Denver - hot (1), sunny,

Marquette - blizzard aftermath -

             but we're coming home.          

 

(1) 65 in shade, feels like at least 70 in the sun. 

Old friends and new friends

sharing memories of the year - 

        and of years gone by. 

Yesterday's light snow

melts in today's strong sunshine -

     fresh start tomorrow! 

 

ok - we are in Denver, where weather is sunny with temps in 50's and 60's!  Back to real winter in a couple of days.

 
God, 
Protector of the poor, the weak, the most vulnerable -
You prodded Joseph to gather up Mary and the Baby
and run to safety in Egypt.
Our hearts break for parents around our world today
who gather up their children
but have no place to run
from violence and oppression,
from hunger and sickness,
from poverty and harsh weather.
Spread over them your holy wings,  dear Savior.
Keep them safe today 
and help them find a peaceful tomorrow.

Kelly Lattimore  Our Lady Protectress of the Most Vulnerable

 

and a bonus prayer - 

 We think of him as safe beneath the steeple,
Or cozy in a crib beside the font,
But he is with a million displaced people
On the long road of weariness and want.
For even as we sing our final carol
His family is up and on that road,
Fleeing the wrath of someone else’s quarrel,
Glancing behind and shouldering their load.
Whilst Herod rages still from his dark tower
Christ clings to Mary, fingers tightly curled,
The lambs are slaughtered by the men of power,
And death squads spread their curse across the world.
But every Herod dies, and comes alone
To stand before the Lamb upon the throne.
               -Malcolm Guite, Refugee

 

  

and one more from Kelly Lattimore 

 

 

 

 

 

 La Sagrada Familia 

Christmas, Boxing Day,

Lie Around (nap) Saturday -

     New week tomorrow. 

Mary and Angel

Clarence and George Bailey - it's

        A Wonderful Life! 

 

We went to see a production of it as a radio play. 

After the angels

and shepherds, before the kings -

        God's Christmas peace is.

 

Or

After the service

and presents, between cookies -

          God's Christmas peace is.

There's no snow and cold;

Folks wearing shorts and t-shirts!

       Can this be Christmas? 

Coffee and cookies,

friends stop by to share stories -

          Christmas open house. 

One eighth moon with cloud,

a small peaceful moment as

      night falls quietly.

 

wanted to say "a small piece of peace" but it just seemed too cutesy. 

 (apparently this got written but not actually posted yesterday)

 Lord God,
when Joseph and Mary found themselves in an untenable situation,
you sent an angel into Joseph's dream
to point the wway forward.
As I sleep this night
may my dreams be open to any angels you may send,
and when I awake
may I see more clearly the dream you have for your Creation
and how my part in it might move it forward.

 

 

Mary: Keep Watch

Icon by Kelly Lattimore 

https://kellylatimoreicons.com/

Bratwurst, potatoes,

Sprecker's Rootbeer, onside kick -

       Bears recover it! 

 Shopping, with coupons,

"buy one, get one half-off", so -

        save any money? 

A warm morning walk,

A friend stopped by with cookies -

          a day to enjoy. 

 Walking in sunlight,

waves splash, spots of  bare pavement - 

       drizzle tomorrow!

 

According to the weather forecast.  "Drizzle before 7am, then rain. High near 40"

Friday: "Snow, high of 18, wind chill -5."  Bundle up!!

 

 

 

Snuggling at Christmas -

started (1) two inches apart -

      anyway - tastes good! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) “carefully placed” two inches apart.

Unfortunately, the pans are kind of concave, and as soon as they hit the 375 degree oven, the well formed and placed little balls all rolled into the center of the pans!

Week fifteen report:

Packers - lost, Lions - lost, but

       Bears, Vikings came through! 

 

My soul is waiting to magnify you, Lord -

but the more I think about how great you are

  and about how mighty is your arm,

the more I notice that the deserts of Gaza and Ukraine

  are still in tatters,

and the more I notice that the powerful

  still lord it over the meek,

and the more I notice that the poor

  are getting hungrier day by day.

I know there are small acts of kindness and care

  in the midst of each of these disasters,

  and I give you thanks and praise for your presence among and within them.

Lift us up Lord,

  and set our feet on solid ground

  and our spirits will rejoice in you, our Savior,

  in each generation, now and forever. 

 Could walk the bike path,

watch the moon at Picnic Rocks -

       but at 2 degrees?

 

I think not! 

Winter art, music,

 holiday trees, and cookies!

          Last night at The Pete!

 

Peter White Library, that is.  And laser light show on the ore dock on the way home. Nice.

Waves splash a white line,

 all else is darkness until

    blink -  the lighthouse flashed.

 

Walking by the Coast Guard station.  Yeah there were street lights and decorations, but out over the lake - all was darkness. 

Wind blows, one lone leaf

scrambles across fresh, smooth snow -

          It's late - heading home? 

Turkey, squash, salad -

last remains of Thanksgiving -

    thankful still for much.

I wanted to say 

"last leftovers of Thanksgiving" 

but it didn't quite fit! Or you could say "Thanksgiving's last leftovers". Guess I'm still going with "last remains". 

Oompa, oompa, oomph -

Oompa, oompa, oompapa -

       T'was Tuba Christmas! 

And it was fun,  not really "oompa-y" at all. About 30 baritone, euphoniums (which are pretty much the same except for shape of bell), and tubas played a variety of carols including "O Holy Night" and a setting of three of the "Burt carols" - Marquette native. And the sun came out!

Scanning the horizon, Lord,

for some sign of John the Forerunner. 

The lion, the lamb, the wolf, the sheep, the ox and the goats,

the kings and peasants

the oppressed and the oppressors 

they are all here -

in the world around me 

and in my own heart.

And frankly, things are getting tense.

So any time, Lord, any time. 

Gifts to buy or make,

 cards to read, cookies to bake -

         a friend came for lunch. 

With flashing lights, floats,

Who's from Whoville, and the Grinch - 

         Santa came to town.

 

and lit the tree and had hot chocolate and they were cooking smash urges. Smelled good but we passed after a big supper.

Pink layers, gray sky,

full moon just shows through light clouds -

        but it's cold out there! 

Late afternoon sun

casts soft shadows on fresh snow -

       brief peaceful moment. 

