Scared

Mommy in the dark night when I feel scared I just remember the song Daddy sang when he was a little boy:

"The Lord is my shepherd I'll follow Him always. The Lord is my shepherd I'll follow Him always."

Then I don't feel scared anymore.

Missing Piece

Oh I'm lookin' for my missin' piece

I'm lookin' for my missin' piece

Hi-dee-ho Here I go

Lookin' for my missin' piece

Many mornings I find myself rolling around like the circle in Shel Silverstein's book, looking for the 'missin' piece'. All the little fragments of to-dos and must calls and little people to be cared for and listened to and disciplined and cuddled converge into one big circle missing the important, grounded portion of peace to make it all run smoothly. Run on sentence it may be but some days that's what it all feels like. Even being a servant of God feels like more work because that pretty much makes up my job description these days..servant of all.

But then I remember. He has called us friends. Real friends are hard to come by. Especially those to trust a confidence to, to find the laugh in the midst of the struggle, to open your crazy mixed up world to and believe that they will find the good in it all. But He is mine. And I am his. Friends. J loves S. Like a heart etched on a big old tree.

And when that hits me I stop rolling around. Looking. My missin' piece or peace has been found. No need to look any further. Hi-dee-ho

Glee

“Find ecstasy in life; the mere sense of living is joy enough.”

-Emily Dickinson

Snowed in at ASU

I'm a few weeks late with this post, what a great time we had. A picturesque setting, up in the mountains on a beautiful college campus, snowed in at a great old hotel with no real plans but a leisurely breakfast and a day playing in the snow.

Push

It was early. And cold. Bitterly so. The only sounds were sneakers hitting pavement, the whoosh of my breath in and out, in and out... The wind whipped at my hair and stung my eyes, filling my lungs with its frostiness and waking me up.

Everything I carried out the front door with me peeled away and I pushed ahead. Stillness. Calm. Like a prayer. A holy moment...

A Walk

Sean

It is over now.

The last labored breath has been taken in this dusty place.

Strong hands that smoothed wood and fashioned furniture

that delivered important missiles to people far and wide

that led a son to the bus

threw a frisbee

tickled a small belly

caressed the love of his life

Now rest in the warm grasp of the One who knows him best.

Arms that heaved loads

embraced tearful blonde boys,

spun a laughing wife around the kitchen

eased others' pain

Now encircle a mother, loved ones unmet, a joyful Father.

Eyes that twinkled with warmth

Looked upon people with understanding

Shined with conviction and faith

Glowed with love and deep joy

that saw a need and quickly met it

Now reflect a landscape unimagined, colors unseen, the smile of Love itself.

A man who gave all to those he loved. Now has it all.