Saturday, July 21, 2018

even in the rain







today
throwing open
my window wide to the sky
cacophonous rain
thrumming
on the roof
creating such a din
deluging
the canopy of green
pavements shimmering
lights reflecting golden
on streets


a world on pause


because most
harboring safely inside


a midsummer's day full
of unexpected
in the wet and the chilly
the muted grays


like summer got angry
and throwing a fit


and life's like that


sometimes


things changing


uncomfortably
unexpectedly
and there is much lament over
what is and isn't
and the not yet


but today from a window

in watching the downpour
obliterate the sky 
and pound merciless for hours
gaining perspective
to slow
to ponder
and to see


a holy God


filling the earth with goodness


even in the midst of broken
plans going awry
lives crumbling into small pieces
disappointment showing up
seemingly capricious
and stunning


finding only God capable


of redemption


we are not


and He astonishing with love
undeserved
knitting us back together
redeeming the brokenness
ensnaring our lives


beauty today
from a window


showing up raw
and reminding


on a midsummer morning


even in the rain





Tuesday, July 17, 2018

a place called ordinary






for sure they do
these neighbors of mine
talking
that is
I would too you know
and
wondering
what the dickens will be the color
this time
of all the doors
on a plain white house
in a neighborhood
full of ordinary
on a summer's day

cause you see
this girl
all full of notions
and romantic
imagining other worlds
and fancy places
and often
the getting carried away
with pots of paint
reminiscent of Easter eggs
lined up on a counter
so joyous this thing
a palette of color
and a canvas to fill

so today once again
it's a door smiling back
welcoming change
out in the early
while the breeze gentle
and the air cool
but thick with birdsong
cicadas screaming
a din really
summer turned up loud
reminding this but a season
soon to change once again

so with a paint pot
and a brush
coloring a page in my book
and all the while
this summertime morning
filling the senses
and me
breathing deep of glory
and transition
seeing it now as a friend
a thing of beauty

just like a door

in a place called ordinary







Friday, January 5, 2018

of fairy sprites and zephyrs




life on pause

again today

and in the early
gazing down
at the tundra
from a window high
marveling
at so much white
covering
like icing
thick on a cake

and then
zephyrs of snow
jumping high
swirling
like fairy sprites
escaping
if just for a moment
seemingly
laughing at us
and at the day
and the cold

but for me

no slopes to slalom
no skates to lace
just time

life on pause

and reveling in it
like a cat 
in winter sunshine

drinking in beauty
being at rest

routine shattered
in a million pieces
like icicles
when they fall

and for those
fortunate enough

today

an opportunity
to slow
in a world
making busy a trophy

hitting reset
jettisoning chores
responsibility
and the routine of daily
with hilarity

unflustered by it all

and in the wake
of this decision
the unloading of guilt

much-needed rest
and quiet even

to savor a new year

to reboot

because
owning our lives
getting perspective
part of the struggle

and time put on hold
in tandem with
an Abba Father
reminding

glory

always seeping through
all the cracks
of this broken world

beauty being unfolded
like an exquisite snow-covered morning

and a day 
on pause

reminding