thanksgiving

broken-open seaside spiral
hosting pearly-borning

grains of change

slow-unfolding poignant petals

opening boldly

fragrance of praise

looking up

cool water breeze

by a rushing river                         

slowly soothes

my rushing head

drowning out

my rushing thoughts

that overflow from

my rushing life

as I lay splayed across

a precarious perch

of prehistoric slab

the clouds above the

luscious canopy split

the resplendence of

summer sun

illuminates the foliage

“I am here”

You whisper from above

the world eases

to a stillpoint

as i am

looking up.


*written in response to the Random Acts of Poetry prompt*

"my pilgrim soul"

in response to a photo prompt at

unexpected

This past week, an unexpected nor'easter rocked us here in New Jersey.  Instead of raking leaves all weekend, we shoveled snow and spread salt, watching as limb after limb snapped below the weight of ice and snow, taking power lines and communications systems down with them. 



Unexpectedly, life as we planned it came to a halt for almost a week, and all we could do was watch, wait, and rest in the quiet.  We huddled together for warmth, read by candlelight, conversed, giggled, napped and enjoyed the gifts that this time offered.

 

Five years ago, an unexpected storm of a violent assault blew through my home and changed it forever.  For a long time, my life was merely a wreckage of what it had been. But, as He always does, God met me there in that mess and began to teach me how He never left my side.  He was very patient, as it took a long time to convince me. :-) 

I had carefully constructed this week to avoid dwelling on the memory, but, due to the storm, I had a LOT of time on my hands and NOT a lot of things to occupy them.  I folded them in prayer, lifted them in praise, and opened them in release and expectation.

The calm after the storm always comes, and because of the way my own life has been redeemed, I am on the lookout for the promise of beauty that arises from ashes.  It is becoming less "unexpected", and more of a wondrous curiousity.

today i wanted to be distracted

but God wanted me to remember

today i wanted to be strong and healed

but God wanted me to release

today i wanted to radiate His love

but God wanted me to receive

today i wanted to feel better

but God wanted me to feel His peace

     glistening treasures in the wake of a storm

     unexpected mercies kaleidoscope my life

"and provide for those who grieve in Zion-

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

   instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

   instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

   instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

   a planting of the Lord

   for the display of His splendor." Isaiah 61:3