Moon in Day
Night watches without
a sentinel to shine
or light to guide
Moon in Day
Avoiding the night
refracting away
dancing round again
Moon in Day
Bright summer morning
hanging high
the western sky
Moon in Day
Come again
Shine again
Round again
Moon in Day
We wait again
Moon in Day
Showing posts with label hope. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hope. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 03, 2018
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
First Things: Redemption
This morning, my daily devotional talked about an old Christian Poem.
The poem was about the crucifixion of Christ - as told by the cross itself, the tree that was cut down to make the cross on which Christ was nailed. The poem reflects on the idea that Adam & Eve ate from a tree and in so doing condemned mankind, but this tree that became the cross would be the tree on which all mankind would be redeemed.
I get emotional when I think about the idea of redemption, especially when it comes to being an instrument or a vessel for good. The Bible is full of parables and stories of how God uses imperfect people to accomplish great things. Jacob tricked his brother Esau, yet God chose Jacob to build the Hebrew nation. Zachheaus (sp?) was a tax collector who defrauded people out of money, but the story of his hospitality to Christ is sung throughout Sunday schools around the world. Peter denied Christ and then became the rock of the Christian Church - and Paul killed many Christians before he was called by God to be a part of the foundations of faith. And there are many many more stories.
The Biblical message is clear - no matter what you have done in your past, no matter what your history, redemption is real. You can make a choice for a positive impact, you can change the world. If you feel that you are worthless, so have countless others before you. If you feel that your baggage is too heavy, it is no more than what others have born. If you feel powerless, you have the power to change the future.
Redemption is freely available if you choose to take hold of its open hand.
The poem was about the crucifixion of Christ - as told by the cross itself, the tree that was cut down to make the cross on which Christ was nailed. The poem reflects on the idea that Adam & Eve ate from a tree and in so doing condemned mankind, but this tree that became the cross would be the tree on which all mankind would be redeemed.
I get emotional when I think about the idea of redemption, especially when it comes to being an instrument or a vessel for good. The Bible is full of parables and stories of how God uses imperfect people to accomplish great things. Jacob tricked his brother Esau, yet God chose Jacob to build the Hebrew nation. Zachheaus (sp?) was a tax collector who defrauded people out of money, but the story of his hospitality to Christ is sung throughout Sunday schools around the world. Peter denied Christ and then became the rock of the Christian Church - and Paul killed many Christians before he was called by God to be a part of the foundations of faith. And there are many many more stories.
The Biblical message is clear - no matter what you have done in your past, no matter what your history, redemption is real. You can make a choice for a positive impact, you can change the world. If you feel that you are worthless, so have countless others before you. If you feel that your baggage is too heavy, it is no more than what others have born. If you feel powerless, you have the power to change the future.
Redemption is freely available if you choose to take hold of its open hand.
Monday, January 09, 2017
First Things: Be The Good
This weekend ended on a sad note for many in my circle of friends as a dear family lost their mother.
It reminds me that in the midst of this bizarre and often difficult world, what matters most is the mark we leave on someone's heart.
On my Facebook Page this weekend an old high school acquaintance left a scathing, judgmental, hate-filled comment on a post that was followed by an equally hateful comment from a current friend which lead me to take down the post and step away.
No matter what the circumstances are in your life, to an issue, in a conversation or in a battle, you can be the good that someone needs.
Be the good for a world in need.
Be the light that shines in the dark.
Be the hope that seeks to be found.
It reminds me that in the midst of this bizarre and often difficult world, what matters most is the mark we leave on someone's heart.
On my Facebook Page this weekend an old high school acquaintance left a scathing, judgmental, hate-filled comment on a post that was followed by an equally hateful comment from a current friend which lead me to take down the post and step away.
No matter what the circumstances are in your life, to an issue, in a conversation or in a battle, you can be the good that someone needs.
Be the good for a world in need.
Be the light that shines in the dark.
Be the hope that seeks to be found.
Labels:
goodness,
hope,
Ideas,
love,
Personal growth,
understanding
Monday, November 14, 2016
First Things: Grassy Lots
Last night a couple of friends and I went to see The Price Is Right Live at The Masonic Temple in Detroit.
The show was alright, it was about what I expected. We had fun, none of us won anything, but a lot of people were very excited and cheered loudly for a little bit. Good Time.
But the show came and went and left me thinking about the grassy lots of Detroit.
If you know anything about Detroit over the past 20-30 years, you know that the area surrounding the Masonic Temple has been, let's say, 10-20 square blocks of the worst parts of Requiem For a Dream or Trainspotting. It has not been a place you'd want to be without a group of friends, a gun, and lots of daylight.
Last night parking was scarce so I parked 2 blocks north of the theatre on a street that was for the most part abandoned. But just ahead of where I parked was a small building and through the windows sat white table cloths adorning well appointed tables with modern decor and candles around. It was 4:00, only a few people were in there. We came back to my car at 5:15 and it was packed with well-dressed suburbanites and urbanites enjoying dinner before a night on the town. Their cars parked next door on a grassy lot.
All around me on this street, Peterboro, were grassy lots.
The City of Detroit is full of grassy lots. They are everywhere.
Empty spaces that once held businesses, homes, apartment buildings. All gone as the tide of economic, cultural, and racial change swept through the midwest.
Today, in these empty spaces waits opportunity. Like the open fields of an 1800's land rush, these spaces wait for someone to claim them as their own.
And people are doing that. Block by block the city is returning to life. People are taking chances and digging their roots into those grassy lots and building up a community again breathing hope into places once filled with despair.
The show was alright, it was about what I expected. We had fun, none of us won anything, but a lot of people were very excited and cheered loudly for a little bit. Good Time.
But the show came and went and left me thinking about the grassy lots of Detroit.
If you know anything about Detroit over the past 20-30 years, you know that the area surrounding the Masonic Temple has been, let's say, 10-20 square blocks of the worst parts of Requiem For a Dream or Trainspotting. It has not been a place you'd want to be without a group of friends, a gun, and lots of daylight.
Last night parking was scarce so I parked 2 blocks north of the theatre on a street that was for the most part abandoned. But just ahead of where I parked was a small building and through the windows sat white table cloths adorning well appointed tables with modern decor and candles around. It was 4:00, only a few people were in there. We came back to my car at 5:15 and it was packed with well-dressed suburbanites and urbanites enjoying dinner before a night on the town. Their cars parked next door on a grassy lot.
All around me on this street, Peterboro, were grassy lots.
The City of Detroit is full of grassy lots. They are everywhere.
Empty spaces that once held businesses, homes, apartment buildings. All gone as the tide of economic, cultural, and racial change swept through the midwest.
Today, in these empty spaces waits opportunity. Like the open fields of an 1800's land rush, these spaces wait for someone to claim them as their own.
And people are doing that. Block by block the city is returning to life. People are taking chances and digging their roots into those grassy lots and building up a community again breathing hope into places once filled with despair.
Labels:
Detroit,
hope,
urban renewal