Categories
Inspiration

Exploding into the Night

man with fireworks
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Tonight I was drawn and had to go outside as the sounds started, increasing and building upon one another into the night. Fireworks from everywhere, all at once. A great sense of unity and singularity of purpose washed over me in the atmosphere as I stood in the darkness and raised my hands with my heart toward Heaven imagining and seeing something extraordinary…

Near and far away I hear them exploding into the night.

Great ones, lesser ones, all works of fire launching up into the sky,

Spangled against the stars.

And I imagine a unity among them all, a common work

As if they were fiery prayers finding their explosive paths

Up into the heavens …

A great rushing together with singularity of purpose,

And simultaneous perseverance

With the passion of hearts afire.

Prayer missiles enroute to the keeper and sender of consuming flames,

Crying out for this country, on their mission to break through…

That Heaven’s fire be sent to hit its mark

in the corporate heart of this nation, igniting the truth of her identity.

Let true freedom burn in the darkness

Never…to be extinguished from within, a dimly smoking reed.

Near and far away I hear them. I am joined to them

As a great purposeful singularity of intensity is raised…

Prayer bombs exploding into the night,

Exploding into the night.

Categories
Remembering

Summer Night Sky Swim

northern lights over mountain and forest
Photo by Mohan Reddy Atalu on Pexels.com

Once upon a summer evening I slipped into the world of silent water for a swimming encounter in the late hours. I laid back into the aquatic starlight and gazed up through the trees at planet Mars amidst the majesty of the night sky. The quiet wonder was overwhelming and freeing. I will never forget it.

Like a hanging lantern

in the midnight sky,

The red planet

Through the trees

Peeks, winks,

Plays hide and seek with me.

Starlight on the night water

Wraps itself around me.

Lying back upon it,

I float. I’m held.

I’m free.

Categories
Inspiration

Encountering July

The month of July is like a gift to me. Being my birth month, it always brings poignant remembrances, gratitude and revisiting an evaluation of life. In midst of that, we journey every year to The Adirondack mountains where life becomes simpler and closer to the earth. We live under the stars, celebrate streaking meteorites and breathe in the regenerating pine scent after the rain. Morning sun streaming through the green woods overhead can bring simple, inspiring moments like word snapshots in time. This is about one of them.

July has put on her greenery and the luminescence of the Northern woods is brilliant upon her petals and peeking through her radiant boughs.

Adirondack sun has sought me out as he intentionally focuses on me, streaming down through cathedral pines that encircle my encampment.

I lean back, with my face turned upward, my senses taking in all the nuances of the moment when the favor of surreal beauty is meeting with me in a supernatural exchange of deep unto deep.

July has put on her Edenic greenery and I rest in her shadow, as together we behold true glory.

Categories
Musing About Life

Fireworks

multicolored fireworks on night sky
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Here in the Northeast we await Summer like a dear friend returned for a lovely visit. The days linger longer and life takes it’s time to be enjoyed. The 4th of July jubilantly ushers in this wondrous time when we can be like children again and take in the delight of the sight, sound and glory of fireworks. As a girl, I remember hearing the last ones of the night in the distance as I clung to the final moments of imagining their launches into the sky. In this reflection, past, present and future all run together in a timeless parade of fireworks in the now. Come… and celebrate Summer with me !

Fireworks in the distance,

Fireworks in the night,

Their magic grows more wondrous

Even when they’re not in sight.

And Summer makes her entrance

Upon the gentle breeze

While fireflies bow down to her

And flit around her knees.

Fireworks.

Categories
Poetry

My Firefly Friend

yellow and black butterfly perched on green plant
Photo by Flash Dantz on Pexels.com

The child’s heart in me stands on tiptoe every late June and early July evening, searching for the return of the fireflies. They come to decorate my yard and adjoining woods in a celebration of wonder that is unparalleled. There is something almost supernatural about them in their radiant simplicity and jubilant dance. I dedicate this childlike poem to them in the hope that you will go outside on this summer evening to imbibe their inspiration. Enjoy.

My firefly friend is such a sight.

He comes to visit me in the night.

Carrying his lantern on his tail

to attract the fancy of the flying female.

Winging upward on breezes afar

He shimmers in wonder, becoming a star.

My firefly friend is an enchanting delight

He comes to visit me in the night.

Categories
Remembering

The Magic of Rain Storms

blue body of water with orange thunder
Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com

Rain storms. There is something magical, healing, releasing, restorative and comforting about them.

A colorful stream of memories tumbles around itself and carries me back to a cozy front porch next door to my childhood home. My adopted grandmother, Mrs. Brundidge, invites me to enjoy a summer rainstorm with her. A green wicker rocker moves me back and forth to the rhythm of the showers, carrying me into the breathless wonder of thunder anticipated. Together, the two of us simply enjoy and marvel. Sometimes my sister joins us and the three of us are transported to a place of amazement, carried on the wafting rain-scented currents.

Life’s stories rolled on. As Nat King Cole sang about the “Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer,” our cottage on the water was transformed into an extraordinary nature observatory at the approach of a balmy storm. Sitting cozily in a screen-enclosed kitchen, I could breathe in the perfumed air and anticipate the coming light show. I watched the weather move intentionally across the sky over the limitless lake like a dark curtain sweeping the day away, decorating the humid air with brocades of lightning dancing from cloud to cloud.

