For MVB: Allergic, FOWC: Pole, and JusJoJan day 9 (I might write about unicorns later 🙂 ).
I am not allergic to anything,
Except possibly negativity, as that
Can send me into a tailspin.
The rosary, especially with friends,
Acts as my necessary Epi-Pen,
True and trusting prayer a compass
Pointing to the soul’s North Pole:
Holy sanctuary where we are whole.
Today is the traditional Feast of the Epiphany, when the Wise Men arrived to see and worship the baby Jesus. I wrote this Chaucerian stanza on Sunday, when the Epiphany was observed at Mass. The Magi certainly had a sense of anticipation as the journeyed such a long distance to find Jesus, and they were privileged to witness the unfathomable mystery of God becoming a human baby.
Astronomers who’d journeyed from afar
Rejoiced to lay their treasures at His feet,
Trusting there was a Light beyond their star:
True King and God, whom death could not defeat.
In Mary’s arms the Savior they did greet,
Their Lord, their great reward at journey’s end.
Now to all people Christ’s life still extends.
Linked with DVerse OLN.
This poem, made up of 2 cinquains, is for JusJoJan day 3. The word is “abundance,” but the prompt is actually optional. 🙂 I guess one could say that God gives an Abundance of grace. I was inspired by Psalm 42:7.
Deep is
Calling to deep.
Among roaring waters
Ocean waves’ torrents billowing
Is peace:
Beneath
Water’s surface
Is placid quietness.
In storms, remember you’re swimming
In grace.
For JusJoJan day 2, our word is “gobbledygook” (Glad to have spelled that right).
I’m going
To stay —
Even with
Emotions going
Up and down and
God’s plan looking
Like gobbledygook —
It’s a language
I haven’t learned.
Too often I speak
Fear and exhaustion,
Despair — but God
Is there to teach,
And He invites me
To listen.
“Holidays” is the prompt for MLMM’s Tale Weaver from a couple of days ago. One of the questions that our prompter, Stephanie, asked is, “What do holidays mean to you?” so I wrote this sevenling.
In wider society “the holidays” means
Singing about Santa and snowmen,
Feasting with family and, above all, shopping
Whereas to many, and to me, this is the
Mass of Christ’s birth, the reason we
Sing and feast, joyously gift-giving
And it hurts when family does not see.
The first thing I think of when I look at the word “Memento” is always, “Memento Mori” — “Remember you will die.” Isn’t that such a fun thing to think about on Christmas? Thinking more about it, however, I realized it’s more appropriate than one might realize: Yes, today is a joyous day when Jesus was born, but He came into the world to save humanity, because everyone was lost without Him. He came into the world, ultimately, to die in a horrible way and then to conquer death by rising again.
As a newborn child, Jesus was placed in a manger — a place where animals ate from. This foreshadowed Him becoming the Bread of Life and giving us Himself.
I’m not a theologian, but that’s just what I’m thinking of, reflecting on Jesus’s birth and the fact that, because He is God, he knew the reason for which He came, even from the first instant. Even His birth foreshadows His death. Thankfully, “Memento Mori” does not have to be too dark of a phrase because death is not the end; death is only a new beginning.
This is a photo that I took this morning before Mass. I was struck by the fact that, among all the Christmas trees and happy decorations, Jesus was on the crucifix. Interesting juxtaposition, yet very appropriate.
Merry Christmas to everyone, even if you’re not Christian! Happy day! 😀
On this Christmas Eve day, for Fandango’s Flashback Friday, it took me a while to decide what to share. I looked back at many of my posts from past Decembers, and that brought back a lot of memories. It’s always fun to rediscover your own writing. 😀 I found this sonnet from almost exactly 2 years ago; I posted it on Christmas Day of 2019, copied below.
A set of 2 cinquains, linked with FOWC: Smooth.
I fall
In traps again,
Down into the shame pit
Holiness is not a smooth road —
Thankful
You are
Waiting again,
Patience never wears thin
Ready to set me back on track —
Calling
This morning, having filled up my previous poetry notebook, I started a new one. The first poem written in that book is an etheree about my new Advent Wreath. I was sitting right in front of it, so it was easy to be able to think of something. 😁
Lower the Christmas decorations
From their place in the cabinets and rafters,
Raise voices in song and celebration
Even while decorating for that day,
Holding space inside hearts for the
Christ-child to come, even while
Mourning for too many saddening absences.
revivedwriter 