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

 Across the green sea

three rabbits chase each other -

      I sit still, watching.

 

Then one ran past my feet, another under my chair. Would have liked to have worked "twitching, leaping, ears laid back" into it. Maybe next time - I'm sure they will be back! 

 Dull, damp, dismal day,

 fog, rain, mist, smoke from the fires -

        Friends come, life lightens. 

Patio sitting -

hot, sun, but shade approaching!

       Rip - oh, oh, new chair?

                     Or

      Rip - new chair called for. 

 Eternal God,

Alpha, First, Beginning of all things -

as the smoke from the fires swirls over and around me,

as the darkness of the day brings fear and despair,

I hear kindly voices calling -

 "Come" - to the City where the Lamb is the Light;

 "Wash" - yourself clean from the dust of the day

    and from all that would hold you back;

 "Drink" - of the Water of Life.

Let your Holy Spirit touch my heart and mind

and lead me to respond,

that I might be with you, 

Bright Morning Star, Omega, Last,

at the Ending of all things.