My day job is as a pastor in a church that regularly offers short term mission opportunities. Last year I fell in love with the people of Guatemala, so I returned this summer. This post, and the next few, will contain images from our 10 day trip. These are images of the property where we stayed in San Lucas Sacatepéquez, and images of beautiful Nueva Santa Rosa.
would like to see a few things stay the untroubled giggles of a child a sunset that kaleidoscopes for hours an embrace that fills my heart with peace a haunting melody that sinks into my soul and reminds me that there is love
would like to see a few things stay the knowing when our eyes connect the crashing waves and their rhythmic balm the birdsong soaring through the sad sky colors leaping from a flower spilling on my heavy brow reminding me that there is life
would like to see a few things stay a tree that shades me from all harm a crystal river of understanding shadows stretching through deep green woods the Light that helps me see the Way a hand to hold that guides through the pain reminding me that someone’s there to share a lonely road
oh stay with me lover of my soul let me see the calm before i lose myself nowhere to go the words of life spoken long ago an anchor for an old old soul reminding me that You are here in the mess in my tears reminding me that You are rest
so in my heart it’s raining the stars don’t mind the sun stays behind the sad sad showers just pitter patter and i just stare aware of the polyrhythmic percussion perfectly synchronized with the confusion and the emotional concussion
there’s no melody for this deep blue song it just reminds me of all that has gone wrong
we’re still feeling the falling living with the distance the canyon of longing and sighing and crying and dying looking for morning for light for life and love for the endless morning of light and love
she loved flowers and it seems like they loved her too countless plants happily shared the rooms of our home my mom would call each one by name no strange plants in her home it takes someone special to see that life thrives the colorful flowers the herbs and the spices the garden outside was no different than the garden of our hearts she tended to each one of us and we grew in love and tenderness because she knew that all things that are loved grow and sing and shine all things loved grow and sing and shine
i would like to shine
bright as a sunny day
and shimmer
like a jacob collier song
but i often find
that old pride inside
and i stumble and lose my way
and it can go so wrong
when the shame gets strong
and i reach for a new identity
no matter how i try
i’m never free
when i think i don’t need
to be me
so i run back home
to the lover of my soul
it’s an uphill path
the lies inside
just laugh
so i bring to my mind
and heart
the One who has kept me
from the start
oh sing of the treasure
of His love
for me
for you
it shimmers
and shines
His mercy
shimmers
and shines
the Light of the world
lives inside
and He
always
shimmers
and shines
hello sunrise it’s so nice to find you here you’ve been on my mind it feels like such a long long time and i’m kinda down can you stay a while and listen to this song it’s not like everything’s wrong but some dreams are gone some tears are here to stay a little older now how will i find my way the world is spinning too fast looking for things that last
i am learning how they can only be found in the slowing down and holy wondering speaking less much more silence reflection connection surrender and union with my Maker hello sunrise such a nice surprise sing along with me i’m choosing to be free detached to all that pulls me down standing tall on my knees please Light of the world oh please help me see
where is the solace when life only brings darkness an achromatic sunrise unable to chase shadows a sunset that never leaves where is the gentle breeze when life storms around and within can’t breathe the rain soaked air while i try to put on a smile the pulse rate of my soul diminished where are the hands cradling a countenance when the lonely tears are seeking an embrace standing in the middle of the universe i guess the view is nice but no one is there to share the stars i’ve heard it said there is a place where melodies and harmonies take flight like lullabies that never say goodnight music you can taste and hold in hand or pull towards your heart music that covers you with a blanket of love and grace the softest peace a delicate abyss of joy so i run to this place in the darkness and the storm i lift up my eyes when it feels i can’t breathe i fall into faith when the tears want to stay i tell my story and let the music fill in the gaps the star maker knows each page of sorrow each gaze of wonder the calming comfort of trust if i’m in the pain of the valley or the delight of the clouds the star maker knows my name he knows my now and my yesterdays my what is to come i breathe in timeless hope i fall into a vast fissure of love and rest another valley is near but He is nearer
another morning at the gym felt good to get the workout in good to move and feel alive but then again there's the stuff inside this heart of mine that needs to be revived to beauty wonder peace be still quiet surrender and some delight and some letting go of my will i really could use the shore but who really needs the shore i take that back i guess i do but having said that i looked for morning treasures and this is what i found
i found a joy to the world star shining in my garage and tons of diamonds in my backyard
it seems that someone spilled a bunch of green and i don't really care it's new life it's spring the winter has passed the hollow spaces between all branches like the hollow caverns in my soul will be filled with green and red and white and iris purple life and also i happened to find harry's pianese snitch does that mean i win i'm thinking yes
and then i saw black diamonds on the rear window of the sedan they're glistening as they reflect the light i'm listening and in my heart all seems right as i treasure these delights i'm open to the Way the Truth the Life
In my previous post I indicated that we (my wife and I) were attending a spiritual retreat in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City. After our last session today we were encouraged to experience delight. We decided to walk to the Chelsea Market, then walked the High Line to the Hudson Yards. These images are just a glimpse into an evening of delighting in New York City!
We are enjoying New York City while attending a spiritual retreat this week. A wonderful combination!
rutakintome pictures 
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