the way our soul learns

person wearing gray hoodie jacket watching lake

solitude: time alone with God long enough to sense

his presence, his nearness; to grow in the certainty
that he is with us and for us, always and into forever

silence: space to notice what we hear

when no one else is competing for our attention and allegiance, who and what really calls our name, speaks truth

contemplation: to look longer at the beauty of the world;

to find, take our place in it; close the gap between us and God’s creation to the smallest of margins, open up new vistas

a poem about what comes when we come to be alone with God, to grow still, lean in – from my new book Quiet Waters

In Sync with the Season

woman with her dog near the fireplace

in solitude and silence,

close to the fire, listening to crackling

kindling, snapped off branches, whole logs burn

I contemplate the coming frost—

the need to resolve unfinished bits of Fall

Winter: the perfect time

to make peace the way Jacob made his timely,

pressing peace with brother

Esau

after how many years (?)

finally choosing to play his own part

knowing most of us die with a to-do list better extinguished

a poem about homecoming, finding peace – from my new book, Quiet Waters

Hear My Prayer

black twin bell alarm desk clock on table

if solitude is time alone with God

what holds me back?

when I am tired, Lord, hear my prayer—

there is too much to do and too little time to do it

when I am a cynic, Lord, hear my prayer—

there are things I have tried, and they have failed,

I see a pattern in me and those around me

when I am busy, Lord, hear my prayer—

there are people who need me, hold claim:

 who will take care of them?

seeking solitude to be with you Lord, hear my prayer, to live simply

this poem is about finding time, making time, setting time aside not to do, but to be, alone with God, to hear the one who hears our prayers – appears in my new book Quiet Waters

Sunrise

bird standing on shore line during golden hour

time stretches long like a beach

in the morning when we get up early

to meet what God would show—

endless wonders in our path,

intricacies of the nautilus, eight-armed creatures

that walk when made to swim, shells

that stick strong enough to rock

to withstand powerful tides,

signs of fire, symbols

of love

wonders at our feet,

as if we were meant to pick them up,

know more about living

and walking with wonder

a poem about finding stillness, going deeper, restoring wonder – from my new book, Quiet Waters