This bird died full of bits of trash on an island 2000 miles from any shoreline. The colored pieces are trash from it’s intestines.
I ache for the innocent consumers of our wastefulness. How much more does our Creator God who entrusted us as stewards? How many of these birds will die from our carelessness? While it seems overwhelming and helpless, small changes can make an impact.
Pictures: lolako.com and estrip.org
“Spark”
lights up
……IDEA…….
Vision awakens
as neurotransmitters ignite.
This energy releases to surrounding neurons
as images coalesce into fireworks of concussive epiphany.
≅
A fibonacci for your July 4th celebrations. Epiphany feels like the spark that turns into a firework to me.
Fibonacci: a non-rhyming poem structured with the Fibonacci sequence (0 or 1, 1, 2, 3, 5 etc). Fibonacci sequence is adding the two prior numbers together to get the new number. If one starts at “zero” then the first two lines are single syllable. Most poems stop at 13 syllables for the last line.
Manic Moments Materialize Most Mornings; Mediates Marginal Mediocrity
∞
Soooo….huh? I was trying to say in one sentence how I seem to go at full speed then slow down to sloth pace throughout most mornings using only M words. I dont think this worked but trying is part of the process.
Monostitch: a one lined poem
∞ ∼ ∞
I know most of you are thinking “HUH”? So here is the explanation. I had a revelation when my gifted daughter was attempting to explain quadriatic equations to me, which in laymen terms are “U-curves” or “waves”. It’s bad enough that I have to learn from a child in school; even worse that at the time, she was in 7th grade. Yes, quadriatic equations are being taught in 7th grade gifted classes. Mind blowing.
Anyway, I like math concepts and theoretical physics. I just cant do the math (although poetry is closely related to math, and I know several mathmaticians who indulge in the art).
While my daughter was explaining the equation for quadriatic U curves, I realized that here was a math equation for dysregulated moods! And “quadriatic life” stuck in my head. Now if there was just some lasting way to flatten the top of the curve out a bit……
So what are quadriatic U-curves? The math of quadratics is intrinsically related to a U-shaped curve known as a parabola. Perhaps the most familiar example is a stream of water that shoots from a drinking fountain. There are many other examples, such as the cross-section of a satellite dish or the cables on a suspension bridge.
Psychologists use the parabolic curve to map out the “wave” of moods. In mood dysregulation, the top of the curve ( or the highest intensity of the mood) is much higher and wider than persons without mood disorders. I was able to put this together during one of my DBT sessions. DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy) is a treatment for borderline personality disorder and I have so far found it to be transformative. For the first time in 40 years, I have really started to know who I am and how I function. My hope is that a better, wiser, less impulsive, less dysregulated ME will eventually emerge.
Senryu: same as Haiku structure but the theme is generally related to relationships or feelings while Haiku stresses nature
Wave-song
pendulous legato
escalating crescendo
swelling sforzando
hanging fermata
breaking climax
whispered pianissimo
faint hiss
∞
Waves fascinate me. They are…..compelling. I can sit all day and watch them; perhaps because I don’t often get the opportunity locked in the middle of the Heartland. I don’t know why I love them so much. Perhaps because they are the same yet each individual wave is so unique. Perhaps because my heartbeat is intimately tuned to the universal ebb and fall. Perhaps because the sound separates me from the mundane hassles of life and allows my head to focus on a series of…..notes, building one on another to create a soul-stirring universal symphony. Think of symphonies the next time you watch a wave and imprint its’ melody onto your heart.
Legato: musical notes are played or sung smoothly and connected
Crescendo: A gradual increase in volume.
Sforzando: Literally “forced”, denotes an abrupt, fierce accent on a single sound or chord. When written out in full, it applies to the sequence of sounds or chords under or over which it is placed.
Fermata: An indefinitely sustained note, chord, or rest. Usually appears over all parts at the same metrical location in a piece, to show a halt in tempo. It can be placed above or below the note.
Pianissimo: Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a piece of music, though softer dynamics are often specified with additional ps.
Two word rhyme: poems comprised of two words per line
In prophesy, the love of many will grow cold
yet I watch in silence as hate unfolds
for this heart, lukewarm, does weakly beat
and blood congeals with lack of heat.
∼
I hear the words that pastor speaks
as I sit, frozen, week after week
and through it all I dutifully pray
for there must be a better way.
∼
For apathy is a road to hell
and paves our souls in a concrete shell!
This apathy state, once fortold
is what makes our hearts grow cold.
∼
I think of others who, in secret, worship You
in persecution , yet remain faithful and true.
These great warriors in battle, in constant danger
boldly share Christ’s message to strangers .
∼
While we fatten ourselves on our free Christian feast,
yet hide Jesus’ message like lean ferrel beasts,
gorging on fast-food religion for health
our Bibles hoarded, unread on our shelf.
∼
Our country is “free” but God’s light poorly glows!
Harvesting souls for Christ? Boring and slow!
Off-shore banks stuffed with earthly wealth
as gluttony lulls us with languid stealth.
