I was going to wait till the end of the week to post my reflection on Joy for the third week of Advent, as I’ve been doing. But then realized I still have to fit in Love before the 24th…
The photos in this post are taken with the eye and hand of photographer/poet/writer Gary Fultz.
To you, I pour out my heart.
To you, I lift my words.
To you, when I am in trouble, I reach.
But your comfort I cannot find.
With moans I cry, Where are you?
I can neither sleep nor pray.
My mind is ever wandering. …wait
In the morning and again at dusk, I walk.
Songs come to me, Hymns of old, and
My heart begins to hum
To you.
Surely, your sweet mercy can spare a drop for me,
you haven’t forgotten me completely.
Surely, your promise to be with me always is true.
Your anger only lasts a night. Your mercies are new for me, too.
Surely.
You have compassion left to spare
a little for this sorry soul!
And your right hand
Will guide my own.
It’s then, I begin to ponder …wait
I stopped my aimless wandering
where I’d find myself, once again,
ahead of you, leaving you
in the dust of my soul’s poverty,
from those,
once again,
Self filled
Self focused
Self centered
Efforts.
I pondered your beauty at the rising of the moon.
In the dawn’s light, where it was
sketched into the curled veins of leaves and outlined by
the dried bark of winter’s branches, I shivered.
I mused as the birds endured the chill and sang
songs of good cheer in the cold, snow falling,
as the wind blew
through my hair and wiped
away icy words and
lifeless sentences.
The Sun shone its glory then, and dried
my tear-dampened pages
with their blurry phrases
of hopeless life and
lifeless meaning.
It was in this landscape I stood and longed
for you to teach me, sparkling
truths, those bold displays revealing
all you write on—
Your beloved Creation,
beloved children,
beloved ones,
Beloved Son.
The skies shout your story,
Vibrant wisdom, mischievous laughter,
carrying mysteries of light and passion and fire.
How the earth shakes and my heart trembles
as you draw near,
stepping down the
clouds away from the
door of Heaven, to us.
It’s then, I turn and find your
footprints behind me,
turn back to you, see them ahead, and follow
your steps, up. You are and have always been with us. …wait
As I step into your sanctuary, Joy greets me,
turning my heart into a Bethany Home for yours
to invite others in.
_________
Pondering Psalm 77
Featured photos: https://garyfultz.com/
So very good….
Mark, thank you for reading and sharing these words with me today. Be blessed as you go about your way. ❤️🌲🙏🙋🏻
Honest and Edifying
Amazing how someone’s words so long ago can inspire, challenge and boldly set an example for us in our world.
“I stopped my aimless wandering
where I’d find myself, once again,
ahead of you, leaving you
in the dust of my soul’s poverty,”
I so relate to the whole journey Deb.
There is a lot here to come back to.
Shiver is an understatement with the sun dogs. It was -30 with a wicked wind on the lake picture. It fits the coldness of the soul sometimes
Beautiful, and filling — both your poem/musing and Gary’s photos.🌷🌷
It does. Oh my, that reminds me of our old skiing days when the windchill at Powderhorn Mountain in Michigan was 100 below in the mornings. I don’t know how we did that except we were young. My fingers and toes will never be the same though. Should I shake or freeze instead…? 😁
Morag, yes, they are timeless and new every time I take them in. ❤️
Aww, you make me think of God’s Spirit. Thank you. 🌷🌷
😊❤️
What a profound description of the journey of faith.
Romans 1:20 came to mind as I read through this poem: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” Beautifully captured! Blessings!
Annie, I’m so blessed that you found this in these words. The poem seemed to unfold like my life as I wrote, Bible in lap, Psalms open. ❤️ Your response means so much to me. Thank you.
Aww, Bruce, I love that. You are a treasure chest of wisdom!