Saturday, October 1, 2022
Mountain Lore
Friday, July 1, 2022
Glorious Old Glory
Here are some fairly recent photos of the US Flag flying around the Big Lake area in eastern Arizona:
Monday, November 1, 2021
Lakes & Rivers
Part "deux"
See, there is a river whose streams make glad the City of God, the dwelling places of the Most High. Psalm 46:4 |
Trees in Autumn
As mentioned in other postings from this date, we recently took a trip to the White Mountains, in the far eastern part of Arizona, near New Mexico. A different look for AZ, for those of you not familiar with the state, right? Here is some fall foliage on the trees, some with evergreen mixed in. The colorful trees are quaking aspens, so named because their leaves shimmer at the slightest gust of breeze. They are a poplar, related to cottonwoods and Eurasian poplars. Regarding evergreens, the elevation was high enough in spots to see Douglas-fir and true fir trees. I think there was some spruce around, but we didn't get photographs.
Friday, October 1, 2021
Birds' Nests
"Temptations, of course, cannot be avoided. But because we cannot keep birds from flying over our heads, there is no need that we should let them build a nest in our hair." -- Martin Luther's Large Catechism, "Explanation of the Sixth Petition" ("Lead us not into temptation.")
Wednesday, September 1, 2021
The Long View
Tuesday, February 2, 2021
Moisture Comes to Arizona
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Rain Redux*
*Redux, both because of the importance of "again" in the original rhyme and this poem. Also, "redux", because this poem comes in tandem with my poem of earlier this year, discussing the distress of Arizona's already long-standing lack of rain then, which is even worse now.
(It was a challenge writing a poem with deeper thoughts using the "punch" and even "taunt-like" meter of the original rhyme.)
Here's the previous poem that "twins" with this
Friday, October 2, 2020
Volunteering
During this COVID time, we are limiting our travelling and exposure. We did take some time to do some socially distanced, responsible volunteer painting. (My husband held the ladder while I got up into the pinnacle!)
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
Perspectives
"Rain" means something other
If you're not from Arizona:
"Into every life..."*
(Twist you here the knife)
"A little rain must fall..."*
(Unmitigated gall).
At last God sent us rain
To ease this climate's pain
Elsewhere they have floods--
I pray You come again,
Far moreso than the rain;
I want to see Your Face:
Lord, Jesus, come with haste.
---c.m.b. (c), 2020
(a summer of record breaking 110+ days in Phoenix; no rain; high ozone)
*A paraphrase from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, "The Rainy Day" (see link below)
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Light Shining Out of Darkness
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense
But trust Him for His grace.
Behind a frowning providence*
He hides a smiling face.
*Lutherans would likely not express themselves in terms of a "frowning providence." God is merciful, even when we cannot see it. The problem is we cannot see it. Part of it is the sorrows and troubles of living in a broken world. God does not automatically intervene at every turn. In addition, there are the blinders we have, such as Cowper's tendency towards depression (see below).
Gerard Manley Hopkins, also a poet of faith, also featured on this blog, once spoke of a heaven made of bronze, off of which his prayers bounced. He was in circumstances that drained him and had that same sensation, though at some level, he always knew God loved him.
Wikipedia: William Cowper
The Olney Hymns (Blair, Bob)
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Now Winter Nights Enlarge
[for winter, nature & Valentine's Day]