I love having a twin brother.
And I wouldn't change it for the world.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Gift Of Silence
This year has been a hard year. And I know the following photo has absolutely nothing to do with the Christmas season. But it's harboring a blog post that's been aching in my mind for a while.
In April of this year, I came across this road. It was very early in the morning on a somewhat overcast day. The skies were still deciding on a shade of blue. And I had a little time on my hands. So I let my tires tread down roads I'd never been. While singing my heart out on my peaceful drive, I turned in my thoughtful trance to my right, just in time to see this road escape my view. My heart spun. I stopped the car and turned around. It was paralyzing, the feeling I felt. And even my photo did not capture the serenity I felt as I rolled down the bumpy dirt path. Over the hill to my right was a simple farmhouse, peppered with tawny brown bricks. And down the hill from it, a crimson barn, which seemed to sway to and fro with the lush grass that cleaved to it's frame. Both structures lay neatly accentuated by the brilliant sunrise. A little further on my left, bordered by flawless wrought iron fences, lay a cemetery, still sparkling in the morning dew.
I stopped the car and burst into tears. I still remember the song that was playing. Leigh Nash's "Just A Little."
The details of my week will remain ambiguous, but needless to say, God had chosen the perfect moment to bless me with a few moments of peace, quiet, and true tranquility. And he had brought me to a place of genuine comfort. I reveled in his gift of silence.
I still go back to the road sometimes. I've had a few car rides driving home in tears, overwhelmed by God's goodness, his protection, his peace, his grace, his mercy, his faithfulness, and his love, his love that leaves me speechless.
In April of this year, I came across this road. It was very early in the morning on a somewhat overcast day. The skies were still deciding on a shade of blue. And I had a little time on my hands. So I let my tires tread down roads I'd never been. While singing my heart out on my peaceful drive, I turned in my thoughtful trance to my right, just in time to see this road escape my view. My heart spun. I stopped the car and turned around. It was paralyzing, the feeling I felt. And even my photo did not capture the serenity I felt as I rolled down the bumpy dirt path. Over the hill to my right was a simple farmhouse, peppered with tawny brown bricks. And down the hill from it, a crimson barn, which seemed to sway to and fro with the lush grass that cleaved to it's frame. Both structures lay neatly accentuated by the brilliant sunrise. A little further on my left, bordered by flawless wrought iron fences, lay a cemetery, still sparkling in the morning dew.
I stopped the car and burst into tears. I still remember the song that was playing. Leigh Nash's "Just A Little."
The details of my week will remain ambiguous, but needless to say, God had chosen the perfect moment to bless me with a few moments of peace, quiet, and true tranquility. And he had brought me to a place of genuine comfort. I reveled in his gift of silence.
I still go back to the road sometimes. I've had a few car rides driving home in tears, overwhelmed by God's goodness, his protection, his peace, his grace, his mercy, his faithfulness, and his love, his love that leaves me speechless.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Neighbors
Two makes a couple.
She was a couple before.
This is her second try.
But this time is no easier.
He is kind. Sweet.
But uninvolved.
Indifferent.
And she is raising a couple.
Her daughter has made her
a grandparent.
Their house is painted with
a facade of optimism.
But within lies a family divided,
In despair.
Dissonance.
Two makes a couple.
She, with two jobs,
aching for retirement
--distant but in sight.
He, waning quickly with age.
Parkinson's.
But the nights are peaceful for them.
Their home is not cold.
They meet their challenges with patience.
Perseverance.
Two makes a couple.
Young grandparents.
Two lawn chairs resting on the drive.
Ah, with levity. With mirth,
They observe the world's hustle and bustle.
They watch it with pleasure,
Reveling in it's simplicity.
And anticipating the grandchildren that reside across the street.
For them, neighbor and family are one.
As it should perhaps always be.
Harmony.
Two makes a couple.
A lifetime has gone by.
But they are still newlyweds.
Senescence wears hard.
Unhurried are the days.
They are quiet.
Tranquil.
An ambulance comes.
No breath escapes her lungs.
She suffocates in wait.
But softly come sweet words to her ears.
Not yet, she says. Not yet.
And soon they are two again.
Unified.
This poem all started with one photo.
The house across the street.
For some reason seeing it made me want to write about the people on my street.
It's a very bittersweet poem to me.
She was a couple before.
This is her second try.
But this time is no easier.
He is kind. Sweet.
But uninvolved.
Indifferent.
And she is raising a couple.
Her daughter has made her
a grandparent.
Their house is painted with
a facade of optimism.
But within lies a family divided,
In despair.
Dissonance.
Two makes a couple.
She, with two jobs,
aching for retirement
--distant but in sight.
He, waning quickly with age.
Parkinson's.
But the nights are peaceful for them.
Their home is not cold.
They meet their challenges with patience.
Perseverance.
Two makes a couple.
Young grandparents.
Two lawn chairs resting on the drive.
Ah, with levity. With mirth,
They observe the world's hustle and bustle.
They watch it with pleasure,
Reveling in it's simplicity.
And anticipating the grandchildren that reside across the street.
For them, neighbor and family are one.
As it should perhaps always be.
Harmony.
Two makes a couple.
A lifetime has gone by.
But they are still newlyweds.
Senescence wears hard.
Unhurried are the days.
They are quiet.
Tranquil.
An ambulance comes.
No breath escapes her lungs.
She suffocates in wait.
But softly come sweet words to her ears.
Not yet, she says. Not yet.
And soon they are two again.
Unified.
The house across the street.
For some reason seeing it made me want to write about the people on my street.
It's a very bittersweet poem to me.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Where Did It Go?
It's December first. H-O-L-Y C-O-W. What happened? Where has this year gone? Unbelievable.
I was going to copycat my dear friend Brian. He is taking a new holiday photo every day until Christmas (so excited!). Instead I plan on continuing to share some pictures I've already taken. This may possibly, just... maybe... have something to do with the fact that my camera battery is dead, and the day is almost done, so my chance for a photo is... nearly... g-o-n-e.
Plus, as an additional excuse, I would like to add this...
The south hasn't exactly shown me the "winter" that I'm used to, so I'm not sure how festive my photos would be if I did take any new ones. However, I'll try to throw in a few new ones here and there. :)
Since today marks the first day of the last month of the year, I'll start with a festive photo from last year. :)
I'm away at college, which unfortunately means, my Christmas tree did not go up on the December first this year. I'm missing the majority of the decorating. But I'll get to help put up the tree when I get back to the snowy bitterly cold midwest. Yessss. Here's my lovely {fake} Christmas beauty. The photograph is a little blurry. But my heart still skips a beat when I see it. I can't wait to be home. :)
I was going to copycat my dear friend Brian. He is taking a new holiday photo every day until Christmas (so excited!). Instead I plan on continuing to share some pictures I've already taken. This may possibly, just... maybe... have something to do with the fact that my camera battery is dead, and the day is almost done, so my chance for a photo is... nearly... g-o-n-e.
Plus, as an additional excuse, I would like to add this...
The south hasn't exactly shown me the "winter" that I'm used to, so I'm not sure how festive my photos would be if I did take any new ones. However, I'll try to throw in a few new ones here and there. :)
Since today marks the first day of the last month of the year, I'll start with a festive photo from last year. :)
I'm away at college, which unfortunately means, my Christmas tree did not go up on the December first this year. I'm missing the majority of the decorating. But I'll get to help put up the tree when I get back to the snowy bitterly cold midwest. Yessss. Here's my lovely {fake} Christmas beauty. The photograph is a little blurry. But my heart still skips a beat when I see it. I can't wait to be home. :)
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