Making It Easier

        In an attempt to clean the blog up, add value, and make navigating it easier, I put several older posts together (below). Below is a mix of several different types of writing I've done, both new and old. Thanks for being here.

        The Old Place On The Hill (Older Non-Fiction)

       Sitting as one speaking stories of long ago, there remains the old place on the hill. The large old house of red brick stands steady yet worn, tired, though not enough to speak of it's long years long forgotten now. It speaks and none seem to listen....almost none. Years of lives lived there and it remains quiet, simply is, and this is it's final story.

        Representing it's small "community" of dwellings, it stands to listen as they speak. I pass by and listen if they'll speak, though they never do. Only memories of old echo from their worn and tired frames, some old narrow trailer and a carport that seems to want to retire, though it can't; I pass by and listen to see if they'll speak.

         Down the paved road just outside the city I pass by, listening to and watching the old memories of services long ago that were done there. I consider the brief encounters, the unusual encounters, the times travelled through in years past. The old place on the hill echoes the old stories we share and I am left to wonder what has happened since, or if I should be as concerned about such mysterious happenings. I pass by, reflecting on the memories that still speak loudly to me, play clear enough in thought to feel their impact. The hardships walked through. The times that tested character. The land that rose and fell, that nearly snared me in one particularly harsh winter. The old couple in the old trailer who used later years to try and help me. The volatile exchange because of the ordeal. The old stories speak loudly. I still feel the cold winter of that last time there. Still experience the fear of sliding down an icy bank in some work truck toward an electric pole, wondering if I'd get out safely. I still think about the help that came that day, about the old couple who risked so much to help me, about where they are now if for nothing else but to simply say a proper "Thank you." . Where the story told that day nearly became a tragedy with no happy ending; something I'm grateful to God for that it didn't.

                       Just Was (Non-Fiction)

       I would try, faster and faster, as each one moved farther and farther forward, and I moved farther and farther back. No gears to apply. No tricks to try. Just some unimpressive bike, and unimpressive me. I wasn't meant to keep up though, only show up. If they stayed, it was for a reason. If they left, it was for a reason. Not necessarily bad or good; it just was.

          Fast forward to now and I'm still trying to "keep up", when I just need to show up, give MY best, and live. Those who stay were meant to. Those who go weren't. I'm not famous, or genius level anything. I do have expertise God's granted me though, and I've better ways to "pedal" in life that help me do well and inspire others, whether I keep up with them or not. 

From The Rain (Keep Looking) (Slightly Older Non-Fiction)

         From the rain, keep looking. When it's cloudy and storms of all kinds persist. From the fall, keep trying. When it's not pleasant and the weight of it all tries to crush hope; keep looking.

          Keep looking; past the trials and hardships. Keep listening; to the voice of Hope again. Keep walking; through it all, where Hope does call, Jesus, the Great Redeemer. Keep looking for good and constructive, from the rain and storms of all kinds, both inside and out. 

Said The Stars In The Night (Older Non-Fiction)

          "Peace; be still.", said the stars in the night, reminding me of God's provision and His careful watch over us. Peace; be still. Considering every detail; every bright shining detail. The wind passed through as change always does, eerie and unsettling, still I held to the promise of protection and provision of peace EVEN in the shifting (Psalm 46:1 ); peace through faith. 

            Looking again there was hope that calmed fear of another shifting, another weather pattern that was changing, for the God I serve never changes. It was here rest was found in a growing faith, in a mustard seed of faith that I'm told (and believe) can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). 

Go (Experimental Hiaku Poem)

Give greatly going;

give grace generously. Go!

Give grace greatly; Go!

                 Grace (Non-Fiction I Wrote)

         Grace, in the hustle of life when it feels like too much. Grace, in the exhausted and hard-pressed times of a twenty four hour day to enter. Here, when the moments come and go and it's almost missed: the grace given. The same that protected us from that hidden danger, provided just enough (and more than enough in moments of extra grace), even gave healing when it was needed most yet never fully realized how much. 

           Grace, after we've made a mistake, wondered if we'd ever be able to find redemption, and yet we do. Grace in the many areas of life, even now where I'm walking through a day, seeking and praying to remember grace... or at least have the awareness to see it and remember to give it whether it's deserved or not; remembering I don't deserve it either. 

While Gathering (Non-Fiction)

        While gathering, sometimes I get tired. Collecting needs of the tangible and otherwise. Holding them close to my soul with each moment. Sometimes I wanna put my hands over the eyes of my tired self, rest for a short while, then gather again when stronger.

        While gathering the journey can be alot, the weight of it all too much at times; so I remember. Remember there will be joy. Remember there will be hope, and good. Remember it isn't always a struggle, and what's gathered will be for body and soul of me and my "hive". Sometimes I get tired, but I continue gathering, after much needed rests along the way.

Expect (Poetic Experiment)

 Eagerly expect encouragement. Expect empowerment; everyday.

Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support!