Growth
-
Dreaming
At night they come to me–my sister or my father,my mother or her mother–mutually recognizingthat they have diedand that we have,for whatever reason,been given a few more minutes together. Sometimes,I ask questions,because I need to know,to understandmyself. Sometimesit is enough… Continue reading
-
God Undefined
Give me a Godwho's a little bit odd, who strays a bit south of convention,a God made of partsof old broken hearts, a God of unnerving invention. I want the Divineto stray from the line and shrug off our tight expectation,a… Continue reading
-
Sophia, Once Again
"Sweetie," she said,"these things aren't happening to you,they're happening for you.There's a big difference." My blank lookmust have communicated my confusion. She patted me on the knee."You just sit with thatwhile I get us some tea." Text and image © 2014… Continue reading
-
Labyrinth
Imagine a metaphor for your life: jungle cruise? trial by jury? Country Buffet? roller coaster? I choose labyrinth: in which I occasionally glimpse the goal, approach, turn away, double back, reorient, begin again;… Continue reading
-
Dark Chocolate
The bitter cuts the sweet,yields the richest, most satisyfing experienceon the tongue. So like life. Text and image © 2014 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading
-
Seeing Good
Today,right now,make the decisionto see the good around you: beauty, kindness, color, play, love, diversity, possibilities. Observe the goodfor just 15 minutesand you will be calmer, more focused, more creative, … Continue reading
-
Attraction
It's never been the fear of hellthat draws our hearts to God.Imagine not fear functions so–how hazardous! how odd! Useless is the threat of painwhen hearts are hardened stone.What thaws our frozen hearts toward Godis love and love alone. Text… Continue reading
-
Conviction
Let your doubts be known, embrace them, articulate them,but find your convictions as well, embrace them, articulate them. The paradoxical beauty of the holy lifeis having permission to stand firmwhile losing the need to be right. Text and… Continue reading
-
Growing
What a mess the world is in,filled with sorrow, death and sin,so much suffering, greed and hate,wrathful nature, cruel fate.Why would God allow it so? "Even God has room to grow." Text and image © 2014 by Dirk deVries. All… Continue reading
-
Fault Lines
We all have fault lines– hidden veins of weakness, those places where, when stressed, we are most likely to crack. Patch them with holy spackle: bread and wine, exchanged embraces, stillness. Text and… Continue reading