Wide Angle View of Life

When I was in the Cub Scouts, my family went to Yosemite the first time. My parents bought me a Brownie Hawkeye camera made by Kodak, and soon I was an avid amateur photographer. When someone offered to finance a trip to the Holy Land for me, I bought my first camera with interchangeable lenses. One of those lenses was a wide-angle lens, and for some reason it became my favorite. A few years later, I was part of a monthly color slide competition, and most of the submitted slides winning ribbons were taken with that wide-angle lens.
Looking back, it appears that looking through the wide-angle lens had an effect upon how I see life. That applies to life on earth as well as possibly on other planets. While most people see their lives on an hour-by-hour or day-by-day basis, I tend to see things more broadly, seeing our country’s progress in terms of decades, and seeing the larger church in the same way. On my second anniversary here next September, I will probably be comparing the two years more than looking at month-to-month progress.
When I was a younger adult, I looked at my professional and spiritual life in terms of 3-5 year blocks of time. It has been a little over a half century since I confessed my faith in Christ and was baptized. It is amazing at how patient God has been with me. There have been many things for which it has been necessary to seek forgiveness. God’s grace and mercy are amazing. I hope that I keep growing and improving.
God has given me a profession that continues to be challenging and fulfilling. Re-examining my example set for others, I am looking for examples that our leaders can provide that will lead to further growth. We plan to establish our congregation’s web page on the internet during this coming month. Other congregations testify to the fact that their internet presence creates more visitors and new members.
Since God gave me a novel to write, now it is in the marketplace for the critics to cross-examine. As I am writing this, someone on the internet that I have never met has inquired regarding the address of my blog which shares my faith. My novel serves as a springboard for conversation there. I hope conversations will start here as well.

Winter

OF WINTER STORMS
© 2002

The stormy winds, they blow so cold, our eyes can't see the sky.
We walk about with bodies numb — sometimes we think we'll die.
We concentrate on simple tasks, survival is our mode:
We want to do the basic things, not take on heavy loads.
We know from life's experience that storms do pass on by,
And when they've passed we might enjoy a clear and cheery sky.
We seldom think of dangers past, our lives are filled with now.
Deliverance is just accepted, no "I wonder how . . . ?"
And then there's times when danger's huge, and slaps us in the face!
We’re simply overwhelmed with pow'r, — --our ego's been displaced!
We’re stunned and humbled, weak and scared, we lift our voice on high,
The Power's holy presence brings a peace, and then a sigh.
So You and I are not alone, we look to God above.
Our God is watching over us, so constantly with love!
So in God's love we have no fear, for we can know God's Son;
And we can know redeeming grace, — our stormy battles' won!

New Year

ANOTHER YEAR
© 2000

An open book begins another year,
And Christmas doesn't seem at all too near.
The football games fill ears with bursting cheers,
And quiet thoughts of Christmas bring some tears.

Can gifts be now so quickly lost and spent?
Can joy be quickly lost in paying rent?
Does God look down and know how much its meant
To me to know the joy that's heaven sent?

I wonder as I look ahead today--
To one more year of struggle day by day:
Will minds be focused just on making hay,
Or is life more than seeking higher pay?

There's hope in all of this I usually find.
There's more to life than just the daily grind.
One cannot see the future in the mind,
But play and toil release that bitter bind.

Anticipation is the fuel at hand.
We wait expectantly for luck to land
On our front doorstep just as though we planned
To make our mark on this our native land.

Prayer

PRAYER

A scientific age proclaims the foolishness of prayer.
The media just lusts for facts and people's points of view.
We live our lives with stumbling steps and struggle, still aware
That things don't always come by chance or scientific cue.
So mysticism has its place and superstition too.
And luck is less a threat than facing power out of sight.
So we want power we can understand and keep in view.
And we want gods to be controlled with scientific might.
A humble person gathers scorn by those who relish strength.
And kneeling just is not a stance for those who want control.
When chaos reigns as people struggle, keeping fear at length,
Their comfort's sought in facts and trends or in opinion polls.
The ease with which a life of prayer is lived seems odd to some.
Unlike the lives of those who offer prayers when times seem right,
A life of prayer is one that lives each moment with the Son,
We pray and love the power found just walking in God's light.
There always will be some that do not seek the living God.
To focus on one's self is always easier for most.
To shift away from self-control, the concept must seem odd,
But life's a prayer for those who live to join the heavenly hosts,
And prayer is so much more than giving thanks to God above.
A prayer is even more than calling out in pain or fear.
Our God is waiting to forgive, relating just with love.
The bonding starts with prayer fulfilled, with God forever near.

Other Worlds in God's Creation

For all the galaxies, there is God.
For every planet, there are plans.
For all that hunger, there is hope.
For all that reason, there is responsibility.
For all that love, there is laughter.
For all that do not, there is mercy.
Do we wonder why?

Why are men and women so self-centered that they believe that humans are the only ones in the universe that God considers to be His children?