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Archive for March, 2014

Cross the Bridges

In a spirit of expectation,
Antelope roam the brown and golden ridge.
They meander off the snowy mountain,
Wade the river, cross the bridge.

Beneath the dry and tasteless surface,
Lie treasures new and green.
They persistently stick their noses in
To find what can’t be seen.

Like antelope, we roam about –
Walking in hopeful anticipation
That just beneath life’s still, calm surface
Might lurk bright and growing expectation.

By wandering from our place secure,
By entering life where troubles lurk,
We meet opportunities to sow new growth,
Feed a needy soul, give a positive perk.

God asks us to be curious.
Come down off our snowy perches.
Cross the rivers of comfort and affluence.
Go beyond our homes and churches.

Dig beneath smooth, deceptive surfaces.
Find places where need and hurt abide.
Stick your nose in; get your feet muddy.
Provide new growth; dig beneath human pride.

In a spirit of expectation,
Roam the brown and golden ridges.
Meander off your snowy mountain.
Wade the rivers; cross the bridges.

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Category:

Love

Beginnings and Endings

This year, 2014, began with the promise of new beginnings – bright and full of cheer. This is the acrostic I wrote in January:

Just
Another
New Year?
Unmatched
Appreciation and
Respect Daily for
You, O Lord!
Make my
Integrity
Real
And
Contagious.
Lengthen
Every
Second!

Did you see that the acrostic poem read vertically says “January Miracles”? I was expecting all good things, of course, as I asked God to lengthen the seconds and let the minutes linger.

Then the endings began. First our good friend, David, died of emphysema. Actually, in retrospect, the endings started in 2013. My friend, Mary Lou, fell down the stairs of her home and died in November. Then Marcia slipped on the ice on her sidewalk and broke her hip. That ended our weekly Bible studies up the stairs in my sanctuary. Then our neighbor’s dad, Mik, slipped off a step stool… died two days later. I was reminded of my wonderful cousin, Bobby, who died after falling off a ladder two years ago. In the midst of my reminiscence, two friends from our church went to meet our Maker. This week a childhood friend – someone my age – died after fighting a ten year battle with Alzheimer’s. I had a long talk with his wife. Life is tenuous, my friends. Are you making the most of each day? Every minute?

ENDINGS

How steady
is your step stool?
How level
is your ladder?
How alright
are your arteries?
How much does that matter?

A step stool
is not very high.
A ladder
can be deadly.
Your arteries
can wipe you out.
It’s a life-threatening
medley!

Mik slipped
from a step stool.
He landed
on his head.
Just a day
or two later,
our friend, Mik,
was dead.

Bobby fell
off a ladder.
He landed
on his head.
Just a day
or two later,
my cousin,
Bobby, was dead.

Plaque in arteries,
Cholesterol in veins,
High blood pressure,
Heart pumps, but strains.

Careless smoking,
Nasty habit.
Lungs shut down.
No life remains.

 

Take care of yourself, my friend. You matter. Each day is a new beginning. Each day has its endings, too. Stretch the seconds. Lengthen every minute. Make the time count.

 

Category:

Love

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Beautiful Defined

Oscar winner, Lupita Nyong’s speech on Beauty left an entire audience speechless. It left me awed and impelled to share it. I posted a link on my FaceBook page and I copied a couple paragraphs here to whet your appetite.

” I received a letter from a girl and I’d like to share just a small part of it with you: “Dear Lupita,” it reads, “I think you’re really lucky to be this Black but yet this successful in Hollywood overnight. I was just about to buy Dencia’s Whitenicious cream to lighten my skin when you appeared on the world map and saved me.”

My heart bled a little when I read those words. I could never have guessed that my first job out of school would be so powerful in and of itself and that it would propel me to be such an image of hope in the same way that the women of The Color Purple were to me…”

To watch Lupita and hear the rest of her speech, click on the link below. If that doesn’t work, please find the posting on my FB page. Believe me, it is worth the time and effort to hear this delightful acceptance speech. She delivered it accepting an award for Best Breakthrough Performance at the seventh annual Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon.

Category:

Living in Harmony, Love

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Image

Inside Lookin’ Out

Inside Lookin' Out

Today’s a good day
To be inside lookin’ out.
The wind’s a-howlin’
And the snow’s a-blowin’
But inside lookin’ out,
All’s well with the world!

It’s a good day to be
Thankin’ the Good Lord
For all the many blessin’s.
For a fire in the the fireplace,
A radiantly heated floor,
A pup on the hearth,
Food in the crockpot,
Friends close by,
A lovin’ spouse
who shovels the driveway
If I need to get out.

But, I don’t need
To go nowhere!
Nowhere but here –
Inside lookin’ out!

Written

on March 1, 2014

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