Blind To Beauty

Blind to Beauty 

Let me never be

The extraordinary sights

of this world may I

always notice, and forever see.

The foaming ocean,

 bluer than blue sky,

expansive mountains

covered in trees.

The creatures of the

air, earth, and sea.

                                      May I never tire of

any of these.

A child laughing,

another lending a 

helping hand. 

Grown men, on the side of right they stand.

The endless acts of kindness

unseen, but of 

immeasurable value

to this world,

to you and to me.

Blind to beauty

let us never be! 

The Intimidation of Romance

The intimidation of romance, where does that spring from exactly? I believe it initially comes from average and completely wonderful people watching the fun house version of romance played out in movies and ads, even novels. The wall of mirrors, that distorts out of all proportion, the truth. 

There are people who get picked up by helicopter and taken to their country house for the weekend along with 25 of their dearest friends. Some people do drink champagne for breakfast out of crystal flutes. Others know how to spin a phrase with such polish, a woman could be talked out of her better judgement.  

For the greatest section of society, no matter the price tag you place on it, the idea of romance is actually pretty confusing. What does it mean to be romantic? UMMMMMMMMMM......

The answer could turn into a long discussion; it could, but no need. 
It is pretty simple. Not exactly a mystery. 

However, there is a secret.  Pay attention.  That is the secret. Romance is not found in horse drawn carriages or rooms filled with dozens of roses. 

Romance is found in the details of thoughtfulness, consideration, and the tiny, often unnoticed, preferences of the one you love, being noticed.

Romance is not about price tag. It is about highlighting the priceless elements of your relationship.

The idea of one magic formula to achieve romance misses the mark. It gets people in trouble, frustrated, and occasionally hurt. The meaning of romance has been lost in translation. Don't try to be bigger than life.  Do be thoughtful. Do be present. Do put your affections into action and be simply personal and purely honest.

         Come Slip Your Hand

             Securely into mine.

               We will walk along the water;

               Our Bare feet  Shuffling in the Sand.

                                  

           Come Share your thoughts with me.

            You will fit right here; slide down into my lap.

I will encircle you in my arms and lean my ear close to catch every word. Carefully I listen leaving no gap.

Come laugh with me as we trade the news of the day. I'll put my arm around your delicate frame and when the telling is through, we will sit together in comfortable silence and your head upon my shoulder you will lay.

And this moment, as millions of moments before, 

I will wait with excited expectation to hear you

say, "I Love YOU today and our whole life through." 

                     

                             

Trees, Wind, Roots

Open the box ....

Pour into bowl.....

add milk....

grab spoon.... 

Breakfast......

So as I sat looking out the window eating my culinary masterpiece, the scene outside captivated me. The wind rushed through the trees at great speed. As the wind blew, it caused the branches of the trees to dance with sweeping dips and radical twists in every direction. 

For awhile I watched with interest, but no particular thoughts. Then something interesting dawned on me. The wind was having its way with the trees, but something in their behavior we, as people, would do well to adopt. 

They bent to a point showing themselves flexible, but they were not moved. Roots fully established and firmly in place, the trees held their ground. 

To be flexible in small matters and firmly rooted in the absolutes of life will, in turn, give your life opportunity to flourish.....even on the windy days.

Familiar Sounds

Familiar sounds
Creaky Floors
Squeaky Doors
Trash Trucks
Mail Trucks
Delivery Vans
Lawn Mowers
Leaf Blowers

A child laying against his mother's breast drifts off to sleep, hearing the rhythm of her heart beat.

A man follows the sound in the distance of a sheep's bleat. Chickens cluck in protest as you collect the eggs. Horses stomp their feet with displeasure, one after another, as you move to clean their feet, with a fuss and a whinny as they submit and bend a leg.

A woman wakes to the sound of a heart monitor alarm warning of trouble. Without hesitation,.. she moves to fix the problem. Silence. The sound not heard. You can make your feelings heard when your blood runs hot. You can do it without saying a word.

A front door screen crashes against the frame, kids are home. 

Shower turns on.... dad is up.
Pots clanking....mom is cooking.
T.V. blares....grandpa is watching.

Someone knocks, seven locks are undone to let them in. Determined to triumph over discouragement and overwhelming crime, this battle, you will have it no other way....you will win.

Cheers and laughter fill the air at the announcement of a new child that would soon be there.

 Boots thunder on the entry floor. Solider son arrives 3 days early....all you can do is stop and stare. You embrace him, sobs released, your heart rejoices....you can't believe he is there.

Sounds of home. It is all different and all the same.

You are part of something....a family.

Familiar sounds....you know them well. 
Some Sad
Some happy
Some funny 
Some annoying 
Some sweet. 
Some important, some not so much. 
The sounds of home....its our hearts they touch.

Hope In The Form of Snow

Snow....a stunning surprise

Snow....a blanket of white
Snow....a reason to laugh
Snow....glistening in the sunlight
Snow....unexpected
Snow....welcome
Snow arriving New Years Eve morning
filling my heart with such joy, such utter delight.
Snow....for building snowmen
Snow.... for sledding down the hill
Unaccustomed to the temperature, my hands, nose, 
and especially my toes, feel the chill.
Snow in my California town; who would have
thunk it?  It doesn't snow here ever, but it did!  
We heard it was possible, but thought it was not 
exactly probable.

  In the dawning of the new day, we found a reason to display a smile, and laugh with childlike abandon. Our world was reborn as it lay there covered in white, like a blank canvas. In every snow flake, hope drifted down.

All over town clusters of children and adults, feeling like children, took a pause from their everyday stuff, to enjoy this happening that does not happen any day for us. 

A reminder of Hope came down....now it is our job, yours and mine, to pick it up and help it grow. Not only in our own hearts, but in the hearts of the people we encounter. Could be family, could be a stranger you brush elbows with on a crowded sidewalk. It could be a smile, a kind and helpful gesture, or listening while a hurting friend pours out their pain. 

From here, this place of newness, we begin with fresh perspective and hard earned wisdom. Hand in hand , we will make it through this year with high hopes; leading the way to fulfilled dreams and promises that are our new reality. 



 

Still in it...

Christmas is done.
As we speak, New Years plans are being spun.

Proposals will be popped.The discovery of babies on the way announced. From the excitement of first kisses at the stroke of midnight, bringing tingles, shivers, and flutters....
to 50 years of New Years together celebrated... some at grand parties, others quietly cuddling under the covers. 

Enjoy your New Years Eve, but be smart,
be careful; give your loved ones no need
to be tearful or prayerful.

Make a point to meet the new year....
greet the dawn of the new day.
Take a moment.....allow the sunrise
to cause you to pause a minute
with a grateful heart..........to 
realize how blessed you are with this
beautiful world and the fact that after
all the bumps, twists, and turns.... you
are still in it.

The Way Home

We all have a personal journey we take through life. A path all our own. God lays it out before our feet.  It is our choice if we step in time with God or take rabbit trails along the way. They are clearly marked ....

"Too Stubborn To Listen Lane"

"Insist On Learning The Hard Way"

"I Know It's Wrong But Feels So Good Avenue"

We all have these alternate routes branching out of our true path.  The beautiful, wonderful, exciting truth about God is that He marks the way back.

Even when we are deep in the forest of fear and confusion, we are not alone. Always remember that in our daily routine, God is ever present. If we lose sight of our personal path, nothing is lost. We can hold on to hope, knowing with confidence that God will light the way home.