The glance,

Smile,

Snarl,

Kind words,

Gossip,

React,

Forgive,

Shout,

Love.

The small stuff is Me.

The petals of the flower

Open for the world to see and admire,

A calling card of nature

To Notice me,

In all my glory,

Beauty,

My delicate state,

Full of color and Light.

Reflecting God’s glory.

Today let me notice the ordinary in my life,

Not the spectacular,

Or even those things crying out for attention,

But the smile,

The grief,

The sadness,

The steps,

Taken through an ordinary day.

 

Then at dusk,

Recollect The Holy Ordinary.

 

Today, the darting stopped,

The glancing, intermittent, pulsating view of the world,

Was over.

Like brakes applied in the movie,

I was forced to stop and see the image for the first time.

As a still photographer looks for meaning in an instant,

Others will find each their own.

 

Now a fence is not a barrier but protection,

The sign on the old barn encouragement for my journey,

The need to gas up an opportunity to meet someone who lives here,

And a kind word to the waitress will brighten an otherwise dull day.

 

For this we are rewarded.

By seeing the difference between light

And dark,

By slowing down we see all the tonality of life,

Filled out,

In actions and gestures,

In static monuments of man,

Of our progress in life.

 

Just by slowing our sight.

Today, the darting stopped,

The glancing, intermittent, pulsating view of the world,

Was over.

Like brakes applied in the movie,

I was forced to stop and see the image for the first time.

As a still photographer looks for meaning in an instant,

Others will find each their own.

Now a fence is not a barrier but protection,

The sign on the old barn encouragement for my journey,

The need to gas up an opportunity to meet someone who lives here,

And a kind word to the waitress will brighten an otherwise dull day.

For this we are rewarded.

By seeing the difference between light

And dark,

By slowing down we see all the tonality of life,

Filled out,

In actions and gestures,

In static monuments of man,

Of our progress in life.

Just by slowing our sight.

I leave the hurly-burly of this morning,

Accounts to check, and bills to be paid,

As I sidle past my spouse,

Trying to maintain the peace of silence and the breaking dawn,

Illuminating the inner, disturbed by the outer.

 

The day draws me towards it’s tornado of lists,

Deadlines, projects and customers to talk to,

All important, and spirit nourishing in their own needy way,

If only to maintain the opportunity of some alone time …

With you Lord.

 

For now though, I write with my eyes closed,

Savoring the silence,

Tasting the darkness,

Of Your love

And nearness to me.

 

So, now settled, the warmth flows across my torso,

Beginning with stomach filled butterflies,

Resting and making their way to a yearning heart,

Now resting in Thee,

Happiness defined by love fulfilled.

 

Let me rest a while with you Lord.

 

I leave the hurly-burly of this morning,

Accounts to check, and bills to be paid,

As I sidle past my spouse,

Trying to maintain the peace of silence and the breaking dawn,

Illuminating the inner, disturbed by the outer.

 

The day draws me towards it’s tornado of lists,

Deadlines, projects and customers to talk to,

All important, and spirit nourishing in their own needy way,

If only to maintain the opportunity of some alone time …

With you Lord.

 

For now though, I write with my eyes closed,

Savoring the silence,

Tasting the darkness,

Of Your love

And nearness to me.

 

So, now settled, the warmth flows across my torso,

Beginning with stomach filled butterflies,

Resting and making their way to a yearning heart,

Now resting in Thee,

Happiness defined by love fulfilled.

 

Let me rest a while with you Lord.

 

 

Of all the needs in the world,

Love is the one we need most,

Yes, we have to survive,

But without love,

Life is just existence,

Not living.

 

Remember someone who needs love today.

All is beautiful, this day again,

Snow filled fields,

Harvest laden gardens,

Noisy, happy rooms with a fireplace,

Surrounded by family, friends and co-workers.

Let me notice these things today.

No change in the face,

Perhaps slightly rounder,

But kinder because of years.

 

Wrinkle free for all those years,

Shows a passage of peace,

In a life well lived.

 

I am happy for her.