This Chair

How many people
sat in this chair
and stared out the same big window?

How many thoughts have been thought
that would not have been thought
without sitting in this chair?

Mary Oliver’s Apprentice

Imitate an author and learn how to write. This was an assignment in my college Creative Writing class.

Freshen the Flowers, She Said
by Mary Oliver
So I put them in the sink, for the cool porcelain
was tender,
and took out the tattered and cut each stem
on a slant,
trimmed the black and raggy leaves, and set them all –
roses, delphiniums, daisies, iris, lilies,
and more whose names I don’t know, in bright new water –
gave them

a bounce upward at the end to let them take
their own choice of position, the wheels, the spurs,
the little sheds of the buds. It took, to do this,
perhaps fifteen minutes.
Fifteen minutes of music
with nothing playing.

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Freshen the Fishbowl, He Said
by Kristine
So I put them near the window, for the view
was uncommon,
and took out half the water and moved the landscape
with my hands,
I chased the schools, and watched them all –
goldfish, guppies, killfish, mollies, barbs,
and more whose species I don’t know, in half murky water –
gave them

a waterfall of fresh tap water from a bucket to let them make
their own choice of school near the trees, the sunken ships,
the littlest of them all. It took, to do this,
perhaps twenty minutes.
Twenty minutes of care
with nothing dying.

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 Philippians 4:5 (NIV)
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 

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Summer Lullaby

On a beautiful summer evening…

The bedroom windows are open and the ceiling fan works the night shift. My husband lets out a little snore. Three of the cats have positioned themselves on the bed and the fourth is on neighborhood watch staring out a window.

The tree-toad sings a solo as the crickets hum the melody. Nature is singing me a lullaby.

[yawn] Good-night my friends.

Psalm 4:8 (NIV)
  In peace I will lie down and sleep,
   for you alone, LORD,
   make me dwell in safety.

Curb Appeal

Sometimes while I am driving through neighborhoods, I notice homes that could use new doors, new windows, a paint job or new siding.  I often want to rip off the ivy I see growing up beautiful brick homes.

I appreciate neighborhood curb appeal. 

Sometimes while I am amongst a group of people, I notice hair that should be combed, clothes that are out-of-date, and bodies that should be bathed.  I cringe when I hear inappropriate grammar usage.

I appreciate human curb appeal.

 Wait a minute!  What about what is inside?

 The homes that appear to be in shambles may have inhabitants that are ill, elderly or unemployed and they have to pick and choose what is most important on their limited funds.  The people who appear unkempt may be somebody’s V.I.P/hero.  They may be a very loving and doting spouse, parent or child.  They could be ill, elderly or unemployed and they have to pick and choose what is most important on their limited funds. 

I have no right to pass judgment.  I have every right to love my neighbor as much as myself.  That is the important lesson that Jesus stressed before he went to Heaven.

Matthew 7:2 (NLT)

For you will be treated as you treat others.  The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.