FULNESS

An empty manger,

An empty upper room,

An empty garden,

An empty tomb.

- Clyde Hollinger

GIVING

"Go give to the needy sweet charity's bread,
For giving is living" the Angel said,
"But must I keep giving again and again?"
My peevish, petulant answer ran.
"Oh no" said the angel, piercing me through.
"Just give till the Master stops giving to you".

- Author unknown

BUILD THEE MORE STATELY

Build thee more stately mansions,
O my soul,
As the swift seasons roll!
Leave thy low-vaulted past!
Let each new temple, nobler than the last,
Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast,
Till thou at length art free,
Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting sea!

-  Oliver Wendell Holmes
    "The Chambered Nautilus"

THE VOW

How could I hide you
From hate?
I would,
Though my arms break
With the trying.

Life leans in
At the window there,
With its bag
Of dark treasures
Trying for your eyes -
So utterly open,
So unaware.

You will see
Men smile over blood,
And you will know
There is hate.
You may see bombs
And butcheries,
And you will know
There is horror.

Against all this
What can I do?
Only vow
That before you
Leave my arms,
You will know
Past ever doubting
That there is
Love, too.

- Carol Lynn Pearson

THORN BIRD

"There is a legend about a bird which sings just once in its' life, more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves the nest, it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one. Then, singing among the savage branches, it impales itself upon the longest, sharpest spine. And dying, it rises above its' own agony to out-carol the lark and the nightingale. One superlative song, existence the price. But the whole world stills to listen and God in His heaven smiles. For the best is only bought at the cost of great pain...or so says the legend."

Anonymous

PRAYER

Heaven

Holds out the blessing

Like a bright

Ripe fruit,

Only waiting

For us to ask it:

Our words

Weave the basket.

- Carol Lynn Pearson