Poetry Where You Live

Watching the Sky

2008-07-26T19:27:00.000-04:00

on the water, the boat
watching the shore, the water,
birds, the loons, the horizon
watching the sky, clouds
shadows on the forest below
growing, darkening clouds
wakes, waves on the water
bobbing water birds
blue sky, changing in the heat
hikers on the mountain,
boats on the water with us
watching them all
as much as my eye,
my mind can take
drinking all of these in

July 26, 2008
Squam Lake, NH

Listening in the Silence

2008-07-26T18:25:00.001-04:00

I sat apart, in the back of the sanctuary
no roof our walls were around me
nature all around
Listening in the silence
drinking in the stillness
sitting in the pew, watching the sky
the lake, the birch cross
shimmering in July air
clear blue overhead
pines and blueberries all around
being present in the chapel
in fellowship with God
in the silence of the woods

July 26, 2008
Chocorua Island Chapel,
Church Island, Squam Lake,
Holderness, NH
http://www.churchisland.org/

A Smell of Mothballs

2008-07-26T17:39:00.002-04:00

Behind the cabin, age and mothballs
a smell I will not forget
of a cabin, a retreat, of another time
no living proof, no visible thing
but powerful things, the smell of age,
the smell of long gone mothballs
age has a smell, more than musty,
not readily given description; but real
out in the woods, the old building oozed
reeked of age and mothballs,
just as her home did, so long ago
out in the woods where the park was
almost forty years later, still quick to recall
that same smell of mothballs

July 26, 2008
memories of Laurel Park
http://www.laurel-park.org/
and Chocorua Island Chapel,
Church Island, Squam Lake,
Holderness, NH
http://www.churchisland.org/

Sharing Berries

2008-07-26T17:33:00.000-04:00

One for me
one for her (handfuls that is)
wild blueberries, picking from the bushes
high above my eyes, down by my knees
sharing berries with my baby
out on the island in the lake
like my island in that other lake
so long ago, a lifetime ago,
Warm ripe blueberries,
hot sun, blue sky,
late July

July 26, 2008
me and Shanequa
Chocorua Island Chapel,
Church Island, Squam Lake,
Holderness, NH
http://www.churchisland.org/

In the chapel

2008-07-26T17:27:00.001-04:00

sitting alone, in the back of the sanctuary
pines the rafters, blue sky the ceiling
more beautiful than the Sistine Chapel
the chapel on the island in the woods
wild blueberries as I walked the path there
a birch cross, a baptismal fount in living rock
a stone pulpit, wooden pews, solemnity, casualness
intermixed feelings, serene, quiet,
pine needles the floorboards
an empty chapel on a summer Saturday

July 26, 2008
Chocorua Island Chapel,
Church Island, Squam Lake,
Holderness, NH
http://www.churchisland.org/

On the Water

2008-07-26T17:21:00.000-04:00

The spray of the water
splashing in the air
crossing the wake, the wave
other boats on the water
Sitting in the sun, open air
remembering so many moments
when I was on the water, alone
me and my canoe, lingering
lounging in the water, drifting,
floating, shifting with wind,
with waves of wind, of tides,
other boats in a hurry
not me, and my time
on the water again
basking in the moment,
glory of the day

July 26, 2008

Heavenly Perspective

2008-07-25T08:31:00.001-04:00

The words, these holy, hope-filled words
so hard to internalize, to really fathom
a heavenly perspective on human life
letting go of all, no matter the struggle,
understanding the significance, the faith
in the rest of the story, what happens beyond
at the end of the age, afterwards
that what happens here, in a real sense
doesn’t matter when the story is told
a different ending, a happy ending
if God is for us, who can be against us
Not that there won’t be, for there will;
but who are they, when compared, contrasted
with the creator, the sustainer, the savior
a heavenly perspective, hard to do;
but even a glimpse brings joy

July 25, 2008
Romans 8:26-39
and Upper Room Disciplines 2008
for July 24 and July 25, 2008

Tell Me Your Story

2008-07-24T12:14:00.001-04:00

Beyond the legal jargon, the him versus her,
the pleadings, the causes, the arguments
there is the story, the reality of their lives
ups and downs, pains and hurts,
weakness and struggles
joys and sorrows
Tell me your story, I long to say
to gain an understanding, to really hear
the way through the thicket
the chaos of life, justice,
if it was so easy
would they need me
if it was fair
the result foretold
So, tell me your story
all chapters and verse
I am here to listen
I care about you

July 24, 2008

Drinking from the Deep Well

2008-07-24T12:05:00.001-04:00

Drinking from the deep well
the living water of your story
words of scripture, the story of God
how he loves us eternally,
before there was, he was
creating us from nothingness
from dust, from clay
we are his and his alone
breath from his breath
in his image
the people, his people, by faith called
by faith justified, never earned
faith alone is enough
we are worthy, called to relationship
sacrificing for us, reconciled evermore
over and over we fail,
He pulls us up, arms open when we run
to him we find refuge, strength, love
In him our salvation, union with our God
Drink the deep cool living water
call on him and he will answer

