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

from my big old blackboard

wat the dickens

another year

already

and barely

have I

caught my

breath

from filling

stockings

and sending

cards

and noshing

on sweets

until

stupefied

belly stuffed

and days

crammed

with busy

and so

on this day

so special

the last

in a year full

of days

now

quickly

morphing

into

memories

some tasting

so sweet

on the tongue

such goodness

experienced

and others

more bitter

for the love

of wanting

happy

and

sometimes

finding

lack

wat the dickens

that's life

and I'm embracing

it all

in the crazy good

and in the not

because

been shown

a faithful One

full of love

and grace

sustaining

and giving joy

and me

showing up

vulnerable

because of it

so

thanks

for stopping by

and be encouraged

in this the last

and in the new

wishing you Jesus