life
-
Shutting Down the Device
"Are you sure you want to shut down the device?" That's the question asked of meby my Sony e-Reader.And for a momentI'm not sure how to respond–it sounds so final:"…shut down the device?"It has the feeling of dissolution and death:"Are… Continue reading
-
“The Least Conspicuous Miracles”
Photographer Robert Adamsencourages us to walkat "a pace that allows regardfor the least conspicuous miracles."He urges us to develop"a kind of friendship with things." I wish I'd written those lines;I hear the poet within the photographer. And indeed, Adam's photographycaptures those least… Continue reading
-
Advent 9
"Leave the dead to bury the dead," Jesus says,which means that some of uswalk about devoid of life. "Join the company of the living,the compassionate, the wonder-filled!" Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading
-
Midlife Wedding Day
We shall spend our lives together.I feel rather more certain of this at 58,than I could have at 25 or 40. We shall be together when one of us dies–not a morbid thought, but comforting:either I will hold you,or you me,and one… Continue reading
-
John 11
It begins as a Halloween momentfit for John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Rob Zombie–Lazarus stumbling from the tomb,tripping over loose graveclothes that droop like soiled underwear. The people's averted gazes and cries of horrorturn to wide-eyed astonishmentand that goose-bumpy, gaspy feeling you… Continue reading
-
What Have You Been Doing?
What have you been doing all day? Trying to find meaning.Seeking to settle.Searching out words and images that capture one moment's truth– one simple insight– one fleeting, tenuous slip of something to hold before it escapes, … Continue reading
-
That Which Is Next
That which is next for youlurks around the corner,ready to pounce.You can hide, resist, fight–but it sill comes:illness, unemployment, conflict, loneliness. Or you could say,"That which is next–I'm ready to greet you.We will be companions.I may not best you,but I… Continue reading
-
Escape Pod
She lived a life of preparation–righteously aloof,never stepping on cracks,gripping purity,talons sunk deep into the Word,over-atoning for the occasional slip-up. She built her escape podjust large enough for one(well, two perhaps, if you include Jesus–small enough to fit in the… Continue reading
-
Alchemy
Alchemy in a Cambodian factory–jingle bells createdfrom the remnants of roadside bombs. This holidaythe jingling you hearmay be the transmutationof intended dismemberment and deathinto delight and life. This is redemption. Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights… Continue reading
-
Sabbath
We all need Sabbath:recovery, reconnection, reconstruction.Our vocations inflate like balloonsnear to bursting.Our avocationsevolve into obligations.Social media demandsinstant responsiveness.We are not built for this. Stop. For a day, or two hours, or just 15 minutes…for God's sake,for your sake,for the sake… Continue reading