July 24, 2008

Being Fed

2008-07-23T20:37:00.001-04:00

Falling into your word,
the living waters of scripture
being fed with the law, the precepts,
the stories of your people,
straying but you are always there
lifting them up, lifting me up now
in the wilderness, in the desert
challenging times, time of pruning
time of plenty, moments of trial
of transition, opening up new callings
new ways to serve; being fed, in your word
poured into me, into my spirit,
ready to share, to pour out
as your spirit leads me

July 23, 2008

Out in our Garden

2008-07-23T20:12:00.000-04:00

Smell of rich soil,
wet from the drenching rains,
weeds yield to my gentle tug
beds of shimmering color,
the droplets refracting, reflecting
radiating warmth, richer hues
buzzing of the bees,
stop to watch the yellow swallowtail
hovering over the blooms,
the bright cosmos, the yellow marigolds,
the stately Black-eyed Susan,
mud under my nails, green stain
on my finger, a hint on my shorts
a smile on my face, under the thin sweat
out in our garden, the girls in the yard
laughing in the summer sun

July 23, 2008

Weeding in our Garden

2008-07-23T19:42:00.001-04:00

Finding the tares, the weeds
the grasses, the ragweed,
milkweed and plantain, growing, thriving
in the lilies, the beds, the wild mustard plants
all growing in the rich soil, growing in the sun
weeding in our garden, pulling the dead,
letting the light in, culling the weeds,
the roots, the dead leaves, those choking out
But seeing the clematis vines, the milkweed
home for monarchs, the yellow of the goldenrod
all part of the garden, the wild, untamed
the rocks too, all growing among tomatoes,
the cosmos, the lilacs, the maples,
a living wild, garden,
finding balance and color
a garden taking shape
a purpose coming into focus
slowly, carefully, prayerfully

July 23, 2008
1 Corinthians 3:5-9, the combined message,
“Transition”, by
Reverend Yoo Cha Yi,
Pastor Ruth Foss, Mary Ann Cioffi,
and Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH, June 22, 2008,
and the combined sermons of
Reverend Huntley Halvorson and Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
7/6, 7/13, and 7/20/08

Holy Failures

2008-07-23T19:36:00.000-04:00

Over and over in the holy word,
holy failures, people failing in human eyes,
became leaders, prophets, kings, saving, guiding,
bringing people to God, used by the creator, the savior,
to be the vessels, the hands, the feet of God, sharing
his grace with the world, his lessons to share, his love to show
over and over, they were called, and they answered, even reluctantly,
Here I am Lord. May we be as bold, even in our doubts;
to be the vessels of God’s love, a libation of hope
to the ends of the earth, to the end of the age

July 23, 2008
Sermon, “Murphy was Wrong”, by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH 7/20/08

Our Journey Together

2008-07-23T19:21:00.000-04:00

a new moment in our lives,
together we are centered, waiting, listening
for the will of God, the still small voice
speaking from the silence, from the stillness
searching for our mission, our call
as a people, as a congregation
Flawed servants, able, only with God’s hand
to minister, to share grace, to bring hope
Their message clear, we, together
must be ready, must be attentive,
our oil full, our lamps lit, our hearts open
our hands prepared, to serve

July 23, 2008
Sermons of Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
and Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH 7/6, 7/13, and 7/20/08

A Shared Journey

2008-07-23T19:19:00.000-04:00

They each evoked, spoke of, shared
a sense of a shared journey,
we all are on together
finding our way anew,
with one another
discerning, listening,
being guided by an unseen hand
a call to ministry once more
transition continuing, evolving
in this shared journey of faith
believing we can, with the help of God
never alone, never on our own
being the hands, the feet, the voice of God,
the face of Christ to the world

July 23, 2008
Sermons of Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
and Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH 7/6, 7/13, and 7/20/08

Bitter Water made Sweet

2008-07-23T19:11:00.000-04:00

With a tree, a branch, some wood
cast, at the command of God,
bitter water made sweet,
complaints silenced
Heavenly provision
(and that was the point),
the people found their thirst quenched
their needs met; before the manna, the quails,
bitter water was made sweet
in the desert, the wilderness
God provided, God provides still
Trust in the Lord, always

July 23, 2008
Exodus 15:23

Bitter Waters

2008-07-23T19:06:00.000-04:00

A restless people, days into their wilderness journey
already finding fault, bickering, forgetting their saving
bitter waters, in their desert times, in the land
setting out they found bitter waters
sweetened by a piece of wood, a tree
an instrument of God’s will

So are we, restless, longing
wandering, following another shepherd
looking for the promised land, finding bitter waters
sweetened too by the hand of God, his saving grace for us
we seek that far off land, impatient, impulsive, wanting now
Like them, we should trust, in the God of creation, for salvation