Shake off all the snow 

clamp on the  stand, bring it in -

       Christmas tree is up.

(Now - lights, ornaments, etc. The work is just begun!)

(But - cards are ready to mail.)

 - For Dec 1- 

A haiku a day -

That's what you said Charlie - so?

        Yesterday - forgot! 

 Well God,
given the governments that we now have
  I honestly don’t see them turning swords into plowshares
  or spears into pruning hooks,
  or guns into any kind of useful tool.
And it seems to me that if two women are grinding corn or coffee
  both of them are as likely to get taken
  by the fire or the flood or the famine,
  by the soldiers or the gangs.
I would love to go to your house,
  but my understanding is that the plan is for us to make a home here
  for all of your creatures, for all our relations.
So I pray for the peace of Jerusalem,
  and the peace of Gaza,
  and the peace of Kyiv,
  and the peace of Moscow and Washington,
  and a hundred other towns and villages and reservations,
  and Marquette my home town.
I don’t know what time of the day or night you might come,
I’m trying to be ready.

 (Ok, kind of a depressing picture this week - sorry about that.  I wish we lived in a happier time.)

Walking from downtown -

 Third Street - stores; or Lakeshore - shores.

          Which to take today? 

 

Bonus haiku -

Pumpkin or pecan -

That is the question - really -

      piece of one or both? 

Turkey, potatoes,

pies - pumpkin and/or pecan.

       I'll have another. 

Monday - should get gas;

Tuesday - should fill up gas tank;

       Wednesday - stopped for gas.

 

The point being that Mon and Tues were pleasant and dry - Weds was blizzard! 

Temperatures falling,

snow blowing every which way -

      blizzard beginning? 

 Or "temperatures fall" if you like 4 syllable temps!

 

Snowflake falls on lawn,

lingers briefly, melts, is gone -

    winter's soft first kiss.

 

Although according to the weather forecast, "winter's soft first kiss" is rapidly going to turn into something quite a bit more passionate!  Snuggle in.

And finally a comment on last Sunday's lesson - 

(I don't know which of my heroes I owe this thought to - sounds like Robert Farrar Capon, but could have been Fred Buechner.)  Jesus said "Today you will be with me in Paradise" and the $100,000 question is, "who was he speaking to?"  

 

Now I know we've all learned that he was talking to "The Repentant Thief", which turns the story into a nice kind of Santa Clause-y one - God/Jesus making a list and checking it twice.  I think there was a song in The Cotton Patch Gospel - the guys are taking off on a TV evangelist - "Maybe if you're good enough, you can have a blind date with God".  

 

But -

 

if you want the hard-core, "Free grace and dying love, ring them golden bells" gospel, you have to say that he is saying it to the repentant thief,

AND to the unrepentant thief,

AND to the soldiers,

AND to the passers by

AND to the women

AND to the 12 who are gone into hiding

- the entire assemblage, the whole kit and kaboodle - 

because only then can you also hear him saying it to you and me -

"Today you will be with me in Paradise, because whoever and wherever you are, whatever you are doing, I am and will be there by your side, and I will never, ever leave you alone."

Free grace and dying love.... 

One small candle glows

ghostly light on the clock face -

       shadows all around. 

 Lord Jesus -
thank you for being a good and faithful shepherd
and staying by my side today
and each day, now and in the time to come.
Help me also be a good and faithful friend to those around me today.

(at camp - more about this tomorrow.) 

Leaves on lawns, leaves in

gutters, leaves in piles and bags -

         a few still on trees.

                         or

       still miss burning smell! 

Walk after dinner,

Or settle in for the night?

     Gets dark early now! 

Darkness snuggles in,

no stars twinkle, no moon shines -

       we snuggle in too. 

Thaw, brine (dry?), season,

stuff (?), roast, baste, let rest, carve, plate -

      time to get started? 

 Acorn, butternut,

delicata, spaghetti  -

   squash flavors of fall! 

Sun shines on green lawn, 

blue sky reflects in the pond - 

         a nice afternoon. 

 

Hard to believe it's 2 days into deer season! 

Creator and Creating God -

we hear of wars and insurrections

  and it is hard not to be terrified.

Nations rise against nations,

kingdoms against kingdoms;

famines and floods sweep many away,

  and it is hard not to be terrified.

People are arrested and persecuted,

  and it is hard not to be terrified for ourselves 

  and for the sojourners among us

  and for our country.

We believe you are coming

to judge the world with righteousness

and the people with equity,

  and we long for that day to come.

We build houses and believe that we will live in them.

We plant gardens and expect to eat the vegetables. (1)

We welcome the wolf and the lamb, the lion and the ox,

  as we all feast together at your table 

  with joy and thanksgiving and praise.

Be present at our table, Lord..... 

(1) Isaiah says we will bear children not for calamity but for blessing by the Lord. As I look at the state of the world today – from climate and environmental issues to breakdown in cultural and governmental norms – I’m not sure I’m comfortable going that far. Houses and gardens are one thing, children are something different altogether.

 

Love in the Peaceable Kingdom, Love in the Kingdom of Peace 

                          

 

                                    John August Swanson

                                     

 

                                          Edward Hicks 

11:00 am.........

Stiff breeze after rain,

now sunlight breaking through clouds -

            where will life go next?

 

2:00 pm.....

As a matter of fact, the sky cleared off and it was a beautiful afternoon. Just goes to show - I'm not sure what, but it goes to show! 

Two tamaracks by

the pond - one golden, one bare. 

         That's just how life goes? 

 Blue sky and sunshine,

 can't believe it's November -

      walking the shoreline.

 

Hard to believe it's 2 days before firearm deer season! 

One star through the clouds,

but no sign of northern lights -

      evening "lighthouse walk". 

 PMW,

DCA, ORD to

    MQT - we're home!

 

Yes  we've been traveling - seaway cruise and then several days in Portland, Maine. Yesterday a trip to Freeport, home of LL Bean (rained!)

 

 

L 

 Light rain, red light on

tracks; boarding the Downeaster -

    So long L.L.Bean. 

 

Dear God -

we remember so well our congregations

(and even our lives maybe) in their former glory,

and now in our sight, they seem as nothing.

Is it just that hindsight can make things

seem better than they really were,

or is the splendor we experience today

truly less than in former times?

