Spiritual Journey Thursday & Poetry Friday: Goodness in Our World

Our host for Spiritual Journey Thursday in November is Linda Mitchell. She invited us to write about her one little word for this year, world: "My world, your world, our world."

Words comfort me during hard times and good times. I'm enjoying the many words shared by poets and writers this past week. A good friend shared three children's books she loves on Facebook. That encouraged me to share a couple of my favorite children's books that speak to this time.

I recently requested (again) The Mouse Who Carried A House On His Back from the library. It is a book that I need to purchase. The message by Jonathan Stutzman is timely. The illustrations by Isabelle Arsenault are exquisite with lovely die cut houses spread throughout the book. Like Vincent the mouse who "always knew exactly where he needed to be," each of us can mirror his generosity as we search for where we need to be in our world.

 

The Stars Will Still Shine by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke is one that I've reached for often. Like me, you may find that children's books offer the best wisdom. I'll share some of Rylant's lyrical words from this comforting book along with my favorite illustration. However, you should check out the book to savor the full luminosity of Beeke's illustrations and the warmth of Rylant's words, words to remind us of the comfort of our beautiful world with its power to bring us joy even in uncertain times.

there will be goodness

there will be grace

there will be light

in every dark place

 

I've consumed more than my fair share of chocolate this week, but my favorite treats have been the words shared by poets. I thought about sharing more, but limited myself to this gem shared on IG by poetrynikki:

 

I wake with a lyric

And lasso it

To carry through 

This darkened day:

This little light of mine,

I'm going to let it shine.

 

-Nikki Grimes

May we carry light to shine into dark places, to ease suffering, and to bring comfort to our troubled, weary world. 

 

 

 

Cathy Mere is our host for Poetry Friday this week. Go check out her "In the Mourning" poem that speaks of two important women she sits between, her grandmother and her granddaughter. And then stop by Mr. Linky to savor more poetic goodness from our community.

Poetry Friday: A Fall Poem

A dear friend sent me this poem from Facebook by Brian Bilston (he gave me permission to share).

It arrived with these sweet words from my BFF: 

"Thought of you, little boys, a bench under trees in fall & giggles."

I love that friends think of me when they read poetry. 

Head over to Carol's blog, Beyond Literacy Link,

for this week's round-up of all things fall,

a collection of original poems, quotes, and galleries 

that will delight your senses.

 

Poetry Friday: An Illustrated Poem for #writeout

Head over to Matt's blog, Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme,

for this week's round-up of poetic goodness.

 

This collection of images and words come from my almost daily walks. Fast walking is never my goal. Instead I savor slow walks with plenty of time to notice what's around me. I love these lines from Mary Oliver's poem, "Sometime":

“Instructions for living a life.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.” 

 

TREASURED STEPS

A walk outside is

 so much more than steps to be counted.

A red mushroom pops up,

delicate webs sway in the breeze,

white blossoms cascade,

lush green frames a weathered pedestrian bridge,

a lone goose honks from misty morning waters,

Jack Frost begins his autumnal tasks,

summer lingers in pink and yellow,

a circular snail shell appears on a bumpy sidewalk,

still blue water reflects morning clouds and sun.

 

Treasures freely delivered,

a daily dose of awe.

 

-Ramona Behnke

#writeout 2024

Slice of Life: Still a Superhero!

One of my favorite things to do as a Mom was to thunder downstairs singing the Batman theme song (Da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da) with the climactic words "Batman" replaced by "Supermom!" 

A recent text thread with my daughter indicates that while the nest is empty, my Supermom powers still reign supreme!

 

Can we borrow Eagle from moose & eagle for show & tell on Friday? It’s E

Yes!

He wants a shaky egg instead 

But from your house

We’re looking for it! Does he know where it is?

 He says with the diaper changing stuff?

 That’s the first place I looked. Then we went through the toy bins.

I went to bed disappointed that I couldn't find the shaky egg. Turns out that daughter's shaky eggs were all busted (no surprise there, three boys can be rough on plastic eggs). 

I woke up Friday morning thinking about the missing shaky egg and decided to check all the drawers. 

Bathroom drawers & cabinets, no luck! 

Chest of drawers, no luck! 

Middle desk drawer, no luck. 

Side desk drawer, BINGO! 

I knew I had seen it somewhere.

I sent this pic to daughter.

Grandson went to preschool with shaky EGG* for his E show-and-tell. 

While I may not thunder down the stairs anymore, it's clear that I can still come to the rescue!

