Winter Solstice

Winter Sunset - Photo by Emelia Spoelhof

~ Winter Solstice ~

Beyond the window skies are overcast

within the heart as well. Grey hovers

over Christmas with unseen clouds

of melancholy tempering one’s joy

Between - inside the room, a smile beams

if anyone should ask - we’re doing well

- a mask worn like a decorated cast

to hold one’s self together

It’s December, for some a month of loss

yet the season of expectation to be

joyful in spite of multi-level angst

pandemic pain, new mourning

Yet when the sun’s warm glow

creeps past cloudy edges amid

 cheerful bursts of Christmas tunes

smothered joy breaks through anew!

~ Messiah Mystery ~

Trusted Light of Hope

JoMae

12/22/20

Celebrate the Birth

 ~ Celebrate The Birth! ~

Celebrate Christ’s birth with thanksgiving and praise

Celebrate Christ’s life through imitation in our own

Celebrate Christ’s death by giving of ourselves

Celebrate Christ’s resurrection in our living

Celebrate the gift — Godde’s whole gift 

Let us celebrate with our whole being, our 

joyful rebirth of spirit in a life of gratitude

passing on Christ’s loving, respectful

attitude of mercy and justice to all

especially  those  mistreated

or in other ways in need

Celebrate salvation

thankfully, with joy

knowing we are

saved to serve

to be Christ’s

earthly care

- reborn for

purpose,

guided

loved

held

beloved by our Creator,

our holy birther, Godde

~ Celebrate the Savior’s Birth ~

find in this gift divine

your own anew

JoMae

12/19/20

Advent is Remembering

 ~ Advent is Remembering ~

advent remembers the gift -

Godde wrapped in mortal flesh

born an infant as are we, yet 

grown to mentor us - to teach how

we should live, behave, to honor

and obey our beloved creator

advent is remembering to

always love as Jesus modeled

- with mercy, justice, dignity

and respect for all

JoMae

12/16/20

Echo of Psalm 18:1-19

Echoing the Psalms - 

Sometimes when I read a psalm, I hear it as a prayer and adapt it just enough to be my own - building on the scaffold of the ancient language. So most of these words are straight from the NIV, yet personalized for today's voice in echo of David’s. Enjoy!

~ Love Song of Psalm 18 ~

echoed by JoMae

My Godde is my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I called to my Redeemer, who is worthy of praise,

and I have been saved from deep distress.

The cords of death entangled me

the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me

the cords of the grave coiled around me

the snares of death confronted me

In my distress I called to my Redeemer;

I cried out to my Godde for help.

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I love you, O Jehovah, my strength

you are my rock, my fortress, my deliverer

please accept my prayer of thanksgiving

even before I was able to ask, O Godde,

from your eternal throne you heard my voice

my cry came before you, into your ears

I knew of your covenant

had long lived in your love

remembering your faithfulness

trusting your grace, I found peace

your Presence held me through

death’s upheaval and the turmoil of grief

to prevent my falling into the pit of despair

your presence in the chaos saved my life

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while the earth trembled and quaked

the foundations of the mountains shook

they trembled as when you are angry

smoke rose from your nostrils

consuming fire from your mouth

burning coals blazed forth

parting the heavens

you descended, dark clouds under foot,

then mounted the cherubim and flew

soaring on the wings of the wind

you made darkness your covering

your canopy around you --

the dark rain clouds of the sky

out of the brightness of your

Presence, clouds advanced with 

hailstones --  and bolts of lightning

You O Godde, thundered from heaven

your Most High Voice resounding, you

shot your arrows, scattering the enemy --

with great bolts of lightning you routed them

the valleys of the sea were exposed, the

foundations of the earth laid bare at

 your sovereign rebuke - at the blast

of breath from your nostrils

you reached down from on high 

took hold of me and drew

me out of deep waters

you rescued me from my powerful enemy

from loss, too strong - confronting me 

in the day of my disaster, but you

O Godde were my support

you brought me out into a spacious place

rescued me because you delight in me

because of your great love for me

with a heart full of praise and gratitude,

~ Thank You ~

JoMae

12/3/20

David’s graphic description of Godde’s fierce anger battling on our behalf, echoes well the chaos felt after the trauma of sudden loss of one’s beloved - and the confused disorientation that ensues. Yet through the chaos, we are rescued. Saved because of our Redeemer's abundant love for us. Amazing Grace!

