There are just times
When beauty is not in full display
But only to be seen when hunted for
Showing through the cracks
A Mattress on the Floor
A mattress on the floor
Will do for a while
It opens up the world
For life and adventure
I would miss
If I insisted on sleeping
Only in my own room
With my elevated
Queen size mattress
Off the floor
I would have missed
So much bustle and activity
Being available
To hold a new-born baby
Colors bursting forth
In fabrics, faces and flowers
Handing out fresh bread and water
To the hungry and the thirsty
Yet, I am starting to miss
That elevation
And the tranquility
Of familiarity
Discerning the times and seasons
Is important now
Before I wear too thin
And have little to give
I believe it is time to move
Back off the floor
© 2012 Julie Clark
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Conflict
Time to grow again
Head for the woods for a walk
Look for the log
That fills my eye
Coming from my heart
It distorts my vision
Of the other
Puts them in the worst light
And me in the best
Help me, Father
Take this log
So that I may turn and love my brother
© 2012 Julie Clark
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Grateful Reflections
In the wee hours tomorrow morning we will begin our journey home. I am tired but happy. Two months away, from where I now call home, is good for this 54 year old, mom and new grandmother. I’ve been stretched a bit, which is always a good cure for fossilization.
My overwhelming feeling is gratefulness. I am grateful to have been near when my grandson was born and help his parents in the first three weeks of his sweet life. I am grateful that there is still work for me to do here in these Asian lands where I have spent two thirds of my adulthood. To see life and growth in those I have invested has brought much joy to my heart. I am grateful to continue to work with and walk along side my partner and husband of 33 years.
The dramatic Central Asian spring bursting in color and freshness contributes to my feelings of hope. Truly life is at work in our world. Seeds push through the ground after awhile and life is renewed. The natural world mirrors the spiritual world. The Kingdom of God intersects with our lives on planet earth and life continues to burst forth. It takes some perspective combined with time to see it happen. For time and perspective I am also grateful.
Censored
I am just now able to get on my blog. WordPress is blocked here in this Asian Country. A friend of mine told me how to get around the block. At first I couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t working. Was there something wrong with my Internet, or a glitch at WordPress? Then my host told me:
“You can’t get on WordPress. The government has blocked it.”
I was shocked. “Really? Why?” I asked.
“Because someone from the opposition party is using it.”
The government has blocked all of our WordPress blogs because someone from the opposition party uses it. Crazy. My little blog searching for beauty and messages in everyday life got swept up in this censorship. My voice is silenced with countless others. I know it is just a little thing, and I finally have found the way around it, but I had a little taste of what it is like to be silenced. It didn’t feel good. It made me mad. Then it made me think of how many voices have been silenced. Images of heavy boots crushing wild flowers beneath them come to mind. As the army passes, most of the flowers slowly spring back to life. Not all, some are too delicate and their stems are broken. The sound of traffic drowns out and silences the bird song. Yet, in the early morning before people start moving we are awakened to the chorus.
What is beautiful, what is good, what is lovely and sweet will endure. It will lift up it’s head again and be seen and heard. The voices that cannot yet be heard need others to step in for them, until they can find the strength to sing again. There are many who need this kind of advocacy. Who will be their voice?
Like this:
Good Friday
Bread of heaven
Coming down from the Father
Giving life to the world
I take this bread
I believe in the One sent
To feed the world
The life it so desperately needs
Being gluten intolerant
It’s wise to switch from this earthly bread
Which makes me sick
I can’t digest it
No life in it for me
Maybe we are all gluten intolerant
When it comes to
Substituting
Bread of Life
For whatever we fill our hunger with
It will kill us in the end
Instead of nourishing us
And bringing
Life forevermore
© 2012 Julie Clark
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Nervous in Pune
Only three things have been making me nervous here in Pune: the traffic, the dogs, and my son’s pressure cooker. My son has told me that the dogs, all though mangy, are fine.
“It’s live and let live here mom, don’t bother them and they won’t bother you.”
“Ok son, but what about this one that keeps jumping on me that is supposed to be guarding your apartment?”
“Oh, he’s just friendly, give him a knee and he will stop.”
I guess he got the message with my knee once so he has stopped jumping on me. So the dog nerves are subsiding. The traffic? I find it best on my nerves to close my eyes from the back seat and think of flowing rivers. Of course praying mostly under my breath helps too: “mumble, mumble, mumble, GOD HAVE MERCY! Mumble, mumble, mumble, LORD HELP US ALL! Mumble, mumble, mumble.” I think those nerves are subsiding as well, except I had a relapse last night when he was trying to use his CELL PHONE while zigging and zagging. Admittedly, I haven’t seen any accidents just a lot of weaving, stopping and starting. Also a whole lot of horn honking. Perhaps what looks like near misses to me are just the normal ebbs and flows of traffic around here?
There are reasons I have never owned a pressure cooker. I think my mom had a run in with one and never would have one in the house. I know it is great for getting tough meat nice and tender, and cooking rice or beans really quick. It’s just that little bit of letting off steam that really gets me unexpectedly. My son calls those whistles. It would be nice if it would actually whistle a gentle tune, not that sudden high-pitched, nerve wrecking screech. My usual response after the initial jolt is to head for the kitchen door and wait for the “whistle” to subside. I am getting more used to it now since I made a nice dhal all on my own the other day.
My darling grandson is gaining weight and getting settled into his baby routines. His Mama is healing well. We just heard our visas for Kazakhstan are on their way. We may even make our original flight on Sunday.
