Let my measure be large
Not of cake or pie
Or gold or silver
Or stocks or bonds
Or oil futures
But of
That which I give away
Of love and mercy
Kindness and peace
Forgiveness and acceptance
Then I will be like
My Father in heaven
And what could be better
Than that
© 2011 Julie Clark
“Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Jesus
Thank you for my life
Creator of all life
On this day marking my birth into this world
I acknowledge you
Your goodness
Your love
Your purpose for my life
May I bring you
Joy, honor and glory
May I grow in knowing you
In pleasing you
In becoming more like you
Thank you for the rich blessings
That surround me
That speak to me
Of your tender mercies
I am grateful to be part
Of your creation
Father God
Amen
I know it is officially here
I see the date on my calendar
I have been awakening to the song of birds outside my window with the first light
Blue Jays have begun a nest in my vines
Blossoms blooming finally
The weather has inched up 10 degrees, maybe
But the rain keeps coming here in the Northwest
A few extra sun breaks to keep our hopes up
I still wrap myself up in scarf and warm jacket when I go out
So I plastered a picture of last year’s tulips and bright blue wallpaper on my blog
To cheer me up and remind me
Spring comes every year
Hope is still alive
Even after the hardest, coldest darkest years
Winter will not always be
Frozen, bleak darkness
Will give way again
Slowly, slowly
To buds and blossoms
Songbirds and new life
Light will push back the darkness
Hope is renewed
© 2011 Julie Clark
The world is on fire again
(Mercy for those near the flames)
The earth erupts and heaves its crust
(Mercy for those near the faults)
The oppressed revolt
Powers struggle
Who will be on top?
Who will be on the bottom?
Who will gain?
Who will lose?
(Mercy for those caught in the struggle)
The surface of the earth changes
Mountains fall into the sea
The seas rise with the melting ice caps
(Mercy for us all)
History moves on
One thing remains
Mercy is constant
© 2011 Julie Clark
There are times
When what is required
Is a love so strong
So stout and unshakable
That it is beyond what my heart is able
This is where my heart
First needs to be the sponge
To soak up from the Source
All the love directed to me
And this is a great and eternal love
Unlimited
Then and only then
Am I able
With my expanded heart
To reach across
The glass shard broken relationship
In desperate need of this healing force
© 2011 Julie Clark
Have you ever been in a real fix?
Once traveling in China with three kids and way too many suitcases
We could not get our things to the train on time
Just impossible
All of a sudden a man comes up and says
“Here let me help you!”
And he did
And we got on our train
And then we wondered
Where did he come from?
Or
I love it when I get to be someone’s angel
This morning a dad and his young son
Out looking for breakfast
No one opens for breakfast around here until nine
I gave them some extra yogurt and bananas
The boy gave me a big smile
Sometimes we get real angels
When we are in dire straights
And there is no one else close enough to pull in for the job
Or listening to that little nudge inside
I know I saw one once
He even was playing a flute to prove it
© 2011 Julie Clark
Walking the narrow path
A knife’s edge from the abyss
Every one of us has been there
At one time or another
Truly
Only a miracle
Keeps us going
One perilous step following the other
Our eyes steady ahead
Our hearts racing
Until the danger passes
And the path widens again
Green pastures on one side
A stream of cool water on the other
Not everyone makes it
And I don’t know why
© 2011 Julie Clark
Did someone tell you it was easy?
They lied.
This is where we roll up our sleeves
And engage in the hard work of love.
It does not just happen.
We need to learn it.
Children need to learn it.
It isn’t always pretty.
Have you noticed?
Not a one of us is perfect.
Don’t give up.
Fathers, Mothers engage your children.
Teach them the art of:
Conversation
Boundaries
Respect.
Patience and Kindness are our friends.
They guide us along the path.
Children need to be taught by the ones who love them the most.
Not once,
Not twice,
But all of their growing up years.
Challenging?
Indeed.
This is not a path for the faint of heart.
But don’t worry.
Even the faintest of hearts can be revived.
I know.
I have one.
© 2010 Julie Clark
City of green windows
Prosperity and success behind those windows
Far east meets far west
Meets far out and away from home for many
Struggling immigrants
Meets Christmas pageants
Old meets new
Again and again
Violence breaks out in the neighborhood
While we are sleeping
The pressure was in the air as we parked our car
Dreaming that night of a lost baby, lost hope
Their spirits grow faint
Their enemies are great
Will the residents tucked away
Safely in their comfortable homes
Lend a hand to the struggling ones
I met some who are
The uncertainty of the darkness is confusing
Distorting reality
The voices in the mist
Some malevolent
Lead the immigrants on paths
Deeper into darkness and fear
© 2010 Julie Clark
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