Current Affairs

  • Lenses

    As a photographerI know how the choice of lensdetermines the image. We all see through lenses.We are, in fact, the lenses. No longer seeing things as they are,we see thing as we are. ¡Cuidado! Text and image © 2013 by… Continue reading

  • Target Practice

    Last night I dreamthe crowd chooses mefor death. I am to lie on my sidewhile a woman with a rifleshoots at me. I feel the bulletsburn through my shoulder,my side,my chest.With each shotI grow weaker. I do not mind the… Continue reading

  • The Choice Is Yours

    Catherine of Siena tells us, "It's heaven,all the way to heaven.It's hell,all the way to hell." Which road have you chosen? Jesus tells us, "The kingdom is here and now,within you,available to thosewith open eyes and hearts." Where do you… Continue reading

  • We, the Imperfect

    Jesus never slammed the sinners.Jesus never cursed mistakes.Jesus never mocked beginners,leaving chaos in his wake. Only those convinced they'd made itto some arid, righteous peak,leaving all their faults behind them,felt the sting of his critique. We are human, prone to… Continue reading

  • Child of God

    Jesus stands before the crowd.I wonder what he sees.We are, after all, a diverse lot:    Jew, Christian, Muslim, atheist…    man, woman, transgendered…    gay, straight, questioning…    believers, doubters, skeptics, seekers… He reads my mindand begins to pointto… Continue reading

  • Manna

    In this wilderness,wild with uncertainty    and crusty, hard-baked wisdom,we gather bread at dawn,only enough to get us through another long, roasting day,another clay-oven of challenges,another set of imposed tasksimportant to Someone,but mystery to us.  Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries.… Continue reading

  • On Growing Old

    He witnessed the aging of his bodywith detachment–as if it were happening to an uncleor a neighbor. The graying hair,the sagging in the face,the loss of mobility and strength–no, not after a lifetimeof doing it right–eating, exercising, making all the… Continue reading

  • WWJS

    WWJSWho would Jesus shoot? WAWWJCWhich assult weapon would Jesus carry? He lived in a worldas dangerous as ours,this Prince of Peace, then took a bulletto save it. We'd be doomedif he'd returned fire for fire. "Father, forgive them–they know not… Continue reading

  • For Me

    My poems,my photographs–they live for me,    to please me,    to nurture me,    to move me. Through them,I journey onward. Or, perhaps,they manifest for their own sake. Or, perhaps,for God's. Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries.… Continue reading

  • Looking Back on the Day of Epiphany

    So the tree is down and gone for another year.The living room expands, which is a plus,and the furniture breathes deeperand eases back into its familiar placement.  But gone, as well, are the colored lights,the sparkle of ornaments,the friendly jostling… Continue reading