Thank you, birds...

For the promise of Spring, the awakening of our grey, winter lives,

for reminding us of life outside of our own

where the sun shines above the clouds
and new birth is just budding beneath the cold.

For your sweet, varied melodies that sing to the dawn
and bring hope of a new, brighter day.

Lament of the Soul

Where is the green forest garden
that my soul calls home,
the place where I am free to just be,
to run like a child and dance without care?
Is it real? Is it here for me?

Or is it all just a dream, too good to be true?

The wild forest calls me...
I long to be home.

One Spirit

We rise up and breathe,

we seek and reach out,
we plan,

we play,
we dream.

We move through our days
in countless ways.

We fight,
we fall,

we mend,

we love,

but all in One Spirit
we live.

Gratitude

When the hounds of time
are on my heels,

and tension rises in my throat,

You send the rays of evening sun
and the cooling breeze of an autumn day
to kiss my brow and restore me.

When my day full of ups and downs

comes to an end

and I'm tired and stressed and angry,
You open my eyes
to see all the ways

that You whisper to me
"I love you".

Fast-forward Life

From the moment I awake,
the lack of your presence haunts me,
following me every second of the day,
pushing, shoving, taunting
and I don't dare take a moment to rest.
The gaping hole goads me on as with the sting of a whip,
laughing in my face at the list of my tasks.

The absence causes me to fear
and I lash out in anger,
hurting those whom I love the most.

Why do you exist?
Why is there never enough of you?

From where I stand,
you only exist to give me reason
to prioritize...
the ones I love, the moments I cherish, the passions I choose,
and for this, I must love you.

And yet,
I hate the way that you torment me,
Time.
 

The need for Beauty

 An incredible rainbow that spans the sky
amidst the smell of fresh rain...

The warm glow of a sunset, shining through majestic storm clouds,
reflecting hues of pink and purple in the bedroom of a little princess...
 

When we are in the presence of beauty,

there is no other response,
but to be silent
in awe,
taking it in with every breath,
wishing the moment would last forever.

Light in the Storm

I prayed for a rainbow

but got a storm.

While the rain poured

with stones of hail,

I looked for shelter
and found a tree.

Beneath the leaves,

through torrents of rain,
I saw a light
that shone so bright

 no thunder storm
its strength could touch.

And I smiled as I

began to see

the rainbows reflecting 

around me.