#TDWC: Battered Door

Thank you, Teagan Geneviene, for this sonnet’s inspiration. Darkest Angel, why do you haunt my soul? Is passage into depths of hell your goal? Standing in the way of a glowing light Darkening the path of a greater might Good Father, I ask you, come rescue me Hurt in a torn world, peace I cannot see Unlatch the battered beige door and step through Bring hope to earth of brown and sky of blue Shadows of gray weave up andRead more

The Measure of Humanity

In a beloved episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, a cyberneticist arrives on the starship Enterprise with the intention of dismantling Data, the android, for scientific discovery and for the goal of creating more androids like him. Data would not survive this, and when he tries to give up his commission as an officer so they cannot order him to submit, Data is told he is not human and cannot make that decision for himself. He is a machine.Read more

A Winter’s Psalm

Frigid winter is my torment; I shall not want.     I lie wrapped in a cocoon of a comforter’s warmth, a sleeping cat lays still beside me.     Frigid gnaws at my shivering soul. He lures me outside in evil deceit     for a frozen winter’s sake. I trudge through drifts of plow’s leavings,     and fear the ice underneath, for there is no one with me     to right a body when it falls.     Frigid cannot comfort me where I lie. Winter prepares arrivalRead more

Christmas and the Gift

“And when we give each other Christmas gifts in His name, let us remember that He has given us the sun and the moon and the stars, and the earth with its forests and mountains and oceans–and all that lives and move upon them. He has given us all green things and everything that blossoms and bears fruit and all that we quarrel about and all that we have misused–and to save us from our foolishness, from all our sins,Read more

We Ask that Life be Kind

“Guide us with your graceTo a place where we’ll be safe.” From “The Prayer,” written by David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager, Alberto Testa and Tony Renis. You may know the original by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli, but I’ve been obsessing over the latest recording of “The Prayer” by Pentatonix. It’s on their latest Christmas CD, Evergreen. In this holiday season, whether you find yourself religious or not, celebrate Christmas or not, my wish (and prayer) for you is oneRead more

Blessings and Boxing Day

“Hey buddy, what are you doing?” “What do you mean what am I doing?” Can’t you see I’m requesting a belly rub through trust and the lure of cuteness.” “Well, you certainly are adorable, Gibbs. A lover, not a fighter.” “I don’t fight, I play. And sleep. And kindly request food. And let you loudly know when I left something in the litter box.” “Yeah, that last one. You are a blessing to me, buddy, but I don’t need thatRead more

Steadfast in Hope

Yesterday, during church service, Pastor Shawn talked about being steadfast in our faith during life’s trials, and the everlasting hope that it can bring. Whether you are Christian, of a different faith, or not religious at all, there is a message here, one I’ve tried to intertwine in a sonnet. I hope you find its value. We walk this path between hope and despair In life, in trials, our choices not plain Fueled by action, sentiment or prayer Minds veerRead more

Heavenly Music

A recent Facebook post by a friend: “What if, when you get to heaven, you don’t like the music?” My answer: “I think Jesus might like a little Journey and ‘Don’t Stop Believing’.” Or perhaps “Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum would be more to his liking. Here’s hoping I get to heaven because I fear hell plays heavy-metal, head-banging music, 24/7. Very loudly. Readers, have a wonderful Wednesday and let me know in the comments what song you’dRead more

#SoCS: Undone

Who am I that I breathe and live upright? Under constellation of blazing stars Staring at the morning’s first rays of light Living in a world filled with mixed bizarre Who am I to be counted in the fold One of his sheep that grazes over time A child from a rib, neither young nor old Waiting for forgiveness of one’s own grime Who am I standing here in pondered pause Faith borne of hope in a fragile abode WhileRead more

Visible in Love

“What if the only example of God’s love your neighbor will ever see is you?” ~Pastor Shawn Whitworth~ For Christians and non-Christians alike, loving a neighbor or another human being can be difficult at times. We are humans, after all, with egos, steadfast opinions, self-righteousness, fearfulness and unwarranted condemnation that allow us to flow along with inappropriate behavior toward others rather than love unconditionally. During Easter week, I am reminded that Christ died for our sins and gave us eternalRead more

What Lingers Forever

When in grade and high school, I earned “nicknames” from a certain few. Twiggy, Jolly Green Giant, and variations of my last name. At the time, I was thin and tall for my age (5’9″ by 9th grade) and my last name was not a simple “Smith” that everyone knew. I also was picked on for wearing glasses and an overbite, neither of which helped with personal esteem or confidence in self. I was never self-assured in school, never partRead more

A Social Media Christmas?

Question… What if the birth of Jesus had been witnessed on social media? What would people have posted on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and elsewhere? Perhaps a picture like the one above with the hashtag #HolyMotherofGod! How about #miracle or #Hehascome Maybe #smellyanimals or #furrybeasts Or #threehandsomewisemen, #aretheysingle There might have been video of a baby crying or donkeys braying. Images of things that we probably should never see. Or Joseph telling the guy with the cell phone, “Hey! GiveRead more