good
God is good
and
gives us good
and teaches us as well
for in
everything might be a lesson
of its own purpose
and
to promote a making thus
a maker
so then nature as gospel
its
good news
in and of itself
though
sometimes it should
appear and feel
and is
indifference
and
what shall be learned
by
scouring tragedy
except to know
that loss
seems to prevail but
by calm days and
seasons
for new growth
does not overwhelm forever
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Walden by Thoreau appeared on 9 August 1854
photo by Lee Jeffs on Unsplash
taste and see
taste anything
and
in the savor
or simply end of hunger
to know
that God is good
having
made all things for food and
us
that in relationship we might exist
and
when there is enough
to thrive
and not
to discount farming
or
cooking or anything by way of preparation
even the stance we take
the setting
for
a meal
a snack
a drink of water
what
have you
throughout everything to keep us alive
there is goodness
from
a good God
who
first made us that way
and
though fallen
we live and consume
and are nourished
then
to rise
and if it’s bread and wine
let
that be enough
to start
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Psalm 34:8
photo by Olga Kovalski on Unsplash
not safe but good
sigh
what’s to keep expression of anything
from ranting in
frustration
even to sound virtuous
and
winsome
as dark forces look attractive
by temptation
as
a strategy for falling
for knocking down by fear or envy
or both
as it is
and yet there is good in the world
not
that it’s good but there are pockets
there are corners
there is
here and there with some
and could be
more
to let out hounds who yap for joy of running
farther out
and
further on
really
there is
love
that nature in the smaller ways
has taught
and is the marker and
the guide
could seem like that signpost up
ahead
or
not a twilight zone so much
rather the lamppost into
Narnia
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photo by Giacomo Leandri on Unsplash
two poems about risk
reason
it is a message
then
of love
the god who gave of god
throughout all parts
of
itself and for the creatures
on the planet
all
were made
and if making demands gratitude
and
service even out of
model sacrifice
then
we have
our purposes should we ever
wonder
for we create attitudes
and moods and
state
our purposes
we make jobs and art
as jobs
we stand for office
and
we own responsibility
and we make
people
which were ourselves and
then
the new generation and by
all things made
all
of us
to count
for service
and so always
something
good
for us to do
theft
so I took the advice today
based
upon a perspective of creation and
divinity
and everything went wrong
worse
I was robbed
and then a second theft
for you robbed me
of
protection
plus my own amvition
and
now what
I must regroup
and
you know
recoup
and then what
set myself up to lose even more
to ask
and I suppose you’ll say
therein lies the answer
since
loss is a part of life against
what
by love is gained
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photo by mauro mora on Unsplash
goodniks
have we thought
of anything today that’s good
not
masked
rationalized
gold-plated but
good
the way we say of God via Aslan
not safe but
good
something good that might have to take a chance
even to risk rank in
the world
if not fragile
then
though who knows whom we care for
and
what might be the issues there
the person
the relationship
and
do we wish goodness in the world
and might we commit ourselves to the smallest
things
to do
to promulgate
in spite of rudeness
greed
whatever someone else might want
and should not want and someday
when the world is sound
with
provision to keep all alive and
on the way
could not want
anyway
someday it will be that way
while the good we do
ain’t there
and so takes chances
against
the bloating thing that wants it all
while the rest of us are
grist
or paper targets
so
how about that goodness
might we
speak polite
might we give way to someone else
through
the door or to the chair
by what
is
strong and what is
weak
how might we begin
or for some of us to carry on
the giving that is
small
then large
then changes everything
but
good
today enough
for
you and me
today
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“Who is Aslan?” asked Susan.
“Aslan?” said Mr. Beaver, “Why don’t you know? He’s the King. . . . It is he, not you, that will save Mr. Tumnus. . . .”
“Is—is he a man?” asked Lucy.
“Aslan a man!” said Mr. Beaver sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion—the Lion, the great Lion.”
“Ooh!” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he—quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”
“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver, “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”
“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
“I’m longing to see him,” said Peter, “even if I do feel frightened when it comes to the point.”
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
photo by Rob Potter on Unsplash
good and plenty
(not that I’m a fan of licorice)
God is good
and God is here
we reach out
to God
while we are here
wishing ours were better
when it’s
not
and also taking time
and sharing words of thanksgiving
for part of that
good
we have
and life goes mingled this way
even
with the Lord
and we persist in this adulterated life
because we should and is
our impulse to go
on
not
to wish ourselves to heaven
way before it’s time
or
whenever
the surprise to know
with
sadness left behind
while on the way toward joy in paradise
and this
is how it goes
as well
a mingled afterlife
and
not
to say this life is a rehearsal only
for it’s not
while it is for what comes after
it is its own
for dreaming and for realizing dreams
with
accountability along the way
so if frustrating
not
to have virtue instantly
rewarded
there is nonetheless
far-down peace that rises
through our flesh and to
our eyes
and mouths
to exude and share
what
we might know of lasting joy
that like the class activity to tell and
show
even the love of God and love as God
on Earth
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(allusion aside, the candy licorice fan would be my sister)
photo by The Nix Company on Unsplash
after some hours at this today
it’s darkened
I should go for another light
the close work has
made my eyesight blurry
too
and my lower back from bending over
well
not blurry
well
maybe
as pain might haze ambition
and I have said
and say
all kinds of things
in
other verses
though the moralizing’s heavy
maybe
from blurriness and pain
sigh
what should you like to hear
not
to curry
necessarily
but
to meet and interest or a need
you know that God is love or should
since the message is
ready enough
available
do you know that you are love as well
or at least have it in you
to carry outside
to
have your life better
and the world
too
so small at first
and then who knows how
wide the circles go
and you might be close to all this
as well
catch it when you see something land
on the smooth water of
a pond when
still
or other
water
maybe it’s the gospel of the small
that isn’t nearly big enough
realizing
the inevitable
the practice we don’t get away from
or
even the accountability
that
the word
the act
change things from ourselves to the world
no
matter what we’re told we matter
in this way
and so do small good
a motto
how about a bumper sticker
or what to adhere to our hearts
(I have a machine
inside
that might have
a sticker-place)
not
because the words are mine
but that they’re wise
regardless
and promise for the Earth
what should be healthy things to say
and
do
for a change
(hale
changes)
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photo by Amy Humphries on Unsplash
Bona
I hope you’ve had a good
Day
And I hope tomorrow is good
For you
Too
You’ve been deserving of this kind
Of time
I don’t know
If
It will be easy
You
Might have to work
And work is hard
You might
Have relationships attending
You might be inspired
Or
Reinforced
By
Spiritual truth
Maybe a presence
But for all the mights
I hope it is
And will
Be
Without doubt
A good
Day for you
I don’t think I’ve said this for a while
If not
Please pardon
Me
S’il vous plaît
C L Couch
Photo by Àlex Rodriguez on Unsplash
“Nice Game”
Fontcoberta
(Esperanto)
tenebrous
the devil wins
today
having turned the human forces
in the world
toward
death
humiliation of what’s good
even perfect
that traditions
say
came to save us from
ongoing
serpent
temptation
the twisting of what has been made
so good
bad
grotesque
the evil these point
toward has
won
without awareness
then
of three-day’s waiting time
the good is gone
or
must hide
surrender to new nothingness
of faith
and hope
and
love
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for Good (ironic) Friday
photo by Aleksei Agafonov on Unsplash
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