(We know and affirm that “the good old days”

were not all that good for some.)

We find courage and take heart at your words -

“My Spirit abides among you;

The latter splendor of this house

shall be greater than the former,

says the LORD of hosts.”

As Moses only saw the Promised Land

without actually crossing over into it;

perhaps we will only see (by faith) those latter days

without actually making it to them.

We believe in your words and it is enough.

Praise and Glory to you Lord. Yes.

Gliding by small house

on small island, I wonder -

     what would life be like? 

 

Google Maps Lady (1) :

"At round about, take Second"   -

          Took Third!  Big mistake.

 

A half mile later, 

and a mile farther from goal.

     Time to call for Lyft!

 

(1) We were walking! 

 Past Paul Revere's house,

Old North Church (2 if by sea) -

      Boston's Freedom Trail. 

 

 

Full moon through light clouds

sparkles a path on the sea -

      Where would it take us?

 

The Spirit Realm? Dreamland? Home?

Geezer with coffee

staggering on rocking deck -

      watch out there, Mama! 

Lay down some water,

Dot with paint and let it move -

       Painting autumn leaves.

 

Watercolor technique! I call this "2 leaves and a bear caught in  storm drain".

 

A Prayer for All Saints (yesterday) and the day after (that’s today) -

Persistent God,

the words of Daniel’s vision -

  the four beasts are the four kings

  but the holy ones will receive and posses the kingdom -

ring with troubled relevance for today -

  who are these holy ones,

  and what is the kingdom they will receive?

Thank you for the elders and saints who have touched our lives.

We believe in your kingdom vision

of peace for the poor and health for the hungry.

Though our sins be as scarlet

may we find the strength to write this vision

even on the tablets of our hearts and lives.

Wait a minute – you are coming to stay at our house tonight?

Yikes!

Bonus haiku for today -

   Do to others as…,

   Do not unto others as…,

        Do for others as…...

Carmels, m&ms,

Tootsie Rolls, Snickers, Kit Kats -

    How you feeling now?

 

Frankly, I ate too many peanut butter cookies! 

 Dark and stormy night,

Ghosts, princesses, and Snoopys -

       Did you get treated?

 

Or......... 

Morning: light showers;

Afternoon: steady showers -

      Go out for a walk? 

Fine Arts Museum,

one hour pictures, 1 hour lunch,

      one hour pictures - nice.

 

And the view from the window - 

 

The red curtain in

our window is falling down,

       carpeting our lawn.

 

Big maple tree - turns bright red! 

White van at The Pete (1),

"Friendly Manitoba" plates - 

         The Combat School (2) - Huh? 

 

(1) parked in the lot at the library - Peter White Public Library, affectionately known as "The Pete"!

(2) actually, by the time I got home I'm  ot sure if it was "school" or "store" or "club" or ??????? 

Gracious God,

The harvest has come,

the early rain and the late rain have been sufficient,

And there has been no early frost!

The meadows have clothed themselves with flocks;

the valleys have decked themselves with grain;

we join in as they shout and sing together

for joy with thanksgiving.

  We pray for the soybean farmers

  and others who may be struggling one way or another.

  And we confess that

  we have not always stayed to fight the good fight,

  we have loved to wander;

  we have not restrained our feet.

But even the sparrow finds a home

and the swallow a nest for herself

where she may lay her young, in your presence.

  We long for your day to come, the time of your peace,

  when young and old, men and women will be washed with your Spirit,

  and will see visions and dream dreams.

Do not be like a stranger in the land,

like a traveler turning aside for the night.

You are in the midst of us – do not forsake us.

Come Lord, and save us.

 

Carrots, more carrots!

What to do with 7 pounds?

      Carrot bran muffins!

 

Some place between 5 and 10 pounds. A dozen muffins takes 2 or maybe 3 - carrots, not pounds! But they are good, with grated apple and chopped dates. Should have added walnuts.

Down into dark trees,

in a soft orange evening glow -

        a crescent moon sets.

 

Really lovely, we had to pull off the road to watch. Wish I had a picture to show you.

 Look south - clear blue sky;

Look north - gray sky and darker. 

      Where's the day headed? 

 Sun shining through rain,

Now a gray disk, now bright ray -

   Good day to read books. 

 Avocados, cheese,

chick sausage, bratwurst, coffee -

     ??????

 

        Meijers 5 for 5!

ie, buy five qualified items - save $5 

 Red splotch drifts right, left,

 rising, falling, comes to rest -

     last leaf of autumn?

 

ok -  we were at camp; most of the leaves are down there. 

 

God,

Thank you for being our God

and for writing your word on our hearts.

Thank you for keeping watch over us

by day and by night.

Our hearts are troubled tonight

and our teeth are on edge,

because of the violence and destruction in our world.

Some more than others perhaps,

but we all have eaten sour grapes.

May the rough taste in our mouths

lead us to follow your way more closely tomorrow.

Bless us tonight.

 

And on Monday - 

And one lingering thought on this whole "sour grapes" thing - how does that resonate with today's report that the people who are suffering the most from climate change have done the least to contribute to it?

"Press on regardless"(1),

No Kings, Art Walk, Fresh Coast Films -

     a day in the life...... (2)

(1) traditional name for a road rally

(2) Oct 18 in Marquette - along with Farmers Market, Archeology Day at History Center, NCT hike, and more. 

 Forecast is for rain,

sky showing partly sunny -

     which one to go with? 

 Cloudy afternoon,

catch the news, wait for dinner -

        cider or coffee? 

 Grind beans, (or spoon grounds),

brew hot/cold, favorite cup -

       Northern Nighthawk - ahhh!

One of Dead River Coffee's stronger blends.  We used to grind our own - now for several reasons we buy it ground.

Flame red maple leaves

at the base of tall, dark pine -

       a small autumn fire?  

Blue sky and sunshine
and seventy-one degrees -
    this is October?

 Ok, God, I'll be honest -

I'm having some trouble with seeking the welfare

of the administration that is leading us into exile

in our own country.  (IMHO!)

And I am calling to you from the roadside -

"Lord, have mercy on us."

And I do trust that you will 

"bring us out to a spacious place."

And then I and the foreigner beside me 

will turn and say "Praise you! Thank you!" 

And that would be at least 2 out of 10.

