Remembering our moms with gratitude to our Heavenly Father

For our dear moms, we thank You God.
And for their patience we applaud
these ones who persevered with grace
and modeled love with their embrace.

Though far from perfect they were used
to help us heal when we were bruised
from trips and falls and life’s cruel blows
and painful debts from what we chose.

We thank You God for Mother’s touch.
Those gentle hands (we miss so much)
were calloused by all they would do
until their daily tasks were through.

And on this day we reminisce
remembering the moms we miss.
We sing their praise with grateful hearts
for all to us they did impart.

We call You Father and You are
but truth be told You’re greater far
than simply Dad. You’re Mother, too,
with tender mercies ever new.

tune: O Waly, Waly

What are we to make of Bill and Melinda Gates’ divorce?

We thought it was earthquake proof.
But we were wrong.
Although Bill and Melinda’s foundation seemed quite strong,
there apparently were cracks of which we were unaware.

Sadly, the marriage of the Gates has come off its hinges.
Divorce has been declared.
The couple has decided the marriage must end.
But why? For what reason?
Where was the fault responsible for this quake?
Incompatibility?

For my friends Barb and Chuck Snyder
incompatibility was considered
grounds for a great marriage
not cause for dissolution
(or disillusionment).

So why can’t a couple decide to work at their marriage
instead of deciding it should end?
If Microsoft works, can’t most every marriage?

Melinda seemed to be the Yang to Bill’s Ying.
She appeared to be his missing link.
She impressed us as being the head’s heart.
Wasn’t she this hard driver’s software?
It’s hard to understand
why the Microsoft founder lost her.

I pray that what was sadly lost can be recovered,
that what was inadvertently deleted can be restored
and that what was powered-off can be rebooted.

Why awarding Oscars to pretenders is counter intuitive

No, Oscar wasn’t grouchy.
He brought smiles all around.
That little golden statue means first prize.
And those who earned his company
have won a friend for life.
But, strangely, Oscar’s friendship’s based on lies.

Yes, acting is pretending.What he does or what she says
has been scripted as a way to make believe.
Ain’t it funny how we honor
those who do not tell the truth,
those who live a life of pretense to achieve?

And we aren’t all that differentfudging facts to earn some praise.
We have learned to hide true feelings through the years.
We wore masks before we had to (masquerading all along)
in a veiled attempt to win applause and cheers.

Lord, have mercy. Please forgive usfor relying on a script.
We are weary of pretending what we’re not.
Give us courage to be honest
and risk being who we are.
Surely there are those who need just what we’ve got.

Resolutions for Earth Day

On God’s green earth on which we live
we’re called to do our part and give
attention to what robs God’s world
of dignity and health.

On God’s green earth where trash compounds
let’s treat our world like holy ground.
Remove the litter others leave.
Recycle when you can.

On God’s green earth that we call home,
we can’t behave like we’re alone.
We share this place with plants and birds,
with animals and fish.

On God’s green earth where oceans rise
and rivers flow beneath the skies,
we’d best protect to them while we can.
Our water fuels our lives.

On God’s green earth where climate change
can cause our weather to be strange,
we can’t afford to close our eyes
and blindly just pretend.

On God’s green earth, the trees stand tall
and beg for mercy. After all,
if we clear cut and chop at will
we will in time regret.

On God’s green earth we have a choice
to hear our Great Creator’s voice
or close our ears to what God says
and reap what we have sown.

On God’s green earth there is still time.
You do your part and I’ll do mine.
Let’s take responsibility
and do the best we can.

On God’s green earth, I do resolve
that I will be a means to solve
the problems that have plagued our globe.
The planet that we love.

A call for changes in law enforcement

Another death. A cop to blame.
An unarmed black man. Say his name!
What simmered all last summer long
is at the boiling point.

When law enforcement apprehends,
the outcome (way too often) tends
to find the victim victimized
by over-reaching force.

They simply must discover ways
to cuff offenders (or to tase)
instead of shooting for the kill
when killing’s not deserved.