 

*Shaky Eggs were introduced to us by our community troubadour (and dear friend), Nancy Stewart. This particular shaky egg was created more than seven years ago at a community baby shower. Miss Nancy has made it her mission to connect communities and families through music. During the pandemic, she did Bedtime Tune Times. Here's the one for Shaky Eggs!

SJT: Fall's Call

Leigh Anne Eck is hosting Spiritual Journey Thursday this month. 

She asked us to write about change and transformation.

I love fall! I love the feeling of new beginnings that arrives with September and back-to-school supplies. I love watching the leaves on the trees around me change color. I even love the trees when all the leaves are gone and we see their bare bones etched against gray, wintry days. I echo L.M. Mongomery's words from Anne of Green Gables: "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."

Grandson Robby started the tradition of snapping memory pics for me when we'd see a tree dressed in autumnal splendor, but couldn't stop to take a picture. It's a treasured tradition with us. We lived near a ravine in Seattle and we loved the windy days when we could watch leaves twirl and swirl to the bottom of the ravine. My daughter coined the word "leaf fall" for those dramatic days.

Yesterday, I found a huge leaf for grandson Ollie who's doing all things leafy this week at preschool. Today, I stood on the pedestrian bridge watching a lone yellow leaf dip and swirl until it landed, floating, on the blue lake. I second the words of Emily Bronte: "Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree."

As I thought about our theme of change and transformation provided by Leigh Anne, I went in search of a verse I recalled that spoke of transformation and found it in Romans 12:1-2 (KJV):

"1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

I also like this version of these verses offered in The Message, Romans 12:1-2:

"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."

As I face this season of new beginnings and transformation, I want to fix my attention more earnestly on God. I want to recognize what he wants from me and respond to it. I want to let him bring out the best in me. I've begun with a renewed focus on reading scripture. This is a habit that I'm always working on, but mostly ends up being sporadic at best. I started small (at least one verse a day), I attached it to an already existing habit (when I make my bed, then I'll read scripture), and I'm trying to remember to affirm, celebrate, and check in with my accountability partner when I've done it.

I hope you feel renewed and refreshed by this time of year. The cooler weather helps, but I know some of you don't have it yet. I lived in Houston for 11 years and I well remember sweating through October birthday parties (both my children have October birthdays). Perhaps you'll want to join me in focusing on habit formation. I like this quote from Ruth Ahmed: "There is something so special in the early leaves drifting from the trees–as if we are all to be allowed a chance to peel, to refresh, to start again." 

Two favorite pics of fall color: 

WA

NC

Poetry Friday: Three Haiku (+ some pics) Reveal a Utah Trip

A grand adventure

picnics outside, stories read, bread baked,

 moments to treasure.

 

Friends gather, sharing

faith, food, laughter, challenges.

Cherished connections.

A backyard surprise

to share with family and friends

sweet, juicy peaches.

 

 

- Ramona Behnke

 

 

 

 Join us at the poetry playground for Poetry Friday, 

hosted today by Linda Baie at Teacher Dance.

SJT: Wholehearted!

 

Ruth Ayres is hosting our Spiritual Journey Thursday posts this month. She asked us to write about wholehearted, her word of the year for 2024. 

When I served in Hong Kong as a missionary, one of the Chinese cultural traits we learned was that one always gave and received gifts with both hands. Somehow I connected this tradition with having an undivided heart (a heart that is whole). When I looked online, I didn't find anything to support my supposition. One of the reasons I found on the internet for giving with both hands was to show that one did not have a weapon. Personally, I prefer my own idea that giving gifts with two hands represents wholeheartedness.

Being wholehearted in our spiritual lives requires that we love God and love our neighbors. Mark reminds us of the first great commandment to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And follows up with the second great commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves. (Mark 12:30-31) 

I'm borrowing some ideas from a recent address, "The Crux of the Cross" delivered by Jared Halverson at the Restore conference that I attended recently. It's one of those addresses that I want to reread and ponder. At this point, all I have are my notes trying to catch the gist of what he was saying, but often losing my way as I captured  half of his thoughts while he moved on to the next idea.

Being wholehearted requires that we learn to live in the contraries of our lives, that we are seeking both truth and harmony, a destination (heaven) and an approach (peacemaking). Taking up my cross daily to follow Christ requires me to bear the beams of love by engaging in communities where I practice loving all my fellowmen. 

"Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." Psalm 86:11, NIV  

I look forward to reading the comments of fellow Spiritual Journey travelers regarding wholehearted, Ruth's word for this year. Our Spiritual Journey Thursday community is an open group. All are welcome!  Join us in sharing your thoughts on the theme for a given month.