 

 

 Autumn leaves - falling;

Autumn temperatures - falling;

       Tomatoes - fallen.

 

They were ripe last week, but I was not here to pick them. Now they are lying on the ground rotting. Time and the tide and the tomatoes.... 

 I'm so glad to be

an Oscar Meyer wiener -

      every one loves me!

 

On the occasion of the OM Wienermobile visiting Marquette! 

 

Or -

Ten, ten, twenty-five,

a great day to be alive -

    and eat a wiener! 

Well, we're having lake trout instead. 

 Doe, fawn, fawn, walking

through the lawn, across the street -

          "Careful - look both ways!" 

 Ore boat on pink sky,

walking to lighthouse and back -

       clouds - 2, moon - 2, tie. 

 Blue sky and water,

red leaves, afternoon sunshine =

    walking home for soup.

 

Potato soup, that is.  We seem to have a plethora of potatoes right now. 

It's six fifty-eight

once again nothing to see -

      clouds - 2, moon - 0.

 Ok - so we have been on a cruise, 26 days along Alaska, across the North Pacific, and down to three days in Japan.  So the days and dates have not always matched up - we went through 10 time zones and crossed the international date line, which all confused the phone and the computer.  And there was no Sept 24.  (We had made reservations for one of the specialty restaurants for the 23rd, and then for the 25th, thinking we would have an "ordinary" day on the 24th.  Surprise!)

Some explanations -

+the "large pond, old pine trees, and the carp and koi" - we were at a landscape garden (   ) and as we walked around here were 2-3 couples getting wedding pictures taken - the guy in a black robe and the bride in a bright flowered/figured kimono.  They were really striking among all the locals and the tourists.  Then in the pond here was a bunch of carp (dark gray) and 2 or 3 bright orange koi.  (Actually I'm not sure if there is a difference between carp and koi.)"

+then "buffet of life" - they had set out this "taste of Japan buffet on the pool deck, and it was more food and people milling around than we even wanted to think about.   We ate in the restaurant, but it did get me thinking about all the different experiences of life that we wander through.

 

Wanted to do a "taxi ride from the airport" one to balance Sept 9, but that turned into the moon last night.  We'll see.

 

And an evening prayer for today - 

 

Dear Lord -

As evening comes, my heart is troubled.

How lonely lie so many cities that once were grand.

The thought of my afflictions and homelessness,

is wormwood and gall,

  (and even more so the afflictions and homelessness of others,

   I mean I am pretty healthy and I have a place to stay tonight and food to eat).

But as the full moon of October rises over all,

this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases,

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

I will remember this and sleep in your care tonight,

ready to greet the morning with hope and joy.

 

The moon filters through

 scattered clouds, gently lighting

       an October earth. 

 Large pond, old pine trees 

Young couple walks together -

      koi among the carp.

 

Ok - explanation tomorrow  

 Waves splash bow to stern,
mountains approach and recede,
       sun-bathed, we sail on.

 Pink sky at sunset,

waves and water, lazy clouds -

      half moon over all. 

 People come and go,

The sun sets, the moon rises -

      Life flows around me. 

 The buffet of life  -

food to the right, to the left.

       Grab your plate - begin.

 

More about this in few days. 

 Loving God,

even as  we sit at ease,

dressed in purple and fine linen,

enjoying songs and the sound of the harp,

feasting sumptuously every day -

yet still we are grieved over the ruin of Joseph,

and the destruction in Gaza,

and the fighting in Ukraine

and the turmoil in our own country.

We feel stymied and helpless.

We can hardly believe that houses and lands will again be bought and sold in our lands, except maybe by the very rich.

So help us find ways to do good with what we have in this world, 

that we might take hold of the life that is really life.

And when Lazarus shows up at our door,

may we have the grace to invite him in and make him welcome. 

 Each way you look - fog;

then a brief ray of sunshine -

      where are we going? 

 Old man walks with cane

past twilit sidewalks, doorways -

     slowly heading home. 

 

And yes, "twilit" is actually a word - I looked it up! 

 Walking in sunshine

after a rain day inside -

      life refreshed, renewed. 

 M.L.B, N.F.

L, W.N.B.A

      collide - what to watch?

 

Actually, I probably won't watch much of anything at all, but it is a lot to keep track of@ 

 Get ripe, tomatoes;
Start south, hummingbirds; tick-tock -
       quarter to winter.

Meant to do something about light and dark and balance and "autumn equinox", but then "get ripe..." slipped in, and "quarter to winter", so.......

 Faithful God,
it has been a good summer
and we have gathered in a full harvest 
and yet still we are not saved.
Kings and those in high places
have not led us to peaceful times and pleasant pastures
but to deceitful dealings and oppression.
They have led, and too often we have followed.
What are we to do 
now that we are losing our position of primacy?
Spread the balm of Gilead 
over our  hearts and minds and souls
that we might be faithful in things large and small
and finally learn to serve you 
and let money look after itself.

 After clouds and fog,
after wind and rain and dark -
         comes sun, warmth, and life.

 Soft, fresh bun, mustard,

ketchup, relish, grilled hot dog -

        The Weenie Wagon!

 

 

 "Small binoculars?"

"Right here - left on the rail train!"

     -  At the lost and found.

 

Another example of the universe looking after the stupid! 

 Twisting and gurgling

around mossy rocks, trees, logs -

      trailside waterfall. 

 The view from the window -

red umbrellas in the rain.

    Viking is in town! 

 tucked under blankets,

shivering slightly......(?)

   not doing all that well. 

 

 

?????? 

 

Dear God,

be kind to me – your world is so big

and my boat/car/bicycle/footstep/life is so small. (1)

Day by day I get lost among those skilled in doing evil,

and “I do declare, there were times when I was so alone

I took some comfort there.” (2)

And you found me, and day by day find me.

Now, Steadfast God,

a sheep who had strayed,

a coin that rolled beneath the couch,

I pray for those who are still lost

and alone in the hot wind and desolation;

both those who do evil

and those who have evil done to them.

Moses talked you out of your destructive intention;

but Jeremiah says you will not relent, not turn back;

Paul writes to Timothy that the saying

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”

is sure and worthy of full acceptance.

I simply pray that they might be found, brought home,

and that we all might rejoice together

in the light of your love and grace.

