hope – Page 12 – Sweet Words from Maine

The View of Everything

It is quite unlikely that this little gull’s brain was filled with philosophical or theological thoughts as it watched the rising sun drive away the darkness hiding Stonington Harbor and the thoroughfare. In contrast, human minds constantly deal with values and meaning and purposes even while enjoying a sunrise. C.S. Lewis once said: “I believeContinue reading “The View of Everything”

The View of Everything

The View of Every Thing…

“As the Deer Pants for Flowing Streams….”

There is a uniqueness about the Psalms. They are emotionally raw, wonderfully poetic, spiritually deep, and personally applicable. Around 1984, Martin Nystrom wrote “As the Deer Pants,” a song inspired by Psalm 42. I first heard this hymn while riding rather uncomfortably in the bed of an old pick up truck along a rutted, dusty road inContinue reading ““As the Deer Pants for Flowing Streams….””

Bravely Facing “Fleeting” Time “with a Heart for any Fate”

Watching this sweet child racing the waves, flying like a fairy, building sand castles and enjoying the magic and awe of this beach and some other fantastical, ethereal place in her mind, one envies such pure, innocent, boundless imagination. She frolics unencumbered by the questions and worries of politicians, managers, philosophers, and theologians, unware ofContinue reading “Bravely Facing “Fleeting” Time “with a Heart for any Fate””

Of Kings and Aunts and Country Singers…

Old and weathered, Maine houses hide their stories but are reminders of ours. When young, optimistic, enthusiastic and busy, we take little notice of the imperceptibly slow but progressive changes occurring in our bodies. Regardless of physical conditioning, body habitus, or huge amounts of denial, they creep up and surprise us. We wrinkle, sag, shuffle,Continue reading “Of Kings and Aunts and Country Singers…”

Presumption or Promise?

A quintessential, summer morning sail along the Maine coast includes lobster boats and pots, wharf smells and screeching gulls, lifting fog and salty breeze filling hoisting sails, and a sense of uncertainty and adventure as one heads for open seas. In her poem “As if the Sea should part”, Emily Dickinson likened theContinue reading “Presumption or Promise?”

Magical Thinking?

Memorial Day is a day of “remembering”. Originating in the post civil war period as Decoration Day, it is now a Federal holiday designated to honor US military veterans who died while serving our country. However, the day has morphed into not only a day filled with ceremonies, parades, flags, and wreaths to remember allContinue reading “Magical Thinking?”

On Guard!

These geese are alert and on alert! As a defensive maneuver, they have stationed themselves to observe all points of the compass and seem to be “circling the wagons”, a tactic used by early pioneers to corral their oxen or horses at night and to protect themselves as they travelled West on the Oregon Trail.Continue reading “On Guard!”

Trapped?

These lobster buoys appear trapped and remind us that, at some point, most of us hit the proverbial wall from which there is no apparent exit, no obvious way back or forward. We long for the apparent unobtainable. Sometimes that is reality, but often it’s perception that ensnares us. We may believe ourselves captive toContinue reading “Trapped?”