Skies Are Changing

I see you everywhere

In the chirping of the birds
I hear your voice

In the sky
I see your face

In the glow of the sun
I feel your warmth

Somehow you always find a way
To let me know you are there

You remind me
In ways that only you could
Of the simplest
of life's lessons

And you give me reason
To trust and believe
To have faith

But today
You confused me
There's an uneasiness
That I feel in the pit
of my stomach
I am scared, unsure, and anxious

The very first glimpse at the morning sky
Was ominous
Heavy grey clouds
And a coldness in the air
That immediately struck my bones


But as you so often do
Within just minutes
You revealed the splendor
of the sunrise
And you put my mind at ease

With each step
A more magnificent sky
Colors so vivid and rich
Combined with the crisp cold air
It took my breath away

I was awed by the dark branches
Against the amazing sky
It reminded me of life

So many twists and turns
People coming in and out of our lives
Decisions made along the path

And then...just moments later
Only a few steps down the winding path
That brilliant sky
Was gone
Without a trace

All I could think
Was just how quickly
Things can change

Had I started my walk
Just 20 minutes earlier
Or later

Had I blinked

....I would have missed it all

Today I Pray...

I feel so unsettled right now
I look for you
In the sky

And I hear you
In the wind

And today's dramatically changing skies
Sent a chill through my veins

I don't want to take
Even one moment
Of this journey
For granted

Help me to make the most of it all
To see beauty in every step
To seize the opportunities
Enjoy the friendships
Let go of the hurt
And always
Always
Live in the light of your warmth and love

"Give ear, listen humbly,
for the Lord speaks." Jeremiah 13:15

Melt

Trying so hard

to hold it all together

Now is not the time

to come undone

But the dog's barking

The phone's ringing

So much to do, and

Tensions are running high

The mountain of belongings

stacked up in the hall

Tell a story of a new adventure

about to begin

...the next step for a little girl

who's growing up

...and the mix of emotions

for a family who is learning to let go

Without even realizing it

A tear rolls down my face

then another

....and before I know it

I begin to melt

Today I Pray...

....for laughter and joy

...for patience and understanding

...for compassionate hearts

And a deep awareness of

Your unfailing

peace and love

settled deep within our bones

Unexpected Gift

No poetry or prose today
no flutters of inspiration

Just a quiet mind
the purr of the computer
and a steady beat of my heart

The music of solitude

An unexpected gift of calm
Amid the swirling chaos called life



Today I Pray...

...with a grateful heart

for the gift of a peaceful morning

...with so much to be done in the days ahead
this gift was a weight off my shoulders
a reprieve from stress

I know it was a gift from You
and I'm starting to realize
that it is a blessing
that is always there for the taking

Always there....

...Still

"He woke up, rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Quiet! Be still!" The wind ceased and there was a great calm." Mark 4:39

Breath of Heaven

A hundred to do's
Suffocate me

And though the day is just coming to life
I feel the rush
of the week already racing by

Help me remember to breathe

And just like that,
in the rush of the day
A cool morning breeze
swept through the open window
in my office
And gently wrapped itself
around me

Comfort. Truth. Life.
Amen



Today I Pray...

...please help me to stay focused

...to use my time wisely

...to make the most of each conversation

...to have a successful day

And thank you for answering my prayer so quickly...

......and erasing the tension that was already mounting

Your subtle breath of heaven reminded me
that there is nothing
more important
than this moment with You

So Am I

"I'm happy!" she said

in her sweet little voice.

"So am I!" sang a chorus of friends.

And they laughed and played

and skipped around the yard.

"I'm hungry," he said

as he rubbed his grumbling belly.

"Me too!" roared his friends

who followed him into the kitchen.

"I'm scared," she cried
as lightening illuminated the sky

"So am I," shrieked her friends

and they huddled together

away from the storm.

She cried out in the dark,

"I'm stressed."

"I'm nervous."

"I'm anxious."

"So am I," echoed back in a breeze.

And a chorus of friends

who understood

Held her up while she learned to breathe

That day she finally caught her breath

She heard the words

He'd been speaking all along

The wisdom of ages

Simple abundance

Grace

"My child, you are never alone."

Today I Pray...

...with a grateful heart

Thank you for showing me

that no matter what I am feeling

I am never alone in my emotions

Hold me steady as I find courage

to share more

Help me to trust that in sharing

I will heal

And maybe help others

who are bearing similar burdens

Help me to see the many ways

that I can learn from others

I also say a special prayer

for courage

for anyone

who is feeling lonely

or scared, or anxious

...open your heart,

trust...

and know you're not alone.

"Know that I am with you; I will protect you wherever you go and bring you back to this land. I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you." Genesis 28:15

The Words Don't Come

I want to speak
about the calm

about dewy grass
and the soothing patter
of rain on the rooftop

about the cool rain
that's beaded on
each leaf and branch

I want to delight
in the essence of morning

and embrace the serenity
of my morning walk

But the words don't come

Instead of calm
I'm anxious
restless
unsettled
uneasy

I'm weary from a journey
that's taking me in circles

I need to breathe



Today I Pray...

...for Your calming hand upon my shoulder

...forgive me if I lean too hard on You

...Guide me, steady me,

...help me find center and breathe

"Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed; I am your God.
I will strengthen you, and help you, and uphold you with my right hand of justice."
Isaiah 41:10

Be My Guide

Following carefully
As you light each step

We've come so far
But I suddenly feel
Very afraid

Like I'm standing in darkness
And the path has disappeared
Leaving scattered stepping stones
In a swirling stream

I know You are with me
But I can't hear you
Over the rushing waters

I don't know
Where we're going
Nor do I know my way back
From where we came

Please don't let go
of my hand

Forever be
my Guide



Today I Pray...

...for open ears to hear You

...for Your light on the Path

...for inner peace that comes
from putting my trust in You

"Behold the rainbow! Then bless its Maker, for majestic indeed is its splendor." Sirach, 43: 11

Long Day

It's hard to believe
But the sun is already setting
on this day

The day went so fast
I barely had a chance
to catch my breath

...nor thank You
for the gift of another day

...and the beauty
of the world around me

I was caught in a maze
of "To Do's"

and kept running
into dead ends

I kept searching
for the finish line

Head down
anxious
frustrated
dejected

I should have stopped
And come to you

I should have bowed my head
and prayed

Or raised my eyes
to the heavens

I'm sorry
I let the sun go down

before stopping to say
hello

You deserve better

...but I thank you
immensely

for being so present
with me right now



Today I Pray...

...for forgiveness

I didn't mean to shut You out

...please help me to remember

next time I'm feeling overwhelmed

that Your waiting quietly

to help me carry the load

Send Me an Angel

Feeling so fragile
So frightened and so small

Please send an angel
To catch me if I fall

Today I Pray...

...that you hear me
even though I can't find the words


...I know not what I want
please bring me what I need

Anxious

The alarm clock buzzed
And my heart raced
Immediately anxious about a day
That holds unpleasant challenges

The truest sign of an internal struggle



A war between want and need
Fully aware of what's best for me
At odds with what's best for others

Trying to summon a refreshed attitude
Answered only by a heavy thumping in my chest

Today I Pray...

...for strength
to carry me past adversity

...for light
on the path that I am meant to walk

...for a calming breath
to overcome the anxiety

Breathe In. Breathe Out. Find Peace.