Let it be.

(1) Breton Fisherman’s Prayer

(2) Paul Simon, The Boxer

 Sunshine on water

sparkles, but sunshine on clouds

    can make a rainbow. 

 Clouds drifting across

the mountain peaks of my life -

        hiding?  revealing?

 Light rain, wet sidewalk,

nice, but walking in sandals,

      toes are getting wet. 

 Tree lined granite shore,

calm water, a splash, a whale?

        Or a big beaver?

 A thing so mundane -
taxi ride to the airport -
     a thing of intrigue.

I mean it's a car ride from one place to another. On the other hand it's the beginning of an adventure filled with potential successes and pitfals and even epic fails!

 Over the water,

under the clouds, through the trees -

        September full moon. 

 Eternal God,

I am used to listening for kind and gentle words from you.

But today - 

 +"whoever does not carry the cross..."

 +"unless you give up all your possessions..."

 +"the wicked will not stand, the way of the wicked will perish..."

 +"I am the potter shaping evil against you..."

I would like to think I can somehow get around these words, but

 +"you have searched me and known me."

Dear God, 

"there is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in."(1)

Help me clear away the clouds of my life

and let the light of your love shine in more brightly,

and may I find the strength to choose life. 

 

(1) Leonard Cohen

(2) and here is bonus link to the work of icon artist Kelly Latimore, in particular

    Our Lady Protectress of the Most Vulnerable

 Waves splashing softly,

 cloud undersides glowing pink -

           walking hand in hand.

 

"cloud's undersides glowing pink"? 

 Fifty and windy -

Winter - I'd go for a walk.

     Summer - I'll stay in!

 Pulled potato plant.

Nice crop, on the other hand -

      10 pounds for 2 bucks.

 

At the gas station.  Maybe it was 5 pounds, I'm not sure.  And of course mine are Austrian Crescents fingerling potatoes grown in our own soil, theirs are russets grown somewhere in the UP or northern Wis (probably).  So - ????

 Shopping, library,

reading group, washing dishes -

    too much time inside! 

 Labor day come, gone;
Here, there maple leaves turned red -
       Autumn on the way.

 Pine branches turn black
against a darkening sky -
       Stars play hide and seek.

 Amazing God,
You offered us living water, 
flowing and splashing,
Sao Pelligrino(1) in our glass;
we chose instead 55 gallon drum cisterns
warm and stale on the back porch
until they rusted through 
and would no longer hold water.
You offered us finest wheat and sweet honey from the rock
(whatever that is),
buckwheat cakes and sweet syrup from the tree;
we chose instead the devices and desires of our own hearts,
Wonderbread and margarine.
As we go about the rituals and routines of our lives,
even the righteous and religious rituals and routines,
may we not miss your wild and wonderful promise
of an even wilder and more wonderful new life,
a son or a daughter
even in our later years.

(1) spelling?

 Night falls, stars appear -
candles shine, twinkle in the
        windows of heaven.

Slowly sun rises,
Slowly air warms and mist clears -
      Slowly life appears.

 Light breeze and sunshine
sparkling over blue water -
        "Don't get no better!"

 Green leaves, slender stems,

tangled in and reaching out -

     the green bean season 

 Varification
code sent; enter six digits -
      Deposit? Withdraw?

 Match strikes, flares, paper
catches, flames grow into fire -
         dry kindling difference.

A "first thing in the morning fire" in the cookstove - dry cedar kindling gets it going.
       

 God of every time and place,
each day belongs to you,
but this day is one that you and I
have agreed should be holy unto you.
As I wander through my day
may I not trample on your day.
I ask your help in the name of Jesus,
who did acts of kindness and healing on each and every day.

 Market(1) plethora -

one gallon maple syrup -

    That's it for today.

 (1) farmers, that is!

I don't know - what I am trying to say is that there was a whole bunch of stuff and from that whole bunch I bought a gallon of maple syrup. Alt last line -

      Breakfast tomorrow! 

 

 Small brown monk kneeling

in back yard - trembling, twitching -

          praying? No, nibbling. 

 Neighborhood Night Out -

Stuffed way(1) past uncomfortable,

     awake half the night.

 

(1) using the vernacular 4-syllable "uncomfterble"!  Otherwise, leave out the "way"!

 Hot dogs, hamburgers,

buffet, desserts, friends talking -

       Neighborhood Night Out! 

 Finished the last book,
haven't started the next book -
        it's in-between time.

 "Gray skies, chance of rain" -
Hard to get started, even
      warm, dry, snug, inside.


I don't know - is there sometimes just a "gray skies, chance of rain" quality to life no matter what the weather outside?

 Lord of the vineyard,
  Lord of all the earth and beyond,
  Lord of the critters and creatures -
The great cloud of witnesses
watches and grieves at what is happening in your vineyard -
+soldiers and civilians killing and dying as nations make war,
+children going hungry as mothers and fathers search for food,
+some chasing riches and rest while others are hungry and homeless,
+plants and animals pushed to the edge of extinction by habitat destruction and changing climate.
May the witnesses inspire us to run by faith the race before us.
Come and sing once again your song of love for your vineyard,
that it may be a pleasant planting
and a place of peace for all.
For all - yes.

 Darting left and right,
a hummingbird convention(1) -
     We sit still and watch.

(1) 3, 4, 5?  Hard to tell.

And I was going to end with something like 
  "Amazed, we sit, watch."
but just seemed to fussy.

 Red breasted nuthatch
at the bird feeder today -
      big name, little bird.

 Rowing the boat you
see clearly where you have been -
      In life much the same.

 Sunshine in clear sky,
Start of a lovely new day.
       Clouds on horizon.

 Two turtles on log,
Charlie in lawn chair on deck -
      rest hour at the lake.

Rest hour is from 12:30 to 1:30, or 2:00, or 2:30, or........

 Sweet, salty, crunchy -
how many servings was that?
       Toffee roast peanuts!

Ok - I ate the whole 4.5 oz (1 oz per serving) bag. Once you start it's hard to stop!

 Bonus haiku from yesterday -

After a dull day

with gray clouds and steady rain -

      An All-Star sunset! 

