Gratitude
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Today
I am grateful,gracious God,for the gift of this day–undeserved, unearned. Thousands in this worldweren't given this day.For thousands,yesterday was it. Why me? Who among uswill receive the giftof tomorrow? And if we do,will we be grateful? Text and image ©… Continue reading
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Making Progress
I review my spiritual journey: I needed clarity then.I need mystery now. I needed definition then.I live in the vast Open now. I needed safety then.I am falling now, ever upward. Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All… Continue reading
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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
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Hiking with Death
Climbing the trail,I'm joined by a young woman. We chat,observing the shift toward winter,the changing colors,the increasing coolness,how this path of gravelwill soon be packed with snow,rutted by cross-country skis,pocked with snow-shoe tracks. "Your name?" I ask. "My friends call… Continue reading
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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
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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
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Gloria in Excelsis Deo!
Let your Christmas gloriasresound long and loudlyinto this new year. Why save them for December? Gloria in excelsis Deo! Are you afraid you may run out? Gloria in excelsis Deo! Such is not the nature of… Continue reading
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Aging
Growing old?I can handle such.Growing up?Well, not so much. Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading
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Christmas, Day 12
And so the festive season ends. We bid farewell to these our friends:the carols, lights and Christmas greens,the pause recalling what it means to live with gratitude and hope,the attitudes that help us cope with one more year… Continue reading
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Christmas, Day 9
Hold my hand,for I am frightened:what if, just this once,Christmas doesn't come? We draw toward midnight;our candles burn low.How do we continueif Christmas doesn't come? The clock strikes the hour,the earth sighs beneath us–a sigh of sweet relief.Christmas has come.… Continue reading