Rays of Hope

~ Rays of Hope ~

Godde, in your glory, please lighten this day

shine through the clouds in your own special way

a bright gray sky - with its promise of hope

looks ready to burst right through the

fray of life’s joy - now as astray

as the end of a rope

Dear Godde of all justice, in your love we

Trust

JoMae

11/18/20

This morning's praise prompted by Psalm 65  and a bright gray sky outside my window. - Enjoy!

Empathy

Photo by Elizabeth Spoelhof

~ A Touch of Empathy ~

Lee stepped into the break room with a smile on her face. In part the mask she wore in public, partly real. The room was empty of any other workers, so making a coffee, she relaxed to savor the silence in a busy day. Deep in thought, she was surprised to look up and see Jim, from sporting goods, walk up. She’d met him and his wife at the last get together. A really pleasant couple.  What she didn’t know was that before meeting Mel, Jim had lost his first wife to cancer. He knew the pain first hand.

Having heard about the recent death of her husband, Jim sat with his coke and told her how sorry he was. That he knew how hard returning to the realm of work could be. How disorienting the world must seem as she made her way - now on her own. He spoke as one who had been there and told her that he had. They talked.

The relief of speaking with one who had lived her grief and understood what she was dealing with, poured through Lee.  She didn’t cry, but as they shared this moment, she recognized the unique gift of this man’s kindness. That something special was happening. When break was over and he stood to leave, placing a hand gently on her arm in a heartfelt wish for strength and comfort, encouraging that time would heal for her as it had for him, she knew the moment would live on.

And it has. Joy in life takes many forms. Not long after this encounter, Jim was transferred to another city. Their paths never crossed again. But the empathy of that caring moment does live on. It marks a spark of possibility, of new beginnings bursting from the ashes.  A pivot. New potential delivered through the gift of caring. A gift offered by one person who did not shy away from the awkwardness of reaching out. Did not succumb to the silence born of not knowing what to say. 

For Lee it was a touchstone of the love she long had known. A rekindling of hope that happiness would someday return. A glimpse that the sadness of loss would not reign forever. An affirmation in her heart that life was not over, more gifts would surprise her and she could begin to trust and expect them to appear. 

Now several years on, she still recalls that day when in a moment raw with grief, somebody understood. At a time when it seemed impossible to look forward to anything, when life was just going through the motions, when anticipation seemed a lost art, one man’s empathy touched her core and became a small step in turning life around.  In time sadness did begin to fade, enthusiasm for life slowly returned and the art of anticipation blossomed once again.

JoMae

11/13/20

Hermit at Heart

Determined to Blossom

~ Hermit at Heart ~

I think I’m learning to ‘calm the beast’

to hold the reigns of thought that 

rattled me at first - confused

and sent me spinning to

discover the  new me

find my hermit self

quiet my raging

heart, saunter

safely home

at peace

riding

joy

JoMae

3/27/20

Election Tension

 ~ Election Tension ~

knots needing balm grip the soul today 

binding our being, constricting our calm

braced for a feared potential aftermath

we wonder what election day will bring

Tomorrow

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please Godde, be present in our angst

walk with us into the unfolding of this

chapter we are writing as a nation

grant wisdom to our leaders, endow

each citizen with renewed respect 

and patience for differing views

may your presence in our lives

remind us to trust that peace

surpassing understanding

will yet guide our lives

JoMae

11/2/20

Internal Snapshot

~ Internal Snapshot ~

all the colors in my back yard!

no photo can contain them

every tree a different hue

every plant in fall attire

lawn and walks all

carpeted in 

autumn

no photo can capture the wonder

of this bright warm October day

so  I shall sit out here among

the falling leaves  and savor

each breathtaking moment

embed on my heart’s film

this joy against the cold

of a long winter’s night

JoMae

10/23/20

Presents

~ Presents ~

Savour the Savior

embrace the gift

whose life brought

heaven to earth

whose Presence turns

deep sadness into joy

as surely as a seed will die

in bringing forth a flower

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The meaning of Christmas is embedded in Easter

and in life lessons demonstrated by Christ

Jesus taught with words,

with action and with attitude

showing love, respect and mercy

modeling dignity and justice for all

JoMae

12/24/14

10/23/20

Wishing you some quiet moments between the unwrapping of presents and the laughter of celebrating, to ponder Christ's Presence. And give thanks. -JoMae

Raining

Thinking today of how we all land - gently or harshly crashing - onto piles of lessons gleaned from our yesterdays. Blessings. Fertile soil for all of our tomorrows.