July 23, 2008
Exodus 15:23

Grace is a Gift

2008-07-20T17:42:00.002-04:00

Grace is a gift, a gift of God;
not earned, never earned; a gift
offered to all, not a word,
an experience, something lived
proof in the living of our lives
But grace isn’t a gift for us,
not an end point
Grace is not for us, for others
for others through us, spreading outward
from our hands, our voices, being God’s grace
sharing the creator’s love
being grace, the love of God
a gift to the nations,
a blessing to the world

July 20, 2008
Romans 5:1-5 and
Sermon by Rev. Huntley Halvorson,
“Murphy Was Wrong”,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH
Murphy’s Law - “Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong”

Grace is Given

2008-07-20T16:26:00.002-04:00

Grace is given, by the savior, the creator,
by faith alone, a free gift, no payment, never earned
a wondrous gift for all, all willing to serve,
to be God’s instrument, to help others
Grace is for all of us, able to call on God
willing to admit the need of saving grace
not able, ourselves, to help ourselves
Needing the grace of God, that moment
we are given just that, beyond measure
a gift of the creator, love without end
Seek and ye shall find, ask and it will be given

July 20, 2008
Romans 5:1-5 and
Sermon by Rev. Huntley Halvorson,
“Murphy Was Wrong”,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH
Murphy’s Law - “Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong”

Ben was mistaken

2008-07-20T15:58:00.001-04:00

In a land of thinkers, of revolutionaries
breaking free of an empire, needing their wits
their guile, to hide behind trees, rocks,
rather than being in the open

The concept might have made sense -
“God helps those who help themselves”;
but Ben was wrong; he missed the point

We are as Adam, as Lot, as David, as Paul
doing that which we hate, living of the world
dying in sin; rising by faith, by grace alone

By grace we are given hope,
our works pale in comparison
Clay only on the potter’s wheel
by His hands alone worthy vessels
By grace we give grace to others

July 20, 2008
Romans 5:1-5 and
Sermon by Rev. Huntley Halvorson,
“Murphy Was Wrong”,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH
Murphy’s Law - “Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong”
“God helps those who help themselves”, by Ben Franklin,
Poor Richard's Almanac in 1757

Grace through Us

2008-07-20T15:44:00.002-04:00

Grace is an experience
imparted through us, recognized
all around, in the sunset,
in a loving touch, in the rain,
the flowers blooming,
the children growing
grace abounds, experienced
not a word, a reality
a freely given gift
of the creator, of the father
the son, the spirit
lived out through us
children too, by faith
vessels of God’s grace
like Abraham, by faith, a blessing

July 20, 2008
Romans 5:1-5 and
Sermon by Rev. Huntley Halvorson,
“Murphy Was Wrong”,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH
Murphy’s Law - “Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong”

Grace is for Others

2008-07-20T15:21:00.000-04:00

Through faith is grace given;
but not as an end, a thing given for us
Grace is for others, we merely agents,
vessels, pouring out God’s love
being God’s grace, by faith
poured into us, by the spirit
shared in the world
Grace given, shared with us,
when we accept, when we are ready,
instruments of His grace
for others

July 20, 2008
Romans 5:1-5 and
Sermon by Rev. Huntley Halvorson,
“Murphy Was Wrong”,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH
Murphy’s Law - “Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong”

If Murphy was right

2008-07-20T14:43:00.000-04:00

Oh if Murphy had been right,
the story would have ended
oh so differently
He was right, the world was right
on Good Friday, the doubters,
the scoffers, the power elite,
He wasn’t so different,
the world ordered as they saw it
they were in control
He wasn’t the one
The one hanging
on the cross
The savior who wasn’t
the imposter, the heretic
the false claim to the divine
All would be lost
if Murphy was right

July 20, 2008
Sermon by Rev. Huntley Halvorson,
“Murphy Was Wrong”,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH
Murphy’s Law - “Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong”

But Murphy was Wrong

2008-07-20T14:41:00.000-04:00

I am happy to report,
that Murphy was Wrong
and Easter came, the prophets
all fulfilled, Jesus, the son of God
rose from the grave
and the grace of God,
heaped on us, all, without ending
Rising he vanquished doubt
proved the scribe, the Pharisees,
the Sadducees wrong.
Murphy was wrong; wrong will not triumph,
right was victorious that day
Grace wiped away the death of sin
We live saved, because He rose
Good Friday came;
But Murphy was wrong
Because there was Easter ‘morn

July 20, 2008
Sermon by Rev. Huntley Halvorson,
“Murphy Was Wrong”,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH
Murphy’s Law - “Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong”

The Shining City – v3

2008-07-20T13:30:00.001-04:00

I saw a glimpse today
of that shining city on the hill,
a city with the streets of gold
high on the horizon on the mountainside
sun a flaming ball perched there
with tongues of orange and yellow,
rich crimsons and purples on distant hills,
living clouds
as sunset filled
my peripheral view
Seared into my memory
of the beauty of moving color
fleeting scene
before it fell behind those distant hills
melting into darkening sky

December 11, 2006 21:55
edited July 20, 2008, based on comments
from Chrissy Siggee, on faithwriters.com
received on 7/18.