For early morning light coming in sideways, waking day lilies, for neon-blue-breasted hummingbird, feeding on golden hibiscus, for towering maple, laden with summer’s deep green foliage, thank you. For breezes playing wind chimes and cooling skin, for violin concerto in the flight of the fly, for quiet delighting with you at the start of this new day, thank … [Read more...] about First Thanks

Skin and muscle have come loose from their moorings starting their descent back to earth’s dark womb. While spirit raises joyful child arms heaven ward stretching with awe and wonder toward your loving light. ------ Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who sustains you. I have made you and I will carry you, I will sustain you and I will rescue … [Read more...] about Returning

Thank you for palm trees swaying, fountain flowing, ocean breezes blowing, out the window as I hear I am five years, cancer free. Thank you for three year old singing, nine year old fishing, nearby family visiting, in this new community that is becoming their own. Thank you for grace while waiting, loan finally closing, keys soon opening the blessed place he will now call … [Read more...] about Today’s Praise

As seas rise, and island nations disappear, causing our hope to crumble, you are God. As drought leaves earth barren and rock hard, matching our despairing hearts, you are God. As mighty winds rip and endless rains destroy, tearing at the fabric of our trust, you are God. As corrupt powers rule and oppress the weak, crushing our spirits, you are God. As violence abounds and … [Read more...] about You are God, Calling Us

You quieted me. I came to you with fears, finally willing to acknowledge them to myself so I could speak them to you. How you comfort me. How gently you receive me. How sweetly you remind me of your Presence, drawing me into that still center where I am free to simply be, where I rest in your goodness, your greatness, your love, where I know, again, that you are … [Read more...] about Quieted

“Thank you. Thank you,” she’d say, offering her soft spoken hymn of praise to you with each step she took. Ninety seven, clutching walker, while I held onto her, she walked in thankful wonder like a toddler taking first steps with glee. Each step a gift, counted. Walker steadied and grounded her body in motion while her thanksgiving steadied and grounded her spirit in the here and now … [Read more...] about Gratitude

This life I claim as mine, hold onto and defend, is a gift, entrusted for a time, given, breath-by-breath by you. It is a vessel carved rough and beautiful for you to pour yourself into and overflow from, for your joy and mine and others. It is a gift I cannot truly receive, you whisper repeatedly, until I release my grip and let it go to you. Help me as I open … [Read more...] about This Life

You ask to wash my feet, as you disrobe and kneel before me. You wait, looking up at me. Joy dances in your eyes. I cannot breathe. Everything in me threatens to break loose, melt, flow, in the warmth of such tenderness. Your kindness undoes me. Your naked love disarms me, inviting me to bare all, too. If I say yes, the great flood of my longing, my need, my pure joy will break … [Read more...] about Washed Up

It is so excruciating and messy, so sacred and wondrous, this peeling away of all we hold onto, all we hide behind, until the naked, beautiful soul we are is exposed and your light and life in us shines through. ------ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put … [Read more...] about Naked

You made me. I am yours. I came from you. Your life and light are in me. Free every cell of my body, every part of my being to know this, to celebrate this, to live this, to dance in joy. ------ It is he who made us, and we are his. Psalm 100:3 From Heaven at my Door by Juanita Ryan … [Read more...] about I Am Yours