August 18, 2020

Wandering Prayers

~ El Shama ~ 
scattered clouds of thoughts and prayers drifting through
the heavens to the listening ear of the God who hears

~ Wandering Prayers ~

Sometimes I pray on pages
sometimes words wander in
the air as I ride out the quiet
and ponder mysteries of life
- old friends and new, while
savoring small insights and
wonder with grateful heart
about blessings faithfully
received  - and the gifts
I trust will be there as
needed once again.
Amen

JoMae
8/17/20

May this new week find for each of us some small gift to blossom and grow stronger with each day. Have a great week everyone!

August 13, 2020

Change - Exchange


~ Change - Exchange ~

in each moment of change some familiar is lost
sometimes our choice, yet more often not

as we adjust to each fall let us recall

that embedded in change, exchange abides
deeply tucked into loss, a gain resides
a hidden seed prepared to sprout

like a spark in the ashes ready to glow

may we know, be aware, prepare, take heart
find hope against that day of unsought change

be open - with time - to watch for, welcome and
unwrap the surprise present offered in

The Gift Exchange

JoMae
11/14/19

Presence

~ Presence ~

Beloved Parent, Holy Godde
monarch,  comforter and friend
thanks for your sure presence in
this day. Please bless these hours
grant peace on fear along my way

may wisdom rule in all I do or say

thank you for sweet sunshine
after cold rain of yesterday
thank you for a morning 
pouring promise on
my prayer

JoMae
4/23/20

August 12, 2020

As If...

~ It was as if… ~

Godde split me open
took home my other half
then pulled me kicking and
screaming into a blessed 
new chapter of my life

Thanks be to Godde

JoMae
3/23/20

August 09, 2020

Adapting

Rained Out? Have An Umbrella Parade
You should see these kids today! Life is full of adapting to change!

~  Adapting ~ 
I never know when a writing prompt is going emerge!  This morning, taking a quick peek at facebook, the first thing I saw was a photo and recipe of a decadent desert followed by comments about how yummy it looked. I immediately noticed something that prompted me to close fb until later so I could write. Because…

Some time ago I would have joined right in.  I still like a bit of chocolate and a little gooey sweetness - but this absolutely did not appeal. In noticing that, I saw a connection to other recent life changes.  I felt almost compelled to stop and examine it all more closely.

Several years back, I landed in the hospital where it was discovered I am diabetic. Determined to manage this, I changed my eating patterns and learned to control the disease with careful food intake. Soon thereafter, I was taken off prescription meds and so far have not needed to go back on them.  I know I am fortunate and many people cannot do this. 

The thing is, I use very little sugar - and as time went by, began to observe that beautiful deserts tempted less and less, until, as this morning  proved, brought quite the opposite reaction from that of craving!  Also, a little sugar is apt to taste far too sweet!  How things have changed! And how my body has adapted! My very notion of a treat is different today.

Which brings me to the other change my gut response to this morning’s photo brought to mind.  After living with loved ones my whole life, for three years now, since my husband died, I’ve been adapting to life on my own. A task at first unthinkable, impossible.  Yet gradually one learns how. Slowly moving forward into this unknown, new routines - unchosen, yet forced by circumstance, became small comfort zones. Small gifts, embracing and embraced. Until, one day looking back, an awareness sets in that while memories remain a wonderful place to visit, new joy has seeped in. New life. 

For me, that joy comes wrapped in endless hours to read and contemplate and write.  Long days. At first a nightmare, incomprehensible to survive, have become a welcome gift. An old gift/hobby, really - now multiplied.  A gift I open eagerly each morning and almost always find a sweet surprise to ponder and enjoy.  In this way too, my whole being has adapted! Thanks be to Godde!

~ Adopting Change ~

JoMae
7/27/20

August 03, 2020

Yesterday

~Talking to the Page ~

Dear Paige, 
A few thoughts here on prayers and answers:


~ Yesterday ~

As if I’d had a huge desert
which stuffed my belly full of
sweet nostalgia - imaginations
and curiosity, indulged in visiting
what was and what will never be
until,  heart bursting, satisfied, I
shut the book - and with a sigh
of thanks close out the day

JoMae
8/3/20

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All my life I’ve walked with Godde - sometimes badly out of step and far behind, yet always aware of moving in the shadow of those divine parental wings. Always aware, yet too often, sadly without much of a care. Thankful prayers were lifted, (or were not) - life was good. 

And when snares or road blocks threatened, ardent prayers poured out - for others or myself. Godde was always there, even in the doubts, or wandering -  or when answers were not clear.  Often, looking back, I see answers that were there - tucked away for when the time was right.

Then there were the dramatic answers, almost puzzling in their clarity - along with those unsought and only known enough to remind me of the myriad of other times Godde’s hand must have kept me safe with out my even realizing it. For example, an accident I hadn’t seen coming yet was miraculously able to avoid. 

But a a few dramatic prayer moments in my life stand out. As once, between a rock and a hard place, desperate for an immediate solution, amazingly a heart was changed and we were spared an impossibly wrenching choice. Or, more frivolously, while looking for parking in a dark down pour I prayed guiltily for help before giving up and going home. Guiltily, because of bothering omnipotent Godde with such a mundane request. Yet as I dared lift that prayer, on one last turn around the block before turning back, a car pulled out directly in front of my coffee shop destination.

These examples are from 20, 30 years ago, but such remembered moments have always made me ponder. Was Godde, in answering the frivolous, reminding me not to be afraid to ask? And in the crisis showing me to trust?

And then there was yesterday.  A quiet wish, unspoken, unimportant in the scheme of life today, happened.  Unbeknownst to me, an old pastor friend was scheduled to preach online - a friend I’ve never heard, in spite of occasionally searching. A career of small churches whose messages were not recorded I suppose. I’d pretty much forgotten about it, when on Saturday evening, the name kept popping up in my mind until on a whim I searched and there was the announcement and link to a small church out west somewhere. What fun to watch and listen to that meaningful message yesterday. And to see that family again after many years. She blessed my heart and made my day! And I am so very thankful!

JoMae
8/3/20