with warmth
and the happy
we chase

clouds scuttling
fast and furious
across a landscape

and behind
a window

a canvas
and an easel
standing ready
to capture
this story
in shades
of swirling silvers
and grays
and
incandescent
light

dipping a brush
into melancholy
a day crushing
with the weight
of exquisite

in seeing light
more like
a pearl
seeping through
the barrage
of dark

and reminded

many hearts
fragile today
and
emotions swirling too
because
stories broken
and the fiber
of feel good
missing
like the sun

and in looking
through
that window

a masterpiece
starring back
at me

because

despite
the bruising
from a world
aching
so full of scarcity
and longing
the not enough
catching breaths
and deflating lives
in the lack

there really is

beauty

and a purpose
to our lives

in these days
both sun-filled
and not

if we but look

and pausing
to look beyond

into the mystery
of Glory
showing up
all the time

there it is

monday mornings sometimes

darkness

looming outside

in the early

of a morning

rain pending

tall pines

and lush green

the landscape

standing

at attention

perfectly still

waiting

even the

birds

knowing

announcing

before

the first

crack

of

thunder

before

the wind

eddying

and

stirring

before

the trees

waving

about

their 

leaf laden

arms

before

even

the pines

joining

the dance

there is a

pause

a languid

sort of

waiting

a sweet

anticipation

of surely

what is to come

drinking it in

savoring

the moment

before

a sky 

opening

and a

downpour

merciless

droplets falling

staccato

hammering

a street

thrumming

on rooftops

relentless rain

beauty surrounding

unexpected

maybe

this

God-driven

goodness

ushering in

something

as

sweet

as

summer

embracing today

and here I sit

in the ordinary

when all around

voices
yelling loud

getting my attention

to be something

extraordinary

all the days of our lives

when really

all I can do

is wake up

raise the blinds
and welcome
a new day

the beauty of it
the one chance to do
all the hours
never to be repeated
quite the same

like a snowflake
or a fingerprint
or an original painting

each one day
distinct
and full
of possibility
and choices

embracing it
in a big bear hug
and wringing out of it
every nuance
every flavor
and every opportunity

and to really see
our moments

the landscape
surrounding
loaded
with beauty

and people
some we love
others maybe
we don't
understand

and so
choosing
today

to really see
and to savor

to love back
and to linger

to forgive
and to let go

thanking God
for all this
the work
of His hands

embracing
what is

because a day
like a snowflake
melting
in your hand

never
to be repeated
quite the same

a work of art

and breathing in
the good news
not having to be
extraordinary

because
life is

and I don't want
to keep
missing it

on a friday

words
falling like
confetti

twirling
like snow
blinding
with the white
barrage

of paper
raining down

but the one
caught on the sleeve
revealing
a finer print

words up close
shockingly
not so pretty

strife and rancor
yelling loud
letters on bits
of paper
these words

owning our
futile attempts
to fix
and paint
pretty
the landscape
of our lives

and instead
the living broken
everywhere
we look

words flying
falling
misleading
and destroying

the discourse
ugly and
a smattering
of expletives
too often

haunting us

these
veiled attempts
at happy

and
our story

the one
we want
to be so
beautiful

just isn't

but in the midst
of ordinary
everyday living
on a friday

right now

other words

exploding
ordinary
into
smithereens

my God
my God
why have you
forsaken Me

like a bomb
blast
careening
into our lives

changing everything

jaw-dropping

staggering even

the events

on a friday

because

the confetti
our parade
these best
efforts
just
not enough

but what is

words exploding

across time
into
the
cosmos

it is finished

ripping into darkness
ripping into lives

changing everything
no greater love

to be continued

on a sunday