Growth

  • Gray Cloud

    What is this gray cloudlaying waste my will to write?From whence comes this murky, impenetrable malaiseblocking my photographer's vision? I feel trapped,alien to my own mind,estranged from my heart,a foreigner in my body.This is not me. So where have I… Continue reading

  • The Mystery of Our Faith

    Christ has died.     I am lost in memory,    in the traditions of my family and faith,    in a past that both comforts and cuts,    that hounds and heals.    But the past is necessarily   … Continue reading

  • Good Friday, 2013

    Train mein the fine and necessary grace    of dying. Teach meto paint the watercolor wash    of my own decay,to draw in delicate detail    my inevitable deterioration,to compose my private melody    of loneliness and loss. Then I shall be ready    for resurrection,to be the me    imagined at the… Continue reading

  • Maundy Thursday, 2013

        She huddles on the shore,feet buried in moist sand,cold to the bone, but rooted.     The waves pull at each other,slide up and over rocks,recoil and echo,slosh and hiss.     She feels awash and adrift,tasting a salt seabroader and deeperthan human need.  … Continue reading

  • John 8:31-32

    When Truth sets us free,she  frees usto re-imagine everything,including Truth. Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading

  • The Confrontation

    "Oh, my gawd!"she squealed."It's Jesus!" And it was,standing in the doorway,just as we'd finished another verse of"Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee." "What are you doing?" he asked. "We were just singing about you,"I said."Every week we…well, we praise you." He… Continue reading

  • Undefended

    I standundefended. I cannotbut lovewhat is. What choice have Ibut to discover heavennow,here. Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading

  • The Internal Prophet

    A prophet is dangerous–subversive,threatening the status quo,undermining our security. A prophet is necessary–critical,essential to our growth,preventing stagnation. You are the prophetin the country of your own soul,self calling self    to courage,    to pull up stakes and move–   … Continue reading

  • The Pursuit of Happiness

    Ironically,happiness stands a chancewhen you don't make happiness your goal. Let me say it another way: Happiness is attainableonly when you stop seeking it. Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading

  • Grace Waits

    They are the golden children,the ones for whom doors open,the ones who face few obstacles.And obstacles–when they do appear–can be stepped over or pushed aside,and turn out to be mere annoyancesthat barely impede their progress. And then, one day,the earth… Continue reading