Monthly Archives: February 2015

The days of a human life are

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Scene2Northcroplike grass: they bloom like a wildflower, but when the wind blows through it, it’s gone, even the ground where it stood doesn’t remember it. Ps. 103:15-16 CEB

The psalmist could have said as much about a snowflake. Like twinkling stars they cascade downward, never touching another frozen flake, until they reach ground. When the sun shines and earth warms they melt and become rivulets of water traveling a path of least resistance and are no longer remembered  as snowflakes. We humans often flow with the current, taking the path of least resistance, fighting no one. At times this is the best route. Other times, it is those humans, even divine ones, who took a stand, met resistance and brought light to the oppressed whom we remember as peacemakers. Pressing onward for a vision of the world where suffering would cease, and ultimately giving their lives, we observe and honor them starting with the Prince of Peace followed by Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. In between the path of least resistance and the path these extraordinary peacemakers took are many gradients. While we may not be remembered any more than the snowflake or the wildflower, we can make a difference by the path we choose, being bold and stepping forward in faith.

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Les jours de la vie de l’homme, sont comme l’herbe : ils fleurissent comme un wildflower, mais lorsque le vent souffle à travers elle, il est allé, même dans le sol où il se tint ne se souvient pas. Ps. 103:15-16 CCS

le psalmiste pourrait avoir dit autant sur un flocon de neige. Comme scintillantes étoiles ils en cascade vers le bas, jamais toucher un autre gel paillette, jusqu’à ce qu’ils atteignent la masse. Quand le soleil brille et réchauffe la terre ils fondre et devenir les ruisseaux d’eau qui parcourt un chemin de moindre résistance et sont ne se souvenait plus de flocons. Nous, les êtres humains souvent le débit avec le courant, prenant le chemin de moindre résistance, combats personne. Parfois il s’agit de la meilleure route. D’autres fois, c’est de ces êtres humains, même divine qui, eux, ont pris un stand, a rencontré de la résistance et a tenu à les opprimés dont nous nous souvenons en tant qu’artisans de la paix. Appuyant sur onward pour une vision du monde où la souffrance cesserait, et, finalement, donner leur vie, nous observer et les honorer en commençant par le Prince de la paix suivie de Mohandas Gandhi et Martin Luther King Jr. En entre le chemin de moindre résistance et le chemin ces artisans extraordinaires pris sont nombreux dégradés. Alors que nous ne sommes peut-être pas oublier non plus que le flocon ou le wildflower, nous pouvons faire la différence par la voie que nous avons choisie, être audacieux et avancer dans la foi.

 

But I say to you who hear

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Holly 2_2015 snow

Holly, the Charolais-Angus heifer

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. Luke 6:27-28 NKJV

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials. James 1:2  NKJV

While we have not had the deluge of snow the Northeastern states have, in Tennessee the drop in temperature to single digits has presented challenges. Streets turned icy as the light snow congealed. Our outside heating unit froze rendering the heat pump useless and worse blowing cold air through the ducts. Thank heaven for the fake fireplace which heats the cabin inside, albeit unevenly. What a joy it was when the temperature rose just now enough to turn on the thermostat. The bovines and horses are doing fine and receiving extra nourishment.  And we are moving toward days when the weather is well above freezing with a few more colder nights.

Yet these cold weather issues are not the trials I am associating with the Scriptures cited above. My trial is the forgiveness of a person who brought harm to me 25 years ago. The memory of the incident, which is painful, was repressed until talking with a friend recently. Then I listened to an interview on SAT7ARABIC with the brother of Bishoy Estafanos Kamel and Samuel Estafanos Kamel, two of the 21 Coptic Christians slain by members of ISIS. The brother told how his mother said if she met the killers of her sons on the street, she would invite them to her home. The strength of her Christian faith and the love she expressed is exemplary. If she can forgive, then so can I.

As each one has received a gift

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minister it to one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  1 Peter 4:10 NKJV

In my writers’ group the suggestion was made to approach a local coffee shop to host a book signing. The next day sipping a latte’ and checking messages on my cell phone, I began a conversation with a family at an adjacent table in Square Beans Coffee in Collierville, Tenn.

From Texas and visiting a daughter and grandchild, the grandfather, who has authored several books, asked to see a copy of Whippoorwill Calls. The couple became interested in my poetry and drawings. Following our lengthy and cordial discussion, I met the coffee shop owners’ daughter who had become available and agreed to my book signing and sale of prints on Valentine’s Day from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

It was certainly helpful that a patron had shown interest in my work: one author to another, not to mention the original suggestion from the first author to visit Square Beans Coffee shop.

It is noteworthy: Sometimes the manifold gift of creating art, is less the actual art than it is the generosity of the artist.

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