One day I was listening to the radio, and the song
– ‘A Horse With No Name’ by ‘America’
was playing with it’s many lyrics –

“I’ve been through the desert on a horse with
no name. . .
After two days in the desert sun. . .
A river that flowed made me sad to think it
was dead”. . .
These words reminded me of the beautiful story
of God’s search for His children in the desert
wanderings of His people through the ages, portrayed
by the Prophet Ezekiel – Chapter 16!

Even down to our time, for all who are
singed with troubles and fire in their desert
experience, God in His love searches for us never
giving up!


A metaphor of words and images in the form of a poem came to my mind –

Hooves pounding on the clay baked ground!

The child playing among the reeds on the river’s edge!

 

A voice is heard in a desolate land

“Oh Ezekiel, what do you have to say

of this man, one that is searching

for a child among rocks, stones and

burning sand?”

There is a desert under a blazing sky

where serpents lie. Cacti hide a tiny

wren, it’s wings singed from the noon

day sun, never flying as high again.

All is still, but for the horse and its rider

moving faster, its hooves pounding the

clay baked ground.

On the first day of his journey, no child

was found and in disappointment turns

his horse around. With an empty heart

and far from blest, even though he did

his best.

He could not remove the picture from

his mind and returned to the desert one

more time. Searching far and near, a cry

in the distance spurs him on.

With the brim of his hat to shade his

eyes, looking on the desert floor, in a

pool of blood in a pocket of sand, he

hears a child’s cry again.

Lifting this baby to his saddle side, with

his hands its tears he dries.

Cleansing with water and oil, removing

clothes dirty and soiled. With newness

of life the child arises, it is given a name

no longer living in shame.

The desert is turned to a river bed. The

wren flies high again and with joyful song

it sings.

Living waters flow upon the earth, bidding

the child live in a land with no more

dread.

Playing among the reeds on the river’s

edge, no danger will come from the adder’s

den, for there is no more sin.

All things are new because of this Man’s

Redemption Plan!

Continue reading “The horse and it’s rider…” →

‘Remembrance of a mother‘

I think some of us are tempted to question

the timely events in our lives, why certain things

come about, parents that were given that

weren’t the best.

As a child I had been brought up to just

accept things as they were, hoping they

would get better. But they never seemed

to be resolved.

My mother was a flighty person, moving

in and out of the chaos

and confusion she had woven in her life

and mine.

Then I remember clearly the time when

I was interrupted from a childhood of

acceptance to one of adolescence, when

I could no longer tolerate her behavior.

And anger and resentment began

to fill my heart. I spent much time

wondering why I had been given a mother

like this.

When I began recovery, I remember the

first night, when it was revealed why I had

turned away, and realized the trauma she had

received from abuse in her life. It had just

been carried through to mine also. There was

a reason for her neglect, and thus started

years of working through the issues I had

developed.

I wondered why these things were not revealed

much earlier, and I had been given a chance

of reconciliation before she died!

* * * *

Who is this mother we have laid to rest?

Poor helpless soul who wandered this

earth, not knowing or caring where she

was led.

She took her child along for the journey

who at times did not know where she

would lay her head.

With emotions held in and warned not

to cry, this child hoping she would be loved

if things got better.

Now death has taken this mother, and she

has gone to sleep. No longer tormented

with emotions so deep, sorrow

no longer her’s to keep, removed forever,

to rest In peace.

But remember child, she did not have the

tools to help you to survive. She could not

fulfill her role, you became the mother and

she the child.

Oh, where do I look for a nurturing

mother? Could it be, that God is as much

a mother as He is a Father to me?

And then a clearer picture I saw, as I

wrestled with the why’s and how’s

of the mysteries beset on the journey

of life. Perhaps if I had been given a

mother that I had wished for, I

would not have reached out for

something better!

Encouraged to rest! To set aside these blessed hours!
To come apart and be blest”

A Sabbath evening reflection…

“:A world without a Sabbath would be like a man without
a smile, like a summer without flowers, and like a
manor without a garden, it is the joyous day of the week”

Henry Ward Beecher

As the sun began its circuit on the

eastern horizon, its rays reflected a

*massive structure, doors that

had been locked since COVID 19 were

opened
* * * *


And on this day of prayer of 2022
two years later
we have much to pray for, for our
nation and nations in conflict and war

From morning till night, hour upon hour

for our leaders who fight for our nation

The question is asked,

“Is the Lord among us or not?”

