Pause to Ponder

Practicing meditation again today,
and how lovely the song in the breath,
bringing Life with the change of season

“Koa Bear” and I instantly bonded when he arrived late yesterday afternoon.

The koa wood baritone ukulele will be helping me lead worship this Sunday. Our church group Strong in Song is also gearing up for a concert at a local Memory Care Facility. Koa Bear will have a big part in the set of songs we’re planning to share with the residents.

A big thanks to the amazing crew at Mele Ukulele on Maui for their beautiful instruments helping musicians stir hearts and create community all around the world.

Jerry

Later-Life Fitness Journey # 4

Later-life offers this choice:
Use retirement to build a bridge
or to rear a wall.

Gifted with days filled with life-giving opportunities,
I choose to be steady and strong building bridges
connecting family and others, helping people belong

LATER-LIFE FITNESS JOURNEY # 3
On my later-life fitness journey
I am learning to eat natural food mindfully.

LATER-LIFE FITNESS JOURNEY #2
In the book of life has been written all the days that were formed for me. On my later-life fitness journey, fun physical exercise helps me age joyfully.

LATER-LIFE FITNESS JOURNEY # 1
A writing ritual is an important part of my
later-life fitness journey. Like a tasty espresso,
a few minutes of creative writing every day
heightens my awareness of what’s life-giving.

Strange and wonderful—this season of Advent
Waiting on the Word made flesh, our voice is awakened and the child In us comes alive

Seize a Sacred Moment
and Dance on Holy Ground

Every day there are precious moments when we can
breathe the Spirit of God in deeply,
kick off our shoes, and dance before the Lord

When tears came on Whidbey Island where I had moved to start my life over after my first wife of nearly forty years had died suddenly, I breathed deeply, rested a lot, and wrote my book of poetry Peach, Limestone, and Green.
I walked on a hallowed island where many have gone before, but I was not alone, crazy, or having a nervous breakdown. . . . My heart was at work, my soul awake and very much alive, and they helped me hear and bring to expression a song of love, hope and everlasting joy.

Strolling above the beach on a summer day off
a colleague told of a chance encounter
with a person who looked out on the ocean and said:

“Look at the view! Just look at the view!”
Words of wisdom from a complete stranger,
or was it an angel in disguise?

On my day off today I’m going to take some time
to really see what’s right in front of me.
And I hear Wisdom say, “You won’t be disappointed.”