Final Pieces of Creation

High mountain valleys with long sweeping vistas

Low willow trees stunted by years of wind and snow

Clear streams fed by springs burrowed beneath rock, dirt and ice

Skies broken by squalls whipped by ever present gales

Aspens, a strange collaboration of pale green leaves and dusty white trunks,

Lodge pole pines in varying degrees of decay, slowing succumbing to tiny unseen invaders

Rocks jagged, smooth, broken and round, in formations and jumbled piles colored in many different

                Shades and tones,

All pointing upward in mute testimony to their Creator and His magnificent imagination

Which primes my own feeble creative spirit to humbly express

His greatness, His goodness, His completeness, and His unending and unfailing love for us…..

                His final pieces of His creation.

 

Date unknown

Revised 3-11-2016

Following The Wind

Following Wind

The gentle wind follows

As I make my way slowly but surely to a far-away land

Somehow, that far-away place doesn’t seem quite as far today

I feel more and more like an individual man

Each day brings more of a sense of responsibility

My emptiness seems less hallow

As I search for a new way

For my life to follow

Memories seems less inviting

Dreams seem more possible

Life is more enticing

As it ticks uncontrollably away

 

1977

Revised 3-11-2016

MEMORIAL DAY 2014

 THE MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION HAS ITS ROOTS IN THE CIVIL WAR AND IN WHAT MANY FOLKS USED TO TERM DECORATION DAY. THE FIRST OFFICIAL PROCLAIMATION WAS MADE BY GENERAL JOHN LOGAN, COMMANDER OF THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC, ON MAY 30, 1868. ON THAT DAY, THE GRAVES OF BOTH THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE DEAD BURIED IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETARY WERE DECORATED. THE HONORING OF THE DEAD THAT PASSED IN SERVICE TO COUNTRY IS AT THE CORE OF OUR REMEMBERANCE TODAY.

THE HISTORY OF SACRFICE OF OUR SOLDIERS, SAILORS AND AIRMEN STRETCHES BACK TO THE DAYS OF LEXINGTON, CONCORD, VALLEY FORGE, YORKTOWN AND THE OTHER PLACES OF BATTLE THAT BOUGHT AMERICA’S FREEDOM FROM BRITISH RULE AND TYRANNY. EVER SINCE, YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN HAVE ANSWERED AMERICA’S CALL TO SERVICE AND SOME HAVE GIVEN WILLING YET UNFORTUNATELY, AS LINCOLN FIRST SAID, “THEIR LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION” IN SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY. IT IS THEIR SACRIFICE THAT WE HONOR TODAY AND RECOGNIZE THAT THE COST OF FREEDOM IS DEAR.  NOT ONLY TO THE DEPARTED, BUT ALSO TO THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS LEFT BEHIND TO CHERISH AND RECALL THEIR LOVED ONE’S MEMORY.

THE HIGH PRICE OF FREEDOM DEMANDS THE RESPECT OF ALL THAT LIVE IN ITS UNIQUE AND UNFETTERED LIFESTYLE. TOO OFTEN OUR COUNTRY’S CITIZENS FORGET OR WORSE YET ARE APATHETIC TOWARDS THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT LIE SILENT IN GRAVES ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. THESE QUIETED VETERANS HAVE FORFEITED A COMPLETE LIFE THAT THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS MIGHT LIVE COMPLETELY. THE MARTYED DEAD WOULD NOT HAVE US DWELL ON THEIR DEATHS BUT RESPECTFULLY REFLECT ON THEIR BRIEF LIVES AND THE JOYFUL MEMORIES WE HAVE SHARED WITH THEM.

SO MEMORIAL IS NOT JUST A DAY THAT SIGNALS THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER, OR DAY OFF FROM WORK OR AN OPPORTUNITY TO PICNIC AND GRILL OUT. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT JUST A DAY TO DWELL ON THE SACRIFICES OF PAST DEAD VETERANS AND THE UNFULFILLED LIVES THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LIVED. IT IS ALL THESE THINGS; RESPECTFUL REMEMBERANCE AND JOYFUL CELEBRATION, QUIET CONSIDERATION AND PURE UNADULTRARED FUN. MEMORIAL DAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LIVING “TO DECORATE” THE SACRIFICED LIVES OF CITIZEN SOLDIERS WITH BOTH LIFE AND REFLECTION. MEMORIAL DAY IS IN FACT AMERICA’S MOST COSTLY DAY OF  CELEBRATION.

Postings

I've lost most of my posts that I had on another blog. So I have reviewed some of my short writings to begin blogging again. These will start soon on a weekly basis. Please leave constructive comments.