“The God who watches over America

never slumbers or sleeps”

The doors of our churches and cathedrals
are open for all who seek comfort and peace!

These excerpts are taken from my
poem ‘It was six hours of dawn’

*The Washington National Cathedral

There are many things to be grateful for this
Eastertide,
delivered from our pains and sorrows
of the past, our abuse and shame, receiving new life!

Are we the only ones that have lived in
shame, in our abuse, agony and pain?
Why did it happen? Why did we not
stop the cruel acts?
Did the threats intimidate us?
“But we have been abused” we cry
Those that violated our bodies and minds
we took on as our fault, the sins of the perpetrator
has eaten away at our hearts
Our dark secrets haunt us at night our
pillows drenched with tears, having taken the
burden upon ourselves, but it is just too heavy
to bare, trying ever trying to pay the price

There once was a man that experienced
this pain as we, in humiliation and scourging
He hung upon a tree
His robe torn from his body, His loincloth
removed, a spectacle to the world
He identifies with us
Nails driven through the palms of
His hands, one day becoming scars of reminders
of His love for us
Our appetites and passions He bore
tasting the bitter wine spewing it from His mouth
giving power to the addicted that they may be
delivered too
Crying “Father forgive them for they know
not what they do” giving us the desire to forgive
our assassins and demons too
Denying himself bread, tempted of the devil
given to prayer instead
Desolate and forlorn when his followers
fled, He understands when we are left alone
Taking our punishment upon Him, for
all of these things He has given power to God’s
sons and daughters, for there is not a sin that
He has not forgiven!

Selections from my poem
‘The Stripping’

A Sabbath Reflection

In six windows of time He took the world in His hands
separating the sea from land
Drawing back the curtain of black

A freshly made sun in an azure blue sky
and night time purple with evening lights
In six days he created the world
and on the seventh day he rested
inviting His children to rest with Him!

“And so having finished His task…
He blessed the seventh day and declared it holy”
(Genesis 2:2)

Father of lights do you live
In the sky?

Not with your children
In darkness below?

Do you look out your
Window from your
Home on high

At the sun in the
Morning light?

Are you the man in
The moon, shining
Moonbeams on the
Stars at night?

To see how far they
Will fly?

You are so far I
Can’t jump that high!

Or maybe ride on a
Kite but it won’t fly
That high!

If I could, I would see
Where you live

If I get there God
Would you let me in
With my darkness
And sin?

It seems such a long
Way between You and I

Some say You are light
Would You be too bright
To look upon?

I don’t understand what
It really means
But it says You are
Loving and kind!

So I will bid You
Goodnight and thank
You for light, however
It comes!

“Every good and perfect gift is
from above, coming down from
the Father of the heavenly
lights”

James 1:17

A reflection for the day!

The quail are calling and following the sun
scurrying along till day is done! Ever watching
over their nestling’s
wants!

Oh, if only we could be dependent as they on nature’s call!

To consider the lilies as
they grow they toil
not
neither do
they spin!

“Consider the lilies of
the field, how
they grow…”
Book of Matthew

And to all across the world!
A morning reflection

Though your day may be setting in distant
lands and the sun is rising on the opposite shore
time cannot separate our desires for a peaceful
place for all to dwell!
In this day let us remember
we are not forsaken!

With lamps trimmed and burning

Long ago in an ancient land
a village sat on a hill, the sun was
setting and the shadows gathering
And from the windows of a house
light was streaming with laughter and
shouting
Ten young ladies were sewing
their gowns of silk and lace braided
with silver and gold
Each had a lamp trimmed and
burning

There is excitement in the air
for a marriage procession will soon
take place
A bride is waiting for her groom
the night is far spent and weary of
the wait the ten young ladies fell
asleep

At midnight there is heard a cry
“The bridegroom has come to take
home his bride”

Waking abruptly, smoothing their
gowns, plaiting their hair, they all rush
out with lamps trimmed and burning
Five were wise and had plenty of
oil, but five were foolish and had not
enough
Running to the wise, “Give us of
your oil” but the wise replied,
“We have not enough to spare”
“Go to the village and find some there”
The five returned with oil in their
lamps, but the five wise had already
gone into the wedding feast and the
door was shut
The five foolish were left in darkness

The message is given – Watch and pray
with your lamps trimmed and burning
for you know not the hour the Bridegroom
will come to take home His bride!

Images courtesy of ‘freebibleimages.org’