Peace
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To Essence
Say yes to the River;relax in its flow;agree to the journeywherever it goes. Let go of the tiller;let slip both the oars.Stop looking landward;break free of both shores. Calm stretches await you–and rapids and falls,and eastward the Ocean's heartbeckons and… Continue reading
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Haiku 2
silent, dusty roomsphotographs stand sentinelancestors whisper Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading
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Impermanence
Even the finest things,those we treasure most,are meant to fray, unravel and pass away: my grandmother's hand-stitched coverlet, the scarf I knitted for my mother in third grade, my father's favorite flannel shirt, friendships, … Continue reading
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Fox of Heaven
With your gentle jawscarry me by my neck's scruffout of the bitter coldback to the warmth of the denwith its root walls and familiar smells. Drop me with my siblingsso we squirm and settle,safe with each otherand with you, almighty… Continue reading
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Forgiveness
Want to reduce stress? lower blood pressure? release anger? relieve depression?Want to feel more optimistic? hopeful? compassionate? physically energized? All will be yoursif you forgive. You're the one who suffersif you do not. We… Continue reading
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God’s Lap
Oh, to curl in God's lapthe way my cat curls in mine,to feel a strong hand steadying my side,to feel breath rise and falldeeper, slower than mine. Oh, to trust so completely.Oh, to so melt. And when God gets up to… Continue reading
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Training
This is practice,and I am in training. I meditate,and the mind jumpslike a caffeinated kangaroo. This is practice,and I am in training. I breathe,feel the equanimity,until someone in the officepushes one of my several buttons. This is practice,and I am… Continue reading
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Happy Cat
Two paws knead the air–Open, extend, close, withdraw,Repeat. Pure contentment. Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading
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Beings of Light
"I am surrounded by beings of light,"he said, and then,"Can you see them?" I could not,though I did not doubt him;as surely as he was here,they had to be here, too–had to!—to comfort him, certainly,perhaps to lead him along. Then,… Continue reading
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Another Take on Justice
Justice,for God,is restorative,not retributive. When his detractorswanted Jesusto condemn,to punish,he insteadforgives,restores,takes it backto before the offense. This is God's justice–not the slow burn in hellbut the time machine returnto original oneness. Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All… Continue reading