On faith

To me, there are moments 

When faith is like this boardwalk:

 A clear path that was built for us 

Through what feels chaotic and confusing; 

An implied focal point that allows us 

To keep moving and growing in times of stress. 

Even when there’s no discernible end in sight, 

Faith invites and allows us to trust 

In positive, hopeful outcomes.

A rooster question

Alerted by our cats, 

Who were crouched at the window, hissing, 

We discovered a rooster in our yard yesterday. 

Both our neighbors raise chickens, 

So we assumed he was an escapee, 

 But no; both neighbors said,

 “We don’t keep roosters anymore.

 Perhaps,” they suggested, 

“Someone just dropped him off? 

People leave stuff at the road end all the time.” 

When I looked again after those phone calls, 

He was nowhere to be seen, 

But it did leave me wondering: 

What kind of world is it, 

That we don’t need roosters anymore?

Balancing drama

Drama is a bit like spice:

It creates a certain focal point,

But it doesn’t take a lot to liven things up.

Unfortunately for some, it’s all too easy

To become addicted,

To the point where, if we can’t find it,

We create it — like sneaking sweets,

When what we really need

Is some more productive activity 

To appease that restless, hungry spirit

While still maintaining a healthy balance

In our lives.

There may still be a way

When you think you’ve finally reached 

The end of the road, 

 Don’t get distracted by reflections 

 On the journey that you’ve taken, 

But keep looking: 

There may still be a way to get through; 

A path that will reveal itself to the discerning eye 

And gently guide the way to a new direction.

Below the tangles

I remember a time when I feared 

That if I were to meditate, 

To truly sink into that space 

Deep inside myself, 

This is all I would find: a hairy, tangled mess, 

Filled with sharp edges and black holes 

To get torn by and get lost in. 

With time and practice I learned to find 

The deeper ground beneath, 

That point vierge where we’re all linked 

To spirit, and to each other, in love.

What we’re missing

It’s all too easy to lose sight of the mystery 

That’s a part of everything: 

We interact with the roads we travel every day — 

Like the people we see every day — 

Without really noticing them. 

Lost in the dailiness, 

 Intent on where we’re heading, 

We rush by, taking for granted 

All the gifts they have to offer; 

No longer observing 

 The special moments when they shine, 

And in forgetting their uniqueness, 

We lose sight of our own as well. 

At some point in your day, 

Make time to stop, or at least slow down, 

And try to be fully present 

 To the magic in the moment: 

You might be surprised to see 

What you’ve been missing.

Reflections

So much of what we see 

Is colored by what we long to see; 

Its clarity marred by reflections of what’s past. 

It’s no wonder that two witnesses 

Will never quite agree on what’s true. 

That said — the way you see the world 

Is truly unique; a vision that, when shared, 

Might help complete another’s picture.