In the growing up times of emotional darkness, unexpected relief relief was to be found in the approach of a powerful rainstorm. A cathartic release happened on the inside of me as nature unharnessed her majestic presence in the atmosphere around me. My inner world made sense for a while as it rained and stormed on the outside. The weather mirrored what was in my soul. Somehow I felt understood as comfort soaked into and soothed my deep places.

As I journeyed into marriage and motherhood, there was nothing like an untamed Adirondack rainstorm to clean out all my soul’s senses. To be safely tucked in for the night with my little ones, listening to the tapping of the drops on the roof was a magical place to tell stories by flashlight and freshly release pine scented air. All of this was forever stored in the scrapbook of my imagination.

And tonight while I sit in twilight ‘neath a canopy on our deck, the birds are talking and taking cover in the trees in midst of a premier summer rain storm. Alone in my space with candles to keep me company, we revel in the approaching thunder while gentle soaking rain cleanses, feeds, heals, releasing life … and I write.

Yes. There is something almost supernatural about a good rain storm. Thank-you, Mrs. Brundidge.

closeup photo of green grass field
Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com
Categories
Musing About Life

Every May I Remember

Being pregnant and carrying my first child was a life-altering discovery for me at the tender age of 23 years. I did not grow up dreaming to be someone’s mother. The journey took me to a place of revelation and transformation that would surprisingly cause me to grow into the person I was meant to be. It would overflow into caring for hundreds, perhaps over a thousand of other women discovering the power of their own life-bearing and birthing journeys. It has been an honor and it all started in the Spring of 1977. Every May, I remember.

Every May I remember the fragrant season of promise

When first I walked in a blooming time

Carrying a ripened load of life, amidst Spring’s bright horoscope.

I wondered how my future, our future, would morph and change

Even as my body cradled the life within

That quickened and leapt with such infinite possibilities.

The young woman in me embraced the new

Even as all of nature seemed to anticipate and reflect

The imminent emergence.

Oh firstborn son of my youth, my heart muses on it still

For when I birthed you, I too was birthed once again.

Every May I remember.

Christine O’Riley

Categories
Poetry

Like

closeup photo of green grass field
Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com

Come share my quiet morning encounter that speaks for itself.

Like the morning dew

shimmering on grass so green

revealing jewels,

Your early presence dresses me

adorns me with refreshment

for this day.

As sacred sun caresses my face

Your brightness illuminates,

beholds my soul

in a clear, easy knowing

of deep unto deep.

Papa.

Categories
Inspiration

The Voice of Another Inside Me that Changed Everything

left human hand photo
Photo by Jonas Ferlin on Pexels.com

About a year ago at this time I was faced with some significant medical questions. Pain in my chest had become an intermittent, random companion. Concerns about my health had always been one of those landing strips where I was particularly vulnerable to worry and fear in the face of the unknown. This specific journey had led me to the brink of some cardiac testing. On this particular day I was to take an exercise-induced stress treadmill test combined with echocardiogram studies. I wondered if my knees could endure the test also. In the morning before this event, I found myself laying it all out before God and really needing to hear from Him. As I waited in the quiet moments that followed, I encountered a voice inside of me that was not my own. It was a kind, confident voice that made me feel safe. I began to write in my journal the words I was hearing that were to change my life. I share those words with you now:

To My Daughter:

I am The Maker of your heart and the Very Spirit of Life Who lives inside you. I am the synchronized beat of your blood and the energy of your being. I am before you and behind you, below you and above you. I surround you with favor like a shield.

I walk with you, I dream with you. In your most vulnerable space, I am there.

Today, when you step onto the treadmill, I will be there. I will be the gait in your step, the breath in your lungs, the endurance in your want-to, the power in your walk.

Know Me there. See Me there. Feel Me there. In Me you live and move and have your being. I am, and always will be … your heart.

Papa.

Postscript: The report of this testing said ” Normal ECG. No evidence of ischemia, tolerated well, above average exercise capacity.”

Thank-you, Papa.

( Incidentally, it turned out to be heartburn as the cause of chest pain. After changing some things, it disappeared.)

Thanks for listening.

Categories
Inspiration

Endorsed to Run

Throughout this very significant week known on the calendar as “Passion Week,” I find myself reflecting on the difference the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has made for my life. The reality of it long ago surpassed a mere place in history and has become the very essence and power of my being. Discovering the secrets of living by the power of another has radically changed me and brought restoration to my truest identity as a well-loved daughter. Because He has finished his life race to Papa God, I am endorsed to run well mine. I am so grateful.

Because You have sat down

at the right hand

of the Throne of God,

I am endorsed to run

the race of my life.

Because of the joy set before you

you endured the cross, despised the shame

and saw me, your joy,

down through the corridor of time

journeying my marathon.

I was set before you then

and so I can live now

specifically, intentionally, endorsed to run

in such a time as this

in the realm of earth,

with all of Heaven backing me,

a crowd of unseen witnesses cheering and watching me.

All because You have sat down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.