The losses of the past

The losses of the past 

Cast their long shadows on the present, 

Yet still we keep on sailing through, 

Knowing each has added 

 Depth and color to our journey.

New/old challenges on the way

As the colors of our sunsets grow more subtle, 

We feel the chill in the air, and know 

That winter’s on its way, with its curious mix 

Of holiday demands and hibernation…

Variety is the spice…

Why does it so delight my soul to see 

So many colors in a single tree?

Another day; another chance

Morning again. Another day. 

Another chance to make things right 

Or make mistakes: the best intentions 

Never seem to guarantee the best results. 

But still we hope, and try, 

And learn — as best we can — 

What seems to work, what doesn’t, 

And how futile it still can be 

To do the same things over and over 

And expect exceptional outcomes…

The whole picture

The challenge in being present 

Lies in openness to the whole. 

If we focus on the beauty of the sky, 

We miss the deer in the grass before us; 

Focused on the deer, 

We might fail to observe the clouds. 

And distracted by the flamboyance 

Of what’s unexpected or evolving, 

We might more fail to appreciate 

Or even ignore the more subtle elements: 

The steadying influence of home and family; 

The enduring beauty of the trees…

Healing our divisions

Why do we ache so 

For the divisions in our country? 

Can it be because we hear the echoes 

Of the divisions in our own souls? 

What might we do today to help 

Stitch this wound back together? 

How can we regain a trust 

So repeatedly betrayed?

The best laid plans…

Yesterday we were promised a storm, 

But instead we were given a rainbow. 

So many fears in the course of a lifetime 

Have come to naught — 

When will I come to accept 

That my best intentions, just like my worries, 

Will only occasionally bear fruit?