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.