A few weeks ago we celebrated the 36th birthday of our oldest son in Chicago. We were married when we were 12, so we are not THAT old! 🙂 We enjoyed a wonderful dinner. It was my first time trying a tuna steak that was rare in the middle. Delicious! After dinner, our son suggested we take a walk over to the Up Room at The Robey, a beautiful Art Deco building built circa 1929. We were so glad we did! It was a beautiful summer evening in Chicago.
Thanks for stopping by.
standing still
contemplating all
the strategic decisions
that brought me here
ready to take a new step
on the journey
navigating
this ocean of feelings
the sadness
just beneath
the surface of it all
how do we traverse
the relational mines
of this broken world
no more pretending
more unmasking
what lies beneath
the smiles
and the tears
so tired of defending
time to stop protecting
and submit to truth
to words that may hurt
but will heal
the path to connection
spend more time in reflection
admitting all that’s wrong
in me
it’s so easy to live
suppressing
love and heartache
stepping into releasing
it all to Him
embracing the journey inward
not hiding what others see
accepting all that is
turning away
from denying all that is
the fog of reality
is clearer
that the seemingly
serene shimmer of self-deception
the crying
is from the lying
vulnerability is moving
towards being free
intimacy or distancing
the choice is up to me
to live in authenticity
and humility
is to break through
the veneer of safety
and i’m certain
that certainty
is not so certain after all
faith requires
the tension
of a solid hope
amidst the crazy
of the now
hate and
willful ignorance
are easy
it’s love
that is
hard
Kyrie eleison
Christe eleison
…ride to live. We live in an ocean of corn and soybeans. After 20 years, I have come to appreciate the beauty of the Midwest plains, however… it is quite flat. I took a ride north to a small town called Scales Mound, IL. It has a population of 400 and is about a mile south of the highest point in Illinois. So, naturally, it is also home to High Point Park. The road up to this town was a stunning trip with beautiful vistas of farms and rolling hills. Unfortunately, it is a two lane road with a small shoulder, so stopping to take pictures would not be a very safe choice. I think a walk on that road with camera in hand is in my future. Thanks for stopping by.
Still rummaging through the hard drive during this busy season and trying to find time to post. Not to be outdone by my previous post, this sunrise comes to you courtesy of our “rival” town, 10 miles due west of our humble home. Thanks for stopping by. What’s on your hard drive?
…so I have fallen behind in posting some images that have been hanging out on my hard drive. These two are from a sunrise in my home town. I have taken many images from this spot. It’s just a short walk from our home. Does anyone else see what I see in that sky? Thanks for stopping by!
still on the journey
through achromatic beauty
everything is okay
no
really
it is
well
sort of
i can’t make sense of a anything
everything will be okay
at least i hope it will
but there is the now
the inbetween
the stumbling
not quite sure
which way to turn
i recognize
this strange
space of uncertainty
and stillness
and i cry
fast forwarding
isn’t fun
i cry
feels like
a lonely drowning
i cry
a jumbled pile
of grief and loss
wading through
shattered hope
and i cry
God
help me to accept
the immovable
reality of now
and rest
inhale
exhale
rest
i
cry
Here is Part 2 of some images from my recent trip to Guatemala. Many of these were taken at Mixco Viejo: a fortress city Mayan Ruin. Thanks for stopping by!
Greetings! The blog has been quiet because for the third year in a row I have left the US for beautiful Guatemala. Each year our church partners with a church in San Lucas Sacatepéquez, Guatemala. We build homes for the poor in El Zapote, do basic medical and first aid training and other ministries. As you can see, we also enjoyed Lake Atitlan. Part 2 soon. Thanks for stopping by.
a fleeting embrace ending with one last glance one last wave as you step through security with no one to help you with your insecurity
ushered into
a waiting room
after transferring a kiss
from you hand
to her forehead
overwhelming outcomes
swirl in your mind
a quiet prayer
folded hands
shoulders
crushed beneath
sorrow and pain
rest
gently rest
i’ll see you
again
a collection
of expectations
neatly organized
as you donate them
to the upside down reality
that is also your lament
younger days
when smiles
were abundant
surrender to
deep steel eyes
aged by the weight
of all that you must release
all that you thought
was the melody of your journey
memories
that just fade
and others
that won’t go away
songs that remain
falling into the echoes
of time and reminiscence
of sad joy
and mournful gratitude
sunsets loudly
dazzle your soul
swallowed by night
colors overtaken
by unstoppable darkness
still
i welcome
every hello
every greeting
every start
every beginning
every hope
every hug
every grace
every possibility
every giggle
every sunset
every sunrise
while holding
all the goodbyes
and i’m glad
so
immeasurably
glad
i
am
with
you
a gentle breeze
kissed the trees
and their leaves
applauded with glee
sunrise beams
painted the fields
the streams
awakening colors
dispelling the shadows
oh Eternal LIght
can you do the same
for me
you see
i’m wrestling now
with shadows deep
sad sad songs
keep echoing
and i weep
for these longings
keep on singing
and i can’t make out
the melody
all seems wrong
where are
the joyful songs
will you
shine on my mind
running all these
scenarios
is a drain
but the pain
remains
will you shine
on my troubled heart
mend all the jagged broken parts
help me to start
anew
i will trust
i will trust
in You
my
Eternal
Light
rutakintome pictures 
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