 

Eternal God,
you look down from heaven
on the wisdom and the foolishness
of humankind -
Abram lay on his back out in the field
looking up at the stars in the heavens,
and you said, "So will your descendents be"
and Abram believed it.
Jesus said "You could store up your treasures in heaven," 
and "Keep your lamps trimmed and burning 
  and when the Master comes he will seat you at the table 
  and serve you himself"
and I believe it. 
Or at least I am trying to today.
I am trying to today.

 Tomatoes, onions,
cilantro sauteed - pasta.
      Needed something else.

 It's all blue up there -
no clouds, no haze, no smoke - blue!
        We call it "the sky".

Ok - that was from first thing this morning. Clouded up by noon, but it was nice for a while.

 Bak Choi stir-fry with

tomato, onion, pepper (1) -

      Malinda's Green Sauce!

 

 The spiciness indicator on the label is 1 out of 5. I don't think I would want to try anything higher!

 (1) and yeah, a few other things - corn, squash....

 

And here's a bonus - trying for something a little more profound, although Melinda's Green Sauce is pretty profound!

 

A bench by the shore (1),

waves splash (2), gulls cry (3), I sit while

    life goes on around. 

(1) Lake Superior

(2) gently

(3) softly 

 Deer drinks in darkness -

sudden flash - captured and framed.

          Shiras Room, the Pete.

 

George Shiras was a pioneer in nightime flash photography of wildlife. His work is in the Shiras Room at the library.

 

Wildfire smoke orange sun 

burns a hole through clouds, bounces (1) 

off glass table top.

(1) reflects 

 Tiffany light fades,

bowls chime, sing; gongs "bong", hum, moan -

        peace settles over.....

 

At Craig Kitchen's Singing Bowls Meditation.  Tiffany window; gongs make different sounds differently depending on how they are struck or rubbed.

 

Ok – sorry this is kind of late. We were at camp where it is awkward tyo get on line and I didn’t even have a copy of the lectionary. So an evening prayer -

Dear God,

this day is now coming to it’s end.

For some it has been full of pain and vexation

and even tonight their minds are not at rest.

For me, the day has had a few moments of vexation,

but mostly it has been filled with joy and beauty 

(for which I give you thanks) 

and as I get ready for bed my mind is mostly at rest,

  except for the troubles of the world,

  the places where there is suffering and fighting,

  the ways that the climate is changing and bring harm,

  the ways that governments are abusing their people.

Teach me/us to be satisfied with what I/we have,

  sharing my/our surplus with those in need,

  rather than building bigger barns or renting bigger storage units.

Set my/our mind(s) on the things that are above,

  and clothe me/us with the new self, renewed in your own image,

  no longer Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised,

  barbarian, Scythian, enslaved or free.

Let Christ be all and in all tonight.

Let it be.

 

 Grand Island - hiking,

biking, riding the bus tour -

        Guess which one occured? 

 The sun coming up/going down,

through haze and wildfire smoke -

       a red rubber ball.

 

For those of us old enough to remember The Cyrkle - 

I think it's going to be alright,

Yeah the worst is over now,

The morning sun is shining

like a red rubber ball.

 

(Actually I have always thought it was Bobby Vee, but that was a song called just Rubber Ball.  Red Rubber Ball was written by Paul Simon and  Bruce Woodley of The Seekers.)

 Two purple thrushes

sitting in a tree, "talking" -

      Cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep! 

 Fair to Third  Third to

The Pete (1), Ridge to Lakeshore Drive (2) -

        Marquette labyrinth.

 (1) Peter White Public Library.

(2) and yes it's actually "Lakeshore Blvd", not "Drive", but "Drive" fits, "Blvd" doesn't. 

 

Or at least my walk for the day. Takes me past the bank (which gives out popcorn on Weds.), a variety of coffee shops, and the shoreline.

 Cool air in basement,

fan on the landing - A.C.?

        Not really, I guess. 

 Like an F-15

 the dragon-fly maneuvers,

    patrolling the pond. 

 

               Or

 

Glides, banks, dives, sweeps, turns -

the F-15 dragon-fly

    patrols over pond. 

 

I like the action words in the second one. 

 Well ok, I'll just say that I am beginning to have an issue with this lesson (Luke 11) and that today's prayer might be a bit difficult.  It's about when prayers aren't answered.  And I know (and have preached) the "standard" answers to this issue.  I know sometimes it's just not the answer I want; I know praying changes me inside; I know sometimes I'm not praying for the "right thing" (although if the only prayers that get answered are prayers for the "right thing" - well); I know sometimes you just have to keep on praying and trust; I know Jesus prayed "Thy will not mine", but there is a whole lot going on that is "not thy will" so I guess maybe that's what this prayer is really about....

 

Heavenly Father/Mother/Grandparent/Auntie/Uncle/Friend -

Jesus teaches and encourages us to

ask,

  and seek,

    and knock....

and as I look back, sometimes my prayer has been answered (1).

But just as often it seems I have gotten a stone instead of bread,

and a serpent instead of a fish,

and a dead silence instead of a voice saying "Welcome, come in." 

So today I pray for the strength and determination to keep on praying, even when it doesn't (2) make any difference. 

 

(1) or at least I have seen your hand at work in my life. 

(2) "seem to" if that makes us more comfortable

 

 

 

Purple thrush chirping, 
water splashing, leaves rustling -
        Soft sounds that bring peace.

 Potato salad,

hot dogs, burgers, bratwurst, beans -

          menu of summer.

 

Seem to be on a food trip here. And I lead with the potato salad!

Basel, cilantro,
dill, parsley, garlic scapes, thyme -
       now what's for supper?

 

Pasta with pesto? Omlet? Herb pizza? Sandwich? Soup? All good!

Yesterday it rained;

today the sun is shining -

   That's just how life goes.

             or

     But life still goes on.

             or 

     Life is like that - No?

 

 Ok, a couple of things.  

+Actually that's just turned around - yesterday was sunny, after a few sprinkles, and today it is raining, as forecast!  

+And then what I was trying to get at here is not that it rains and then the sun shines and then it rains, etc., but rather that life has it's ups and downs just like the weather changes.  So I think I like the second last line best.  

 Circles on the pond(1);

"Mostly sunny, high - eighty"(2). 

       Maybe tomorrow!

 

(1) code for "It's raining, or at least sprinkling"

(2) current weather forecast! 

