John and Lisa's Blue Skies Blog – Soaring with God

Just because you see me better
than I can
doesn’t make you better
than I am.

——————–

Am I a prophet on a string?

——————–

You’re so far into the future,
your presents are all in the past.

——————–

I’m looking for squares.
You’re giving me circles.

——————–

I watched a praying mantis say
grace before eating a mosquito.

——————–

As light as they are butterflies have lifted
my spirit a time or two.
I feel I owe them something —
a shot of dandelion wine maybe.

To be or not to be.
The difference I cannot see.
Oh well —
right now I have to pee.

Azalea petals float on
asphalt parking lot puddle.
Small world.

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
(Proverbs 13:12)

Oh cry and cry some more
but no one comes, no one
even hears or cares.
Comfort yourself
with the colorful fish
mobile just out of reach,
the pink cotton blanket
against your tear-stained
cheek and hungry mouth.
Hopelessness churns
the stomach, but perhaps
one more smile can
capture mother’s love.

Surely something, something
must make her pay attention.
Roll over again. Kick
and clap and giggle –
she likes that, or at least
she did. Once. Even twice.
Now – learn to enjoy
the patterns on the ceiling.
Alone for hours. Or
maybe even days….

After so many years,
surprise! Someone sees,
but you fear to believe
this fairy tale called
unconditional love that frees.
Your needs, weaknesses
do not crush respect –
they even help it grow.
Surprise! This is real.
In truth, you’re respected
and seen as you, guided
to climb the tree of life.
White blossoms dance
in the warm breeze
and reflect noontime sun.
Dry your tears.
You ARE.
Believe!

Continue the journey through this open space.
Walk, run, and sometimes even float
Where uncertainty promises great grace.

Broken hearts begin healing in the face
Of new adventures, paths beyond the rote.
So continue journeying through open space.

Running at times, still it’s not a race.
Temps can be hot or require a heavy coat
Where uncertainty promises great grace.

That bend in the road seems a familiar place
Yet a closer look reveals this higher note:
“Continue the journey through open space.”

The oak tree invites us to pause, to brace
Our aching backs a while, content to gloat.
But uncertainty promises great grace.

Faith and just a bit of effort embrace
Conveying us in their sturdy river-boat.
We continue the journey through open space
Because uncertainty promises great grace.

God is everything
and God is nothing.
God was and is
creation and more.

Pray.
Just pray.
Okay?

“You may mock the poor man’s hope,
but his refuge is the LORD.”
(Psalm 14:6)

The poor, lonely, weak,
depressed, despised,
ignored – they cling
to the Rock of the Lord.
The strong and healthy
trust in themselves,
have no need to admit
their need, their humanity.

But thank God,
God loves all.

Ever-patient,
ever-merciful –
the Lord is a Wall.
To some, an obstacle;
for others, a solid
trustworthy Fortress.

Ever-flowing,
ever-cleansing –
the Lord is a River.
To some, a nuisance;
for others, a fresh
vibrant Waterfall.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose hope is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters…
In the year of drought it shows no distress,
but still bears fruit.”
(Jeremiah 17:7-8)

To sink or to swim?
That is the question.
Seems like an easy choice.
But what if we can’t
distinguish between
swimming and sinking?

“You let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance.”
(Psalm 66:12)

After weeks, months
— seeming years —
of dry sandpaper torture
and razors slicing flesh,
of cold desolate pathways
and parched impassable mountains —
An unexpected oasis appears,
satisfying every thirst
healing every wound
warming each frozen
place within. This
— lifeline —
must be enough to traverse
yet more desert land.
Amen, amen, eternal waters
cannot evaporate.

“Praise be to God,
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!”
(Psalm 66:20)