The 60-Second Sabbath

Current Affairs

  • This Dog

    This dog–    weary of the festivities,    quite over the pounding music,        the outlandish costumes,        the parade of ragged self-esteem,        the buckets full of empty– yes, this dog has had enough,and just wants to get hometo… Continue reading

  • On to Celebration

    Now is the time for celebration–yes, we have experienced loss,but we are not diminished. We have joined unsteady handsand pulled each other through. If not stronger, we are wiser,having found life in death,hope in sadness,God in one another. Yes,now it… Continue reading

  • No Warranty

    I'm sorry,but who told you,life should be easy? Clearly you have not readthe instruction manual. For the first two years or soit will appear is ifit's all about you,and those around youwill allow you this illusion.But from then on,you'll be… Continue reading

  • The Truth Beyond

    Jesus did not point to himself.Jesus pointed to the Truth beyond himself.Don't get stuck with making Jesus    the sum and total of your faith.This is not what he wants,not according to the gospels. Don't get stuck,if you are of… Continue reading

  • The Winds

    The winds of changeblow hard,relentlessly.Our ship pitches and yaws,sliding up and over the swells,the anchor clawing at the bottom,desperate to hold,to lock us in place. What if,instead,we hoist the anchor,unfurl the sailsand allow this unsettling galeto drive us onward? Text… Continue reading

  • At Sunset

    I stand barefootat the balcony door,looking outas evening  settles the city. Already the condo has filledwith shadows,some gray, like memory,others darker, like regret. If I am king of this castle,lord of this manor,why do I feel like a squatter,a pretender… Continue reading

  • The Hope of Failure

    Everything outsidehas to fail you,disappoint you,stop functioning,no longer be true. Then, finally,you go insideand find the depth of things…grace and mercy,God,your uncomplicated, worthy, gently held self.  Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading

  • Boundaries

    Last nightas I lay awake thinking about work,I finally took a stand: "Look, work," I said,"enough is enough.I will give you my daylight hours;I will allow you to consume my consciousnessfor ten or more hours each day,but that is all.You… Continue reading

  • Labeling

    I have good news for you,the label-makers:     You can stop.    Up/down,    good/bad,    us/them,    Christian/not,    conservative/liberal…    you hereby have permission to stop! And what a reliefto cease the endless, unnecessary labeling!Think of the time and energy you'll save!Thing of the good you're now freed to do! Hold… Continue reading

  • The Diet

    The ego hungers,gorging itselfon what feeds its insecurity. Why are we starvingin a worldabundantwith beauty and benevolence?     Stop bingeing on nothing,    and the ego dies;    the real you    finally lives,    nourished by what matters. This is a dietto die for.  Text and… Continue reading