the edge of the sea

Back to my recent trip to New York for the next few posts. Just love the wind, the clouds, the endless waves and the distant edge of the sea...

winter beauty

Ice fog + frigid cold air + the morning sun + our beautiful town = a spectacular morning!

the beautiful “off” season

I particularly love the winter shore. The lonely beach seems to have more to say during the “off” season. I enjoy the endless songs of the water as the waves crash, and the water spreads out in a desperate attempt to explore and experience more of what it’s like to be on land. The taste of cold, salty air…

towering moments

I am back in my home town on Long Island, in New York, to visit my elderly parents. If you have hiked around this blog you know that when I return to Long Island I always spend time walking along the shore at Jones Beach and capturing images of this amazing public park. These images are of the Jones Beach tower, affectionately called “the pencil”, that supplies water to the park. Thanks for stopping by.

strong servant

there are not enough words
in the world’s languages
to properly honor my mom

today I’ll choose two:

strong servant

rest your eyes on her hands

a remarkable strength lies beneath
their frail appearance

when i greeted her this morning
her embrace was not only filled with love
it was filled with a force
a firmness
a stability
that comes from deep within

i know her heart carries
immeasurable sadness
and a weariness
that age and time have given her

her heart is also filled
with a near perfect combination
of strength of will and resolve
and a seemingly endless
river of love
ever flowing
in service of others
rest your eyes on her hands

hands that have worked so hard
to create a home
to clean and cook
to calm and reprove
– trust me when i tell you they are strong hands –
to hold and release
to serve all who entered her home

but these are just two words
shadows that dimly portray
my dear mom

beauty within

Did you miss it this morning? It was such a beautiful start to the day. It’s OK if you did. Often in my life I miss the beauty all around me. Whether or not you and I see it, or acknowledge it, there is also beauty within. Everyone on this planet… everyone… is created in the image of Almighty God. If we truly understand this then we can define people properly. I don’t always live up to the image that I carry of my God. And many people around me don’t either. It doesn’t change how I define them… how I fundamentally understand, welcome, and accept them. This is what it means to love your fellow man… to be a good neighbor… to move into this world with light and grace.

walking the earth…

We all have some learning to do.

gentle words

gentle words are a tree of life*
is there gentleness
in your heart today
kindness in your soul
meekness in the tones
of your voice

what impact do we have on others
do we justify the very attitude in us
that we condemn in others
do we demonstrate the very hate
we call out in others
gentle words are a tree of life

are we willing to love
before we declare how right we are
do we see our blindness
as we call out for justice and judgement
all the while marginalizing
diminishing
tearing down
feeling so good
all because we possess unquestionable wisdom
gentle words are a tree of life

and pride will be our ruin
each of us deceived
holding out our torch of truth for others
beckoning the world to listen and follow
content with the darkness inside our hearts
gentle words are a tree of life

LORD
have
mercy

* Proverbs 15:4

winter moments

Just a couple of winter scenes near home.

Thanks for stopping by.

moment by moment

if i could save time in a bottle
time keeps on slipping into the future
does anyone really know what time it is
time is on my side
gone too soon
yesterday

this moment is all we have
and now it is gone
replaced by this moment
a parade of time
we stand at the curb
as moments march
into hours
days
years
your lifetime and mine

this moment is all we have
and who we are in this moment
penetrates all time
all the time waiting to pass
and all the remembering words
in the hearts of those who know us

who we are
in this moment
our love
our hate
our sin
our joy
our celebration
our worship

who we are
in each moment
shapes who we are yet to become
even as we become our future self
practice makes perfect

let our perfection be in love
let us be masters of grace
doctors of healing words
experts in forgiveness
professionals in kindness

the moment 2021 begins
we begin to practice
and His word tells us:
“God has made everything beautiful for its own time.
He has planted eternity in the human heart” *
we are meant to journey
with our Creator
and rest in Him
in the grace and love
of His Son

God bless you
as you become
as you step into
His story of you
make it a happy new year
moment
by
moment

  • Ecclesiastes 3:11