Missed Connections

After several days of struggling to express my feelings, three things came my way- A poem, a song, and a verse. The following was inspired by all three. ❤️


The word itself sounds so carefree
Putting it into practice seems easy
Still, loneliness grows
At a surprisingly rapid pace-
Whatever the reason
It sprouts from the same root
-A lack of connections-
Even the longest relationship
Begins Somewhere-
A friendly smile
An acknowledging nod
An honest thank you
Whether two strangers
Develop a fast friendship
Or just continue walking
In opposite directions
That one single action
Holds power for both-
It is a sacred moment
With the ability to multiply into
Our most-needed reminders-
You are seen
You matter
You are loved

Small Kindnesses by Danusha Lameres https://grateful.org/resource/small-kindnesses/


Human Touch by Jackson Browne
and Leslie Mendelson
Human Touch

“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Simply Sunday

More Than Enough

Tiny feet
Not typically
What I would
Notice about you
Yet, there you were
Quickly crossing a busy street-
I slowed down a bit
Smiled as you
Made it to safety-
Why didn’t you fly?
After all, you have wings-
For a reason unknown to me
You chose not to use them-
Perhaps the wind was too strong
Or the distance was too short
No matter, your resolve
Shown through with each tiny step-
I suppose, sometimes tiny steps
Are more than enough

Contentment

Let’s take a walk
Just you and me
Hand in hand, no concern
For our destination –
Wandering easily toward
The blues, grays, and purples
Rolling in the distance
As barren silver-covered branches
Quietly whisper our names-
Perhaps if we walk long enough
We can sit underneath the tree
And rest awhile against its trunk
Listening to the surrounding sounds of life
Until sleeping the most peaceful sleep
Unsure if our walk was reality or dream-
Content with either answer

The Clark Art Institute
Williamstown, Massachusetts
Tulip Fields at Sassenheim-Claude Monet

Person, Place, or Thing

We hope and dream
Plan and build
Laugh and live-
Until we compare-
Then we search and rethink
Remodel and rebuild
Until our misguided focus
Causes discontentment and
Greed leads us to
Tear down and abandon-
Oh, that we will realize
Before it’s too late
Our emphasis on places and things
Has the power to destroy the heart-
Unless we, the people,
Choose to treat each other
With dignity and respect
Dreaming and planning together
To build a kinder, stronger tomorrow-
At least, that is my hope…

Washed Away

I haven’t heard rain like that in a long time
Rain preceded only by strong winds-
No sprinkles
No light showers
A horizontal wall of water
Falling with a thunderous Woosh!
So loud and powerful
It would surely wash me away-
But I’m still here
Lying still-listening
As it pours harder and harder
Grows louder and louder
And I begin to wonder
If it will ever stop-
Not in a sense of despair
Instead, wondering how long
It will take to wash away
The mounting layers
Of arrogance and hate
So eyes and hearts will
Once again, be open to the truth
Of loving our neighbors as ourselves

Visitor

A thin layer of ice
Covered the ground
A few inches of snow
Covered the ice –
Below-freezing temperatures
Caused a full-stop –
Sitting quietly inside
Wrapped in a soft blanket
Purring cat on my lap
I did nothing productive –
Only sat – watching
As the birds hopped
From trees to feeders
To snow-covered ground
Then back into the trees-
Except for this one crimson cardinal-
He perched on the feeder
A little bit longer-
I’d like to think
It was just for me

Melting

In celebration of melted ice and snow
Deer pranced and played
In the damp grass
On the hillside
Circling a now-barren tree
That provides shade on warmer days-
Their joy, almost palpable,
Spread to the cars passing by-
Following days of teeth-chattering cold
They were a welcomed sight-
As I continued driving
Sunlight soaked through my skin
Warming all the way to the bone
Melting not only the ice
And snow outside, but also
The frost that had attempted
To wrap itself around my heart

Still Waiting

Early to bed
Awake at midnight
Is it snowing yet?
Sleepy feet wander
A drink of water
Back to bed
A few more winks
Awake again-another
Curious glance outside –
Still no snow-
Not a restless child sent back to bed
No, the magic of childlike anticipation
Finding its way into this heart –
Years removed from childhood
Yet, staring into the night
Waiting-feeling the joy
Carried by the snowfall
Long before it arrives

A Calling


The voice in my head screams
As the one in my heart sobs
A flood of questions
Fills the gulf in between-
Unable to understand
Darkness capable of
Instantly turning
One heart against another
With no consideration of
The humanity within us all
Instead, focused on labels
Created, then vilified by men-
My head barely remains above
This continuous current of Information-
My heart aches for a sign of hope-
Sunlight after a storm
Twinkling star in the night sky
Laughter of a child-
The beginnings of truth
A calling for peace

Simply Sunday

The warmest of oranges
Disappears into the deepest,
Darkest of Blues –
Perfect backdrop
For a display of
Silhouetted trees-
Their true colors
Temporarily invisible
Yet, they stand tall
As details of their searching
Rewards from their reaching
Are etched into this brief
Window of time-
A reminder that each day
Will come to an end
But on the best of days,
A lingering gratitude
Like glowing coals
From a dying campfire
Holds enough affection
To warm my hands
Leave me with rosy cheeks
All the while, melting my heart