Begin

Begin.
Now is the time to begin.

Enjoying the Weather

My brother, Lee,
sent this picture
and noted that he and Dad were
enjoying the weather
from the screened porch.

I might have said
"watching the storm" instead.

"Enjoying the weather"
is much better.

Daisy and Dante

Daisy and Dante regard one another's
definite differences
with respect.

They're Back!

The butterflies are back!

So Much

I want to fly.
So much.

Blue Skies Smiling

Blue skies
smiling at me,
nothing but blue skies
do I see.

Help me,
dear God,
to look up
and see
the blue skies
smiling.

Morning Glory

In the morning
I will sing
glad songs of praise
to you.

Morning Glory.

Beginning Today

Beginning today:
God
grant me
the serenity
to accept
the things I cannot change,
the courage
to change
the things I can,
and the wisdom
to know the difference.

A New Day

How beautiful it is
that the sun comes up
every morning.

Strength and Dignity

Clothed with strength and dignity!
Laughs without fear!

Yes!
This is how
I want to
greet the future!

May it be so!

Present Moment

The beauty

of the day lily

lasts only a day.

May we practice
the sacrament
of the present moment
today.

Do the Work

I believe
this is the path
of a mother sea turtle
who made her way
out of the ocean
and up across
the sand of the beach
in the dark
and made a nest
and laid her eggs
and lumbered back
to the water.

May I be as faithful
to do the work
you have given me
to do.

Practice

Practice:

1. to do or engage in frequently

    or usually; make a habit or 

    a custom of

2. to do repeatedly

    in order to learn or

    become proficient;

    exercise or drill oneself in

3. to use one's knowledge of;

    work at, esp. as a profession

4. to teach or train through practice

I am beginning 

my practice:

prayer practice,

writing practice,

spiritual direction practice. 

And, I am filled with hope. 

Well Pleased

Today, through faithful friends,
I hear God's kind confirmation:
"You are my beloved daughter,
with you I am well pleased."

Thank you, God, for:
*three hour lunches
*Hardware
*the number 5: God's grace!

Seeing a Star

I saw this lone starfish
on the beach
among countless shells
yesterday morning.
I bent down
and as my fingers felt
its cold wetness
I realized
it was still alive.
I timed my gentle toss
so that my sneakers
would not be soaked
and my feet frozen.
The starfish slipped
into the surf
and was gone.
Still alive!

God, help me to see
what is before me
and to do
what needs to be done.

Thank you, God, for:
*shells and starfish
*our amazing printer
*being with Daddy

Slow Down

I enjoyed a wonderful brunch
this morning with Margaret
at Folk Art in Inman Park
and was greeted by
my spirit animal
or mascot
or something
inviting me to
slow down
and
embrace life.

So, slow down I will!

Thank you, God, for:
*homemade blackberry jam
*staying in Margaret's nest
*Christmas in January thanks to Sarah

A Little Welcome

In little ways
and big ways
help me to
welcome
in 2016

Thank you, God, for:
*just right heart stamps
*remembering something correctly
*real life pictures of Downton Abbey folks

Observing That Star

Today is the day after Epiphany
and so I am putting away our Christmas decorations,
even the nativity scenes.
But I am going to keep the star
out where I can see it
throughout this season
of Epiphany.
I hope that each time
I observe that star
I will, like the wise men,
be overwhelmed with joy
and I will offer Jesus my gifts. . .
of this new year
of my true self
and of welcome.

Thank you, God, for:
*Margaret and Cassidy inviting their moms to lunch
*waking up before the alarm
*body prayer

For the Morning

New every morning is Your love, great God of light,
and all day long You are working for good in the world;
Stir up in us desire to serve you;
to live peacefully with our neighbors
and to devote each day to Your Son, our savior,
Jesus Christ. . .
(from Venite: A Book of Daily Prayer by Robert Benson)

Thank You, God, for:
*this new year: 2016
*the sun coming up again and again
*the grace of new beginnings

Welcome!

Across the field at Green Bough
this ginkgo tree
welcomed me
for the glory of God.

"Welcome one another,
therefore,
just as Christ has welcomed you,
for the glory of God."
(Romans 5:17)

Welcome "God with us"!
Welcome Love!

Welcome 2016!