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clcouch123

In conversation, I prefer Christopher. My mom named me after Christopher Robin, after all. In writing, I use “C L Couch” (or, more simply, “c l couch”) because the form is genderless and also frankly easier to use. I have awful writer’s cramp. I am an educator more or less retired, more or less due to disability. At present, I live in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania (USA). My writing here I mean to be occasional and also devotional. Either or both. The banner and profile photographs are by my friend and peer Debra Danielson. More of Debbie’s work to be enjoyed is at debradanielson.org. Thanks to each of you and both and all for coming to my blog.

Psalm 16, a song of (USA) Thanksgiving (Day)

Psalm 16
a song of (USA) Thanksgiving (Day)

The Canadians had their day already.
I wonder if that’s because they’re
more easily, readily thankful.

In the USA, there’s so much to
be thankful for. I grew up in
Pittsburgh, and I like returning
there. Pittsburghers tend to
speak their minds, and their
minds are good. (Their driving’s
better, too.)

I have family. The five of us with
spouses, children of the new
generation, and pets (old, new). We
are scattered, which is sad, though
in our ways we keep in touch.

Friends I have, a small circle. And
I have made it smaller. Not the
happier of moves. But the friends
I have I cherish. They are good
for me, so good. They circle out
in nearness, which is the sense of
those we know and how and when.

I live alone and often feel the
peace of that. (I first typed pace
for peace, and I enjoy that too.)
I sleep badly, which means I have
hours of the day to be awake
and doing such as this. Would
someone else put up with that?

Hannah, my cat of nineteen
years. She is gone now, and
eighteen years were pretty good.
Then she faded fast. Not bad,
all in all. She was the queen and
I her knave. She ruled in blessed
benevolence, scolding me for what
is apt within the catly-noble
mind (which means daily
reprimand for not mind-reading
every whim). Still good, good-humored
company. Now a loss, though better
she go first. She awaits me on the other
side, ready to scold me what else I
missed in mortal time.

Mostly. I have you. Lord, I
know you love me anyway and
always. You love me in darkness
and in light. I am perpetually
astounded. And, yes,

thankful for this, all this, the
plenty that you give.

Thank you, Lord—Love, me

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20 Things I’ve Learnt in my 20 Years

It’s a fantastic list, as I say to the writer.

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Psalm 15, a song of youth

Psalm 15
a song of youth

I am young
I have strength
But not enough ideas

I am not stupid
I am normal, speaking to
A median

I learn, I grow
There is much I
Need to figure out

I often don’t know how to
Ask for help, though it’s
Natural that I need it

If I ask, will
You hear me?

Can you see me
Look through my
Fears I sometimes
Mask with

Something hard or difficult?

Listen to me, please
Try

Hear us
Even when we don’t know
How to ask

We are young, after all
We usually like the edge of it
Though sometimes we fall

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Psalm 14, a song of science

Psalm 14
a song of science

We are on other worlds
Landed, roving, or curiosity
Simply in magnificently
Passing by

In machines, sending signals
We could not make if we were
Not, at least in part, ready
To learn, to hear

What signs might come
Back? Who sees our silvery
Craft, who hears our signals
In the heaven’s spheres? Who
Would touch our sky as
We touch theirs? Lord of

The universe, if we are not
Ready, we are here
Nonetheless—send us through

Grace in the vacuum of
Space the next companionship
We crave

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Psalm 13, a song of experience

Psalm 13
a song of experience

Experience in the world has
Wounded and split
Any wholeness that I was

Parts of me are cared for
Parts are not

When I behave
Or when I don’t
I am fed and often
Comforted, even when
I don’t know how to ask
For this

There might be a price
But there are those who
Ask for nothing that
I know of
(Maybe later)

I have age and scars
Sometimes I don’t mind
But some wounds never
Heal, and pain can drive
Me away from everyone else

And you

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not in praise of artificial

not in praise of artificial
inspired by “Good Things” by angieinspired

everything that’s natural is good
of course, that’s not true
tell it to a hurricane

a mindless celebration of water
and force that would as indifferently
snuff out the candle of your life
as it might look at you

which it won’t, because
it does not care, it can’t
it’s only being

natural

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Thee Bee of Mee, inspired by a typo

Thee Bee of Mee
inspired by a typo

Tut-tut rain, Christopher Robin
Says because he wants to fool the
Bees into distraction so that his
Mud-cloud bear might swipe honey

From their tree; the bear so-loved
Is grasping a balloon, and bear
And balloon are lifted up toward
A relished but unplanned

Reward of something sweet and
Lasting ‘til the next time the bear
Wants honey—I love the stories
And was named for the bear’s
Boy, who also went down to

The palace with Alice

Paraphrase
Of A A Milne—life by
Christopher Robin
And by me

Tut-tut rain, we say

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Psalm 12, a song out of the silence

Psalm 12
a song out of the silence

I wait in quiet
It is the hour
Before dawn

What duties might
They be performing
Young priests in an
Ancient time

Extinguish fires of night
Light the daylight blaze
Against the artificial
Dark inside the temple

I have no calling such
As they, no memory
Of holy invitation to
Something purposeful

I sit, and it is quiet
It’s dark, and I wish
I had something good to
Do in this new day, as
Those who served
A sacred purpose
In an ancient time

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Writing Prompt [response]: Do you think that it is important to share? Describe in detail another way for you and others to share–to give to people around you.

“there are ways that others need our presences, too”

“in reality, we throw gold mines into the trash”

by Jacki Kellum

Do you think that it is important to share? Describe in detail another way for you and others to share–to give to people around you.

Presence as Presents

by C L Couch

On this Thanksgiving, I won’t be with family. I’ll be dining with neighbor friends. And I’ll be cat-sitting for other friends who will be away enjoying a family reunion of sorts.

I’ll be bringing nothing to my own activities except myself, my choice, and time. I will feed the cats then visit with them, and they will ignore me. I will sit with my neighbors, enjoying the company of children and of parents. Then I will go home, alone.

When others do this—providing nothing but themselves—I call this the ministry of presence. (So do others, too.) When I used to work with youth, I surprised my ignorance of talent with an asset of simply being there. I didn’t what to say to youth, then discovered that wasn’t the important part. The important part was reliable company. Youth needed to know that someone, ideally someone without an agenda, would be there this time and probably the next.

So that’s how I share. And I imagine how anyone can. I will say that I’m a trained and active listener, which helps in interaction of any kind—even with indifferent cats. But if anyone shows up without self-preoccupation and then maybe shows up the next time. Well, that’s sharing. That’s even ministry.

Yes, I guess it means going beyond merely eating food and watching the game. But not much more. Talk with those, a little, who are there. More importantly, listen to what anyone has to say.

So Happy Thanksgiving to the relatively inert, as I will be. Happy presence to all. And, to all, a could night.

(image credit, http://www.usb-resources.org from Google Images)

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