 Weed whacking the trail

from here to there was mostly

      just "whackin' bracken".

 

Ok - a little bit dippy, but I just like that last line.  And the nice thing about doing a haiku a day is that when you do a kind of dippy one, there is always tomorrow. 

 Two prayers today, one more serious, one more whimsical - 

Generous God,

you set out a summer fruit basket of

kindness, gentleness, justice, fairness, respect, and love.

For the times and ways that we have received from this basket,

we are thankful.

For the times and ways that we have withheld these blessings from others,

we repent.

We pray that the words of Jesus might inspire us to do better from now on.

 

 

 Dear God,

sometimes we are like Martha and we "do"....

Sometimes we are like Mary and we just "be"..... 

So - do, be, do, be do.... 

Help us know which is right for us now. 

Soft the news drones on,
Sunlight filters through the tree -
        Slowly I doze off.........

 Dark clouds but no rain,

two chapters of new author -

     Libe walk successful!

 

The book is The Ghost Walker by Margaret Coel.  She writes mysteries about Father John O'Malley, a Jesuit from Boston serving at the St Francis Mission on the Arapaho Wind River Reservation. (Recommended by Tony Hillerman!)  First two chapters kept me reading.

 Salad in sunshine,
now dessert in the shadow -
        It's time to go home.

 Yesterday - ninety,

Today -  fifty-six and rain.

       What do chipmunks think?

 

Potatoes look good,

onions, tomatoes also -

         squash kind of so-so.

 Flopped up ears, big doe 

eyes, standing still, looking at

     my tomato plants! 

 Eternal God,

when the need was so very great,

when things were "way out of plumb",

you sent and spoke through

  not an official,

  not a politician,

  not a network pundit,

but a "herdsman from Tekoa

  and a dresser of sycamore trees".

Still today Amos speaks to us

  of justice and righteousness;

still today Jesus (a carpenter!) speaks to us

  of kindness and neighborliness.

Help us hear the Word you are saying to us through them,

  that our lives might be "in plumb",

  and our neighborhoods secure and at peace. 

 Circles on the lake,

pitter patter on the roof -

       light summer sprinkles.

                Or

      dark clouds are coming.

         Or

    blue sky is spreading.

 

It was a bit of everything. 

 Thick tomato slab,

bread, mayo, fresh moz, basil -

      First of the summer!

 

Tomato sandwich - and it was good. 

 Roaming roar and whoosh

of lawn mower, leaf blower -

        sounds of the season. 

 Over the roadway, 

below and between the trees -

       small view of big lake. 

 

 

Lake Superior, that is! 

 Out from the garage -

one goes right, the other left -

      lawn mower Gran Prix!

 

I was driving by the NMU maintenance area on Wright St, and two of the big riding lawn mowers came out, one after another.

 Snowplow in tall grass

watching bare road, sighs longing -

       sits ready to pounce! 

 

Long time till snowfall, big fella. 

 O Lord, our Lord,

how wonderful is your name in all the world.

Your glory shines and is proclaimed to the highest heavens

in the faces and the words of the children.

Naaman listened to the ("unnamed") little girl

(well he listened to his unnamed wife who listened to the unnamed girl)

and he eventually found health and strength

and perhaps even a shot at peace.

I pray, and I invite others to pray with me,

that our leaders today

(and we, ourselves - we are all leading someone somewhere)

would show the same wisdom.

 

 Sorry to be a little slow with this one.  We were at camp and it is just a hassle to connect up there.  You have to climb a steep hill in the woods across the road, or walk around the bay and climb a hill there, and then sometimes the call drops in the middle and you have to start over, and it just looked like a lot to type into my phone.  So - home and using the computer.

 

And this thought/prayer comes after my experience handing out flag stickers to the children along the July 4 parade route.  It's in some ways such a demeaning experience for them.  They sit on the curb and people throw mostly cheap candy into the road in front of them.  I'd walk up holding out a flag sticker on my finger and say "Flag sticker?" and they would just light up and say "Yes, please" and "Can I have one?" and (prompted by parents!) "Thank you."

 

And I thought any leader who doesn't just drop everything and focus on feeding and clothing and educating and healing and caring for the children really isn't worth following anywhere.  Unfortunately that does include me - I go along living my comfortable life while children struggle and suffer.

 

So anyway -  sorry to be a little late with this.  Here's a bonus holdover from the week - the SPAM prayer for evening. 

 

Search our hearts and minds, O Lord.

Preserve us in your grace. 

And when at last the evening comes

May we rest in peace. 

 Twilight settles in

- silver arc, "BOOM", sparkles rain -

        twilight settles in.

 

SPAMku

Potatoes, Sprechers, 

Mixed greens with avoca  -  WHAT?!

   We forgot the SPAM?!

 

So that's it for SPAM week, boys and girls.  Disclaimer - we did not really forget the SPAM, just didn't have it on the menu, even though this is SPAM Day - the day it was introduced! 

 

 

 

Flags, Harleys, fire trucks, 

high school band, bag pipes and drums -

     July Fourth Parade!

We were walking and singing and handing out flag stickers and copies of the constitution with the Yoopers Unite group.  It was fun - and hot!

 

 SPAMku

Fireworks sparkle,

Music plays, folks are dancing,

       Spam sizzles on grill. 

Night falls - red sunset, 

half moon, trees sparkle in breeze -

          Nature's fireworks. 

 

 SPAMku

Strawberries and cream,

Spam chunks and barbecue sauce -

       Wimbledon today!

 

 and no line judges!  Disclaimer - I don't really think they are doing Spam chunks in sauce or cream or anything else.  It's a pretty good idea, though.

 C.J. Box, Storm Watch (1);

Buechner, The Eyes of the Heart (2) -

     Free Table, The Pete(3)!

 

Ok - 

(1)  a Joe Pickett thriller (just read the first few chapters.  Reminds me of  William Kent Krueger's Cork O'Connor books.)

(2) a thoughtful memoir by Frederick Buechner - one of my heroes

(3) these were almost back-to-back on the Free Table at The Peter White Public Library!

 

SPAMku -

 

A filling, pleasing

casserole for a cold day -

     Split Peas And Muenster!

 

and toss a few Spam cubes in it - yum!

