every moment

every moment is in the past
every experience dissolves into a memory
as soon as a moment in time arrives
it retreats into yesterday
the crimson and deep blue sea colors of a sunrise
merge with a new day
and they quietly disappear
after loudly announcing the gift of a new day
a photograph tries to stretch the brevity of the moment

but it remains powerless to make the moment last
it only amplifies the memory
which in turn makes the moment more elusive
it only brings to our consciousness
that the moment has slipped away
and continues to slip away beyond our reach
it only represents the beauty and majesty of the Creator
and brings us face to face
with this mysterious transient thing that we call life
which i think is why an old stoic and wise man once said

It is better to go to a home where there is mourning than to one where there is a party, because the living should always remind themselves that death is waiting for us all.
Sorrow is better than laughter; it may sadden your face, but it sharpens your understanding. Someone who is always thinking about happiness is a fool. A wise person thinks about death.
*

a bit dark

i suppose

but also true

pondering impermanence
stills our striving for things that do not last
heals our hearts of passions that never satisfy
pauses our pride in who we think we are

so i will welcome the loud colors
let the moments slip away
even as i too
am slipping away
following the crimson and deep blue colors
pondering the promises
of a heavenly voice

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. **


* Ecclesiastes 7
** Revelation 21

something safe

something solid
something sure
at the beginning of the end
and i am feeling insecure
what will it take
for this heart
to settle down
i think
it’s something solid
something sure

something that lasts
something i can count on
i can’t seem to stop surrendering
to the stories i tell myself
no happy endings
why am i spending time
in all the shadows
won’t you tell me please
what will it take
for my mind to be at ease
i think
something that lasts
something i can count on

something quiet
something safe
when it all unravels
when the puzzle pieces
don’t match the picture
on the box
what will it take
for my soul to rest
for my eyes to see
i think it must be
something quiet
something safe
there is an old story
of the Son of Man
that abides
through the centuries
He walked upon
the same ancient soil
that i stumble upon
His words true and sure
pierce my heart
and a small glowing calm
lifts my head

for He was before
and will always be
His love is for all time
and my mind
can’t understand
but i choose to anchor
my thoughts to the peace
of His everlasting wisdom
His never ending love

and into all my searching
in the midst
of all the bingeing and the scrolling
He shouts stillness
into the noise of my life
calming
restoring
reminding
renewing
resurrecting
and singing over me
the pain remains
but i am unharmed
confusion seems to hold sway
but my fear is consoled
by His presence
beside me
above me
beneath me
all around me
there is a storm
but
He
is

help me to let go

i’m trying
to let go
sometimes surrendering
doesn’t fit
all the shoulds i’m chasing

you see
i have this life equation
that should equal
the sum total
of all my expectations
of how it all should unfold
and then i see it unravel
everywhere and nowhere
i want to be

i’m trying
to let go
after all
we will all one day
let go of everything
so why do i try
to hang on to so much

like my pride
why didn’t you take
my side
i can only see
the me side
of you

like still holding onto
my right
and i’m right
and you’re not
i can’t see
how dark
and confusing
i make it for you

like when i hold onto
my disengaged attitude
pushing you away
silencing your voice
you’re not real
you don’t really know
what you feel
so let me
tell you

like when i hold onto
my fear
i don’t think
you’ll stay here
if you see the real
in me

God
help me
to let go
and to know
that even when i fall
that i am descending
into freedom
decreasing into the fullness
of who you made me to be

God
please help me
to
let
go

let it all in let it all go

and i find that i’m choosing to let it all in
i stand in the light while i’m feeling the pain
that keeps falling like rain on my story again
and the clouds crowd my soul so i let it all go
carried on whispered prayers with hands pleading
lifted in unspoken longings eyes searching
for some kind of answer in this darkened light
embracing the rain and the clouds and all the unseen
running into the light as it reaches all that’s been
perhaps a lament or two will see me through
the paradox of this impermanent journey
a time for everything and everything in time
i’ll welcome the longing with singing
celebrate the love with understanding
that all is fading into unending yesterdays
and the clouds crowd my soul so i let it all go
and i’ll walk towards the light
keep my eyes on things above
and choose to love here below
and let it all go through trembling whispers of faith
until i find my way home with some amazing grace

be still love well

do you see the beauty
all around you
a dazzling sunrise
colors and clouds
singing out loud
abandoned joy
dancing across the sky
are you stilled in wonder
at the edge of forever
as melodious crashing waves
meet the coarse sand beneath your feet
when the morning sky
touches your soul
and you do
and don’t know why
tears appear
and for a moment
it’s all okay
and when you say goodbye
to another day
are you at rest
is there peace in your mind
as the sun meets the sea
are you free
are you free
to feel all your sorrows
make space for your pain
see the hope of tomorrow
when colors and clouds
will see unending days
that chase all the shadows
of your heart away
and all the loose ends
of your crazy life story
will end
in the glory
of lux aeterna
so be still
love well
just take
another step
away from the shame
eternity covers your soul
breathe into your worth
abandon the lies
confess your wrongs
step into every sad song
and just be willing
to make space
for the Way
the Truth
the Life
lux aeterna
will come for you
so be still
and love well

oh Lord and Light

like a black sea
stretching out before me
all this mystery
of what is yet to be
all that i cannot see

like a black sky
slowly descending over me
telling shadow stories
all i cannot hide
a dark gray canopy
made up of all my whys

oh Lord and Light
guide me on my way
help me navigate
this story through the night
waiting for the day
longing for all made right
for the unseen real
to replace
what all the senses feel

like a dark wave
swallowing up my soul
all the doubt and shame
why must it
be this way
growing old
is growing close
to a different shore
to so much more
than the sum of my failures
or anything labeled
a success
it’s all just a mess

oh Lord and Light
i’m grateful
that you gave me sight
for this mess
that i call my life
for you carried me
you saw me
you ransomed me
so i’ll follow you
i’ll turn to you
surrender to you
and let you tell me who i am
for you are love
and far above this darkened sky
and far below this blackened sea
your glory and light
your power and might
the Lord and Light
is with me
in me
all around me

the Lord and Light
is with me
in me
all around me

a little brick house in rockdale

we got a little brick house in Rockdale
the one with the great big tree
we know it’s not london or paris
and not parsippany
but there’s a real nice park
across the street
where the slides go on for miles
and the girls can climb
and laugh on the swings
right there in front
of our little brick house
the one with the great big tree
it’s not rome
or breckenridge
or schenectady
it’s a home for the girls
and for you and me
here in Rockdale
we’ll make memories
in our little brick house
the one
with the great big tree

a wordpress birthday

St. Patrick's Cathedral

So WordPress sent me this message today: Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com! You registered on WordPress.com 5 years ago! Thanks for flying with us. Keep up the good blogging!

Just want to say thank you to my WordPress family.  To all of you who have connected here… thank you for your comments and conversations, your support and AY-MAY-ZING talent. I am grateful.

In WordPress years I am officially 5 years old. So, as far as photography and blogging go, that would make me a kindergarten student. Yup! That’s about right. Thanks everyone!

To celebrate, here is a favorite image. This is the interior of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York.