∼
Oh Lord, sweep out the ashes from a fire now cold!
Rekindle our flame for your message untold!
Give us zeal to witness in tones loud and bold:
“Jesus our Saviour has broken sin’s hold!
Jesus our Savior has broken sin’s hold!”
∞
I support Open Doors, an international Christian organization dedicated to fighting persecution and assisting persecuted Christians. Persecution is rampant and, in some areas of the world, near complete genocide. I know this is not told in the news, but it is real and very frightening for anyone of faith. No matter your religion, annihilating one group is a step toward annihilating yours. The Bible prophesied mass persecution of Christians in the final Last Days, yet another sign that the time is near. The Bible prophesied that the love of many will grow cold.
For those of us who still enjoy religious freedom, hold it precious for it is fleeting and will slip away before you know it. The best defense is prayer and evangelism. The elect are still out there waiting to be told the Good News.
Apathy is a gate to the road of hate.
I know you had a plan for me;
I chose my path so stubbornly!
Now looking back my road is black.
I cannot change this path without Thee.
Body broken, mind unsound;
I’ve given up, there’s no more ground.
A twisted path is all I see–
Oh dearest Lord please help me.
Please wake me up, un-taint my heart!
Straighten my road, perfect my part.
Revise my plan, help me to stand
and keep me safe from Satan’s hand.
Lord, make my dark road white as snow.
Forgive my sins, restore my soul.
Purify my heart and make it whole.
Set me free that I may show
Other sinners the way to go.
∞
While I cannot speak for other Christians, my life road has been rather rocky with both physical and mental disorders. I wrote this a long time ago when I was gripped with issues related to Borderline Personality Disorder. At the time, I didnt know what was wrong, and God in His mercy has allowed me to be diagnosed and treated. Just because one is a Christian doesn’t mean that one has perfect mental health. God heals whom He will, and for others He plans to use your problem or condition to further His will. Seek His will and be ready for the call.
Our electronic life, so full of attraction!
All worldly wonders now a click away.
When gone, panic is our first reaction;
Each minute like hours without our “play”.
-<-o-o->-
Time now filled with manic distraction
with little of it left to be quiet and pray.
We don’t realize the actual fraction
withdrawn from time with God every day.
-<-o-o->-
Beware, Satan’s title is “Lord of the Air”!
He controls this seductive electronic parade
and flies with glib glee on every air wave,
tainting hearts that could otherwise be saved.
-<-o-o->-
We blindly feast on our entertainment crave
as his media slithers down the evil grade.
With sly patience he addicts the TV slave’s;
Brainwashed, few see what he has made.
He is the master of lies; we have been played.
-<-o-o->-
Wake up and listen to every word said!
“Background noise” allows him in;
He is whispering his lies into your head
and tempting even the strongest to sin.
-<-o-o->-
I used to think that technology and devices werent inherantly evil, but I am starting to think otherwise, as they have no inherant moral compass and tends to lead Christians away from spending time with the Lord and others. Reading Christian blogs is not spending time with the Lord and others. Yes, I am using a blog to encourage you to get off of it and spend time with the Lord and others! I see the irony!
In my own life, I must be ever vigilant that Satan will do all he can to distract and cause me to spend less time in worship and prayer and more time in fruitless pursuits. I used to be a devoted gamer, but I realized that I had to put my faith and morals in the backseat in order to take on the role of mage or healer etc and perform lawless acts in order to get good stuff. That mirrors what Satan wants to do in reality. And what one practices will infiltrate one’s mind, either in indifference or outright rebellion to God’s authority and rule. These last few months have allowed many to re-focus on neglected parts of their life. I hope you have had some time to do this for yourself.
So I will try, and I hope you will think about who or what is driving you in your own life.
And God Bless Us, Everyone.
Can I count the ways that you amaze
and sum it up in written praise?
Can the moon measure its luminous glow
on newly captured fallen snow
or the sun count its glorious rays
as night fades to dawning day?
Can stars fall from awesome heights
to quench their luminescent light
or eagles soar on wings of time
to prove our created paradigm?
Can all the waves on all the shores
be placed in drawers to be stored?
No, for these are marvels beyond compare
yet my heart does boldly swear
that my life will run out of days
before I stop counting the ways that you amaze.
∞
I modified a prior birthday poem for my daughter for a graduation poem for my nephew Jeremy. A shout out to all the amazing graduates!
Vile
dart.
Piercing
hindsight thoughts
bring anguish and grief.
Remove this Vile Thing from my brain!
Memories flow out with arterial bleeding;
Flushed out with unconstipated relief, as catharsis regains hold on reality.
∞
Sometimes I find that memories elicit visceral feelings so images of bleeding and constipation feel rather fitting.
Fibonacci: a non-rhyming poem structured with the Fibonacci sequence (0 or 1, 1, 2, 3, 5 etc). Fibonacci sequence is adding the two prior numbers together to get the new number. If one starts at “zero” then the first two lines are single syllable. Most poems stop at 13 syllables for the last line.
Fantasies of a Forlorn Fairy 