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Grace

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by M. M. Kolf

What’s this?

That one small seed

Blown here

From who knows where,

Is sprouting from the dirt?

One lonely finger of vine stretches,

Grabs hold of me, and crawls…

Spiraling off tendrils that

Sprout berries, flowers, and leaves.

Tendrils that are creeping along

This white tomb

More silent than a final shallow breath.

Each day more growth

Transforms this whitewashed sepulcher…

My pallor decreases.

Ivy tentacles clutch deeply,

Become part of me,

And ever so slowly

The old façade crumbles…

Comments

  1. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    Mark, I hope you enjoyed whatever your wife made from these luscious fruits.  I've just eaten breakfast, and your description of the cherries made my mouth water!  Yummy! Smile  Seriously, though, it's so easy for us to forget the riches that are all around us, and the cares of daily life are so intrusive.  I'm glad that you and your boys shared such a terrific moment.  May there be many more of them for you all! Smile

  2. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    This is very timely. I am going through airline hell today. Air Canada decided in getting my wife and 3 girls from Dublin to Calgary to change the rules in Toronto. So they are still there as I write this. I am not looking forward to finding out who will end up paying for this mess. I am guessing I am out about $1000 for something that is completely their fault. What are the odds I end up with a long series of answering machines? We will see.

  3. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    Yet another reason why everyone should have kids – they bring us to our senses!

  4. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    Mark, Thank you for giving us such a clear reminder of stepping out in faith. God has never let our large family go without anything we have ever needed and if we trust in his Providence He will never disappoint us. May God continue to bless your family and solve your financial woes.

     

  5. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    There is never more love poured from a parent to a child then when the child is sick and in distress. When our confidence in the machanisms of this world is the lowest our recognition and appreciation of our helping loved ones around us is the highest.

  6. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    Hello all, and you too Mark-

    Thanks for the uplifting article. I too am dealing with money woe's and get this, I'm an airline employee too!  I think my wife and I need to pray too and step back from it all and know that God is still God and providing for us.  Airline mergers can really play havoc on one's personal finances with union's, transition agreements, benefit and pay cuts and the like.  Corporate Greed is what I say is going on.  No new news there.

    Now before you go off on me, I don't work in the typical customer service position for the airline.  I have the responsibility of getting you a safe and relaible aircraft to board.  I work in maintenance and engineering, far removed from the woes of our clients…unfortunately, except when aircraft is unserviceable.

    I strongly encourage all of you to work diligently at obtaining the outcome you desire.  I don't work for AA, but for another who's merging with another carrier at this time (wonder who that could be?) and I know that you have to be persistant with your requests.  Heck my own family calls me with their own problems in dealing with the airlines, and there's not a thing I can do but give the same advise.

    Please pray for my family as we deal with the uncertainty of this job and merger.

    Thank you in Christ.

    J.

  7. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    Thank you for this, Mark. It was just what I needed today.

    Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur

    http://spiritualwomanthoughts.blogspot.com 

  8. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    Mark, I shared a similar experience when my then-12-year-old son asked me to play Bocce with him.  I first turned him down because I had work to do.  Then the Holy Spirit reminded me of my real work — being a father. So, I played Bocce with Keenan.  I don't remember what work went undone, but I do remember the pleasure of time spent with my youngest son!  Thanks for your article.  Pax Dominum vobis cum.

  9. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    Airlines are a new, but growing, department of Hell, Inc.

    They were previously part of the general transportation department (primarily responsible for highway road repair) but were spun off as a their own department after Screwtape had some demonstrable success with airline delays and terrorist investments.  

    The new v-p of airline hell has committed to major investments in passport fraud and tarmac delay initiatives. Poor food and air quality on board did not pan out as significantly as hoped for by Hell, Inc.

    Film at 11. 

  10. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    I was at your talk in Oklahoma City and I enjoyed it very much.  I hope you can get the airline to reimburse you.  

  11. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    Today, I experienced the Holy Spirit giving me a "V-8 bop" on the head.  Having been uptight for a few days, my beautiful wife suggested that I go exercise. I went for a walk in a local nature center…Wooded, grassy, and hilly. Here in the midwest in August we tend to experience hot and humid weather and today was no exception. I walked from a hill top savannah with a multitude of native grasses and plants and entered into a grove of cedar trees. I immediately noticed the coolness of this grove. As I continued to walk deeper into this grove I saw a deer lying on the ground. My first thought was, "Oh no, a dead deer." Then I realized this doe was watching me. She was also enjoying the coolness of the cedars.

    Consider the lillies of the field…  BOP!!!

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