A Place of Endless Miracles

Busy, busy, busy. Life can be that way. There are so many things competing for our attention. It’s not enough to just try to choose what we think is good for us. There are too many things that are ‘good for us’. Days and weeks and months and years and decades can pass by, filled with a never-ending list of things we feel we need to do. I’m reminded of a painting done by Norman Rockwell. Pictured is a large cathedral placed on a busy street in a large city. The pastor is placing a theme/challenge to the congregation “Lift Up Thine Eyes”. But there are many people walking by the church, all of whom have their eyes down toward the ground. Busy, busy, busy. No one looks up to see the beautiful white doves flying skyward. I believe the painting is entitled “Look Up”. So, we too, are often to busy to pause and appreciate the wonderful gifts of God all around us. That’s what this poem is all about.

A place of endless miracles is here for all to see.
It’s found before life’s problems, and calls to you and me.
It lifts us on the wings of praise, beyond all earthly woe.
The key is simple: Gratitude within each humble soul.

In this world of man’s making, where pollution’s pride reigns king,
Where successes sirens call us to selfishness and greed,
Where lust reigns in vanity and sin steals our soul,
Help us be in, not of, that world where God’s truth doesn’t grow.

Help us each day to see God’s beauty that flows through each new dawn,
Unto eve, when stars appear as night comes rolling on.
The moon reflects the Son’s light over land, sky and sea.
Thank the lord for miracles. Please set our spirits free.

Only Grace is able to lift us up above.
Man’s inhumanity distracts us from God’s love.
Help us to truly see with eyes, ears, heart and mind.
Dear Lord, Show us Thy living miracles, so we will not be blind.

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Gold!

I’ve been enjoying watching the Rio Olympics; watching participants who wonder and hope that they are good enough to be awarded a medal. You see great joy and elation, and then you also see heart-breaking disappointment. Sometimes I find myself wanting to be able to reach out and give a hug and remind them that they are of great value and worth, even though they may have finished last in their competition. I can relate to a current tv ad that talks about how the human body has a trace amount of gold. Everyone has gold in them! I like that thought because I believe…no, I know that all of us are royalty because we are children of a Heavenly Father, who is King.

There’s gold that flows within our veins.
It makes us royalty.
Indeed, we’re children of a king–
Heirs of a kingdom heavenly.

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Humor

Humor is a two-way street; it leads both up and down.
A small child’s smile can lift us up; each babe is Heaven’s clown.
When we laugh at others and make fun of who they are,
Bad humor hurts and cripples, and can leave a hidden scar.

Our Lord has much good humor. Creation has it’s clowns,
From kittens, pups, to elephant calves, come cute and joyful sounds.
From otter pups to monkeys, in young life, good humor rings.
God sows joyous laughter through summer unto spring.

Some souls are hurt through life and their souls grow blind and cold.
Each heartache, pain and sorrow can make our souls feel old.
We lose our ability to see the simple joys in life.
Our souls become cankered with anger, self-pity and strife.

We choose the path of humor, laughter, love and joy.
We use forgiveness and repentance so Satan can’t destroy
Our ability to see the beauty that flows through each new day.
Good humor is the result of living life in God’s eternal way.

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The Butterfly

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Sometimes our comfort zones lead us into stagnancy. I find that when I feel that way, I’m usually being a bit selfish….self-absorbed, self-conscious, or maybe I feel some self-pity. I have never been a very sociable person. That’s something I’ve had to work at. I’d make a good hermit, a classic loner. But I also know that doesn’t bring the kind of happiness or joy that I know is possible to feel on a more consistent basis. Other people really do matter. Service is a never-failing balm for the selfish and sad soul.

I also penned these words: “Sometimes when I feel bad, and make others feels sad, I’m searching. but see only me. But if I look OUTWARD, peace comes to me inward, and sunshine is all around me.” A little bit of change can do mighty things. I’ve always liked pieces of Gordon Lightfoot’s song–Cobwebs and Dust: “Cobwebs and dust…I hate to leave you, but leave you I must….tear down the walls-gather your treasure and scatter it all….lower the drawbridge, the hour is late.”

Just remember: if there were no change, there would be no butterflies! ..and, Hey, talk to me. Tell me how you feel.

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