Monday, December 16, 2013

Advent Photo Meditations - Week 3

Day 15 - Rejoice


The desert and the dry land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom like the crocus. They will burst into bloom, and rejoice with joy and singing. They will receive the glory of Lebanon, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the Lord’s glory, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and support the unsteady knees. - 
Isaiah 35:1-3,




Day 16 - Strong


Tell fearful souls,
    “Courage! [Be strong!] Take heart!
God is here, right here,
    on his way to put things right
And redress all wrongs.
    He’s on his way! He’ll save you!”
Isaiah 25:4


Day 17 - Free


Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever;  who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD! - Psalm 146:5-10

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Advent Photo Meditations - Week 2

Day 8 - Wisdom

A green Shoot will sprout from Jesse’s stump, from his roots a budding Branch. The life-giving Spirit of God will hover over him, the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding, The Spirit that gives direction and builds strength, the Spirit that instills knowledge and Fear-of-God.
- Isaiah 11:1-2, The Message


Buried, dormant, dark,
Yet life remains in the crown,
Waiting to spring forth.


Day 9 - Delight



What delights my heart?
Grandchildren playing outside,
Spirits light and free.


Day 10 - Holy


Upon God's alter
Mystery is made concrete
And all join as one.


Day 11 - Steadfast


Where all are welcome,
Then, now and forevermore,
God's steadfast promise.


Day 11 - Hope


Hope in beginnings
For those tillers of the soil
Tilling soul as well.


Day 12 - Justice


From high mountain tops
To deepest valley streambeds
God's justice prevails.



Day 13 - Gather


Gathering all in,
Fruit of the land and spirit,
Joy in the bounty.


Saturday, December 7, 2013

Advent Photo Meditations - Week 1

Rethink Church, a project of the United Methodist Church, is sponsoring an Advent photo-a-day project for social media. I haven't figured out how to pin on their site, so I'm creating my own using their word prompts for each each. To find out more, or participate, go to UMRethinkChurch or their tumblr site.

Day 1 - Go
















Go with God's flow.
He always leads us forward
To His love and peace.



Day 2 - Bound


Bonds of blood and love,
Grace, kinship, friendship, duty
Gladly knotted tight.


Day 3 - Peace


In quiet moments,
In unexpected beauty,
God's peace finds, fills me.


Day 4 - Time


Broken treasures,
Beauty and purpose entwined,
Formed together slowly over time.
Twists and turns made a life.
Eventually, slowly or suddenly, broken.
Outer layers cracked, meaning eroded
'Til only beauty remains.
Beauty is purpose enough
For broken treasures.

Day 5 - Flood


Mississippi mud - 
Roads and fields and streams all brown.
Source of life and wealth.


Day 6 - Awake


Pink, yellow, orange,
Blue infusing sunrise sky.
Beach day one begins.


Day 7 - Ready


Still, the Heron waits.
Watching, anticipating movement.
The sea will provide.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Broken Treasures



Broken treasures,
Beauty and purpose entwined,
Formed together slowly over time.
Twists and turns made a life.
Eventually, slowly or suddenly, broken.
Outer layers cracked, meaning eroded
Till only beauty remains.
Beauty is purpose enough
For broken treasures.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Orange Beach Journal

November 22
Almost packed to leave.
Almost ready to return
To real life, almost.

November 21
Music of the waves
Soothes my ear and mind and heart,
Enriching spirit.


Beach walk at sunset.
Soles chilled by cool sand and waves.
Soul warmed by God's gifts.




November 20
Days are running out.
Sunset tide is running in.
Biggest Redfish yet.

Redfish #20 - At 28 pounds, the biggest yet.

November 19
Back to the jetties.
Chasing the mangrove snapper.
Not catching any.




November 18
Rhythms of our days
Dictated by weather news.
Kept inside again.




November 17
Weather report fair.
Fishing report not too good,
But at least we're out.

November 16
One more windy day.
Running out of things to say.
Supper with old friends.




November 15
Horizon obscured.
Water and sky merged into
One foggy grey form.

November 14
Down a wooded path
Filled with birdsong and heartbeat,
Took a fall day walk


November 13
From inside looking
Outside seems sunny and fair.
Can't see the strong winds.

November 12
Gray snapper today,
Four in the boat, but lost count
Of the ones thrown back.

November 11
Another supper,
First Sheepshead bite this season.
Redfish landed, too.




November 10
Gray snapper, mangrove
Or black, whatever their name,
Hope they're good to eat.

Gray Snapper. Smallest is a legal 12 inches.


25 pounder


Fishing Buddies

Orange Beach Sunset


November 9
Football Saturday.
Home team suffered a beatin'
Rocky Top bad day.

View from the Balcony
November 8
No fishing today.
Great lunch with old friends from youth.
Felt sixteen again.

November 7
Cool windy weather
Kept us inside all day long.
Nothing much to tell.

November 6
Our catch of the day,
Three catfish and three redfish,
No keepers to eat.






November 5
Pensacola Lighthouse:



177 steps to the top 
Spiraling upward,
Climbing stair-steps to the light.
View worth the effort.

Looking toward Pensacola and Pensacola Beach

Looking toward Ft. Pickens the end of Santa Rosa Island, and Pensacola Pass

Zen of Fishing (II)
Empty of desire.
One with bird calls, breezes,
Rocking waves, myself.

He put up quite a fight.


November 4
Forty-one years wed.
Two people have become ten.
Love expands itself.


November 3
Right size to eat,
Redfish for supper tonight.
Potato Pancakes, too.

Perfect slot-sized Redfish.



November 2
Cruising offshore,
Searching for hidden reefs.
Caught a few snappers.

Offshore about 2 1/2 miles. Beautiful day!

A few small Red Snapper, to small to keep and not in season.

November 1
Rain, rain go away,
Please don't take the redfish, too.
Fish again later.


October 31
Surf's up, wind's blowing,
Storm's coming, weather changing,
Not a fishing day.


October 30
Double double day,
Twice two lines went zinging out.
Six Redfish in all.

20 pounds

19 pounds


October 29
Two fish on at once,
Fishing fantasy come true.
Three for the day.

Bill hooked the first one. 24 pounds, 35 inches

Jane Clark hooked the next one. Also 24 pounds and 35 inches.

Almost immediately, Bill's line was taken, too.
We fought them together for quite a while. Bill's finally came in at 26 pounds, 40 inches. 


October 28
Johnson Beach morning,
Sun and wind, sand, surf and driftwood,
Birds for company.





The story of the day
Is the one that got away
Big Red broke the line.


October 27
First red of the trip,
Hope it's not the last one.
May lines keep zinging.

24 pounds, 34 inches
Caught under the bridge at Perdido Pass
Catch and release



October 26
Big game on today
UT hunting elephants
Fishing has to wait.

October 25
It's not twenty-nine,
No mountain chill at the beach.
Fifty-nine, rising.


October 24

Pink, yellow, orange,
Blue infusing sunrise sky
Beach day one begins.