New Moon

 

They Were Dancing in the Desert

 

A year ago, I was stunned, horrified, and heartbroken by the barbarous October 7th attacks in Israel. These attacks ignited a wider conflict in the region bringing enormous suffering to thousands of innocent people of different faiths and values. It continues today, a year later, with no sign of peace in sight. As I remember the lives lost, I pray for healing for their families, the end of hostilities, and the return of the remaining hostages.

Of all the terrible and tragic events of the last year, the one that haunts me most is what happened a year ago today at the Supernova Music Festival. 

They Were Dancing in the Desert

They were dancing in the desert
They were singing to a song
They were happy, they were healthy
A joyful youthful throng
 
They were dying in the desert
They were running for their lives
They were hiding, they were falling
The shots coming from all sides
 
No matter your beliefs
No matter which side you're on
Can this slaughter of innocents
Be anything but wrong?

 

 

Holding On

 

While wandering around a tourist town with family, my great nephew, age two and a half, became tired of holding his father's hand. He wanted to run free and go in any direction that took his fancy. 

His father offered to switch hands. "No hands," came the defiant reply accompanied by a vigorous shake of the head. On being told that he must hold hands to stay safe, he looked up at his father hopefully and said, "Hold my own hand."

I thought about how often I had done the same, refusing to hold God's hand, doing it grudgingly, or trying to pull away to follow my own direction. 

Lord Take My Hand

By C.S. Post

 

Lord, take my hand

And guide me through today

O’er rugged land

And down the narrow way

With You I’ll stand

And try to trust and stay

 

We've had some dramatic sunrises lately. I'm an early riser and enjoy being out with the dogs just before dawn. I live in a subdivision but just across the highway is open rugged land belonging to the Santa Ana Pueblo. As the area around me becomes more developed, I am increasingly appreciative of having the wild nearby. 

Coyote Serenade

At just before dawn
Nearly every morn
I hear coyotes yip and howl
 
Across the highway
So close yet far away
They sing their soulful serenade
 
My Cassie’s ears perk
As she stands on alert
And emits a low warning growl
 
Though our lives seem tame
Wild remains all the same
Beyond a fragile barricade

Summer arrived this week. Here in New Mexico, it brought dramatic weather (hail the size of limes) and devastating wildfires. I'm hoping it got all that nasty stuff out of its system and things can calm down so we can enjoy the season.

Summer

Triple digits and chirping crickets
Summer has arrived
Evening barbeques and swimming pools
Lots of time outside
 
Sunflowers and afternoon showers
Picnics at lakeside
Poisonous plants and stinging red ants
Bugs I can’t abide
 
Vacation days and sunsets ablaze
Weekly chores can slide
As we sit back and peacefully track
Summer’s long hot ride 

Sudden Stops

 This week I unexpectedly lost a very dear friend.  

Sudden Stops

Sudden stops can be jarring
We expect bumps along life’s road
We expect hills to be climbed
We anticipate the long way down
A slow and steady decline
But when death comes abruptly
Like slamming on the brakes
It jerks us with the sudden shock
Of the loss and what it takes

In memory of Jackie Haile. Lover of books, mystery television shows, travel, Scotland, her dogs, and most of all, her husband and life companion, Jim. She will be deeply missed.

May Days

May is one of my favorite months. Spring is in full swing and the daylight lasts well into the evening hours.

May Days

In April we can still get snow
By June it’s much too hot
May is a bridge between the two
Spring’s apex and sweet spot
 
Seventies slide into Eighties
It’s light ‘til after Eight
The windy air turns warm and dry
Clouds just evaporate
 
Roses bloom in great profusion
The trees are fully dressed
Hummingbirds dart hither thither
Bees join the nectar quest
 
Spring’s new growth is ready to launch
A graduation say
So much promise and potential
Is on display in May