 April, May, and June 

("the girls") cleaned up winter. Now -

         summer is on us.

 

 

SPAMku -

White bread, Velveeta,

Mayo, lettuce, tomato,

     Fried Spam slab - "Yes, please"! 

 

 

 

 

 Lightning flash, thunder 

crash, wind begins to blow, but -

      soft rain falls gentle.

 

 

Spamku

One can of SPAM -  shlouck (1)

slice and fry? dice and saute?

      Question of the day! 

 

 God of all times and places,

all persons and creatures - 

I am thankful that in my early years

there were those who draped over me

their mantle/quilt of love, joy, peace, patience,

  kindness, goodness, and faithfulness.

And I confess I have not always worn that mantle well.

I am grateful for the words of love, grace, forgiveness, and life

that Jesus spoke into being.

I pray when the times comes for your sweet chariot

to swing low and carry me home,

that there will be others who will pick up the mantle

and wear it well,

  doing justice,

    loving kindness,

       and walking humbly through your world. 

 Sunlight in clear sky,

Juice, coffee, muffin (and pills!) -

       A new day begins. 

 Bird songs from the branch,

Children's voices from the beach - 

         Summer settles in. 

 Frozen pizza or

rotisserie chicken or -

       I could have had Spam!

 

Remembering the old V-8 ads.  Again just warming up - next week is Spam/Spam-ku week!  Maybe even better-

Cold apple cider, 

Sprecher's root beer, V-8, slap  -

       Could have had a Spam! 

I watch the chipmunk 

scamper right to left and back.

     Geezerhood, part 2 

 

Years ago I was visiting someplace where the older couple would watch and comment on some kind of shoreline bird as they appeared each evening. I remember thinking "Get a life -". Now I'm watching and enjoying a chipmunk!

 

And note - geezerhood part 1 had to do with long underware and lined jeans.

Breeze gently blowing,

pink water lilies floating,

       me patio sitting.

 

So for that last line, you have to say "patio" really fast, like "pad-yo". Questionable, I know,  but hey, I'm just sitting here on the pad-yo, doesn't bother me a bit!  "Don't worry - Be happy"!

Ok, you could put "me lawnchair sitting" if you wanted to, but not as good, in my humble opinion .

 

 Pasta with pesto -

parsley, garlic, oil, cheese, nuts -

      or fried Spam and herbs!

 

That's right - we are a week away from Spam/Spam-ku week! Just getting warmed up..... 

From the midst of the storm,

from the midst of the earthquake,

from the midst of the fire,

we long for the sound of silence,

for the quietness to hear your voice, O Lord.

  As the hart longs for the peace of the flowing stream,

  our hearts long to be free

  of the demons of fear, failure, and doubt.

Lay your hand gently upon us,

and with the still small voice

speak the words of love and grace

that will set us free to follow you

  or to go where you would have us go

  and do what you would have us do.

We ask in your own name, for your own sake,

and for the sake of all of your own Creation.

 

 

And also for today, the Prayer for Peace in the World - 

 God of all Creation,

 let the peace which is in your heart

 flow into your world,

 and may all who share your world

 live together in justice, kindness and humility.

 We ask it in the name of Jesus, Prince of Peace. Amen.

 

 

 Furry acrobats

dangling on shaky branches -

      maple seed buffet! 

 Iridescent clouds

drifting, shape-shifting until - 

        the child catches up!

 

Monster bubbles (and children!) at a picnic! 

 Cloudy, cool, sunny,

warm, haze, sprinkles, forecast - rain.

      To picnic or not?

 

 Carrots, rainbow chard,

spinach, radish, lettuce, more -

       first CSA box! 

 Car, truck, construction -

noise clutters my afternoon. 

        Water splashes.....peace.

 

 

A fountain, a waterfall, a stream - funny how that soft noise drowns out all the others. Like the sound of a baby/toddler drowns out the enemy and the avenger!

 A little sunshine,

 water from clouds or the hose -

        tomatoes perk up! 

Amazing God,
at the beginning of all things,
for and with and in wisdom,
you (singular? plural? ..)
created a wonderful playground
and enjoyed it fully day and night.
In the babbling of babies
the voices of violence were blocked out and silenced.

And amazingly you gave us responsibility for it all -

sheep and oxen, 

beasts of the field and forest,

   (and the fields and forests themselves), 

birds of the air, fish of the sea, 

and the critters that creep and swim and slither along the paths of the sea 

  (and the air and the seas themselves).

We regret that we have not a better job of looking after your playground 

and keeping it safe for all who would come to enjoy life in it.

Bless us again with your wisdom and with the determination to slide back into our appropriate and rightful role as caretakers of your world 

as we playmake our way along toward the ending of all things.

 Walking through a crowd

a familiar face appears -

         I am not alone. 

Tomatoes, basil,

planters rolled into garage -

       safe for one more night. 

 Dilapidated 

 house and barn on country road -

       lilacs blessing all.

 Table in sunshine,

take out sandwich and salad -

         picnic at Presque Isle.

 

Table was kind of slanted, but not wobbly.  It was really two tables, end to end.  A couple that lives in Tokyo who were here visiting his mother came and sat at the other end (with the mother!). They had KFC, we had Panara Bread.  

 Gray skies, dull green leaves,

suddenly all washed, bright, fresh -

    a break in the clouds. 

 Sprinkling......Raining.......Hard!

Car is at far end of lot -

       So run for it - now. 

Amazing God -

  over the Tower of Babel

   you confused our languages, 

  and we each went our own way.

On the day of Pentecost,

  you harmonized them,

  and we could all come to you together.

On this day we each 

     (person, denomination, country)

   seem to be going our own way.

Help us learn to speak and listen together

  that we might draw closer together

  to you. 

 

 

 

 National doughnut day,

A free doughnut with coffee  -

        Yesterday, missed it! 

 Circles on the pond,

cloudy skies, cooling breezes -

       spring shower passing. 

Pull walking onions,

weed, plant onions and beans, weed,

     plant tomatoes, weed......

 

 

Slug by slug, weed by weed

Boy this garden′s got me t′d

All the insects come to feed

On my tomato plants

 

Sunburnt face, skinned up knees

The kitchen's chocked with zucchinis

I′m shopping at the A&P's

Next time I get the chance

 "   -Arlo Guthrie