Advent Wind

the wind blows
the plumeria bends
I worry that they will bend too far and break

the palm trees shed dead fronds

the hummingbirds try to land

on an ever moving feeder while being 

shoved by the wind

I am grateful to be inside

where I am warm and

the wind cannot reach me

I watch the lights on the tree

twinkle at me

yet, I am drawn outside

I step into the wind

feel its power

feel the freshness

it brings to this 

Advent

pushing out all of my

doubts

fears

hesitation

making way for 

hope

love

joy

peace

the wind blows

the plumeria bends

it does not break

and the hummingbirds

find rest

Fill Me

 The world around me takes

     from me

sometimes taking pieces I don't want

     to give.

Depleting my resources;

leaving me ever emptier.

I desire to be filled with those things that

    only You can give ~ 

things internal and eternal.

Gifts freely given

    once I only ask.

Today I ask ...

as the world hands me busyness, 

    fill me with calm;

as the world hands me worry, 

    fill me with serenity;

as the world hands me disappointment, 

    fill me with strength;

as the world hands me distractions, 

    fill me with peace;

as the world hands me irreversible, 

    fill me with wisdom;

as the world hands me too much, 

    fill me with rest;

as the world hands me darkness, 

    fill me with hope.

I desire to be filled with the gifts of the Spirit

    dearly bought, but

    freely given in love ~

today I ask, "fill me."

Dawn M. Switzer

Based on a passage by Joyce Rupp

visible

I live my days

in the great palette of light

from the Creator

who sees all. 

in the early morning light; soft

just dawning, new beginnings

in the mid-day light; bright, 

exposed, nowhere to hide

in the late afternoon light; golden, 

blessed with softness and forgiveness

in the midnight light; of moon & stars, 

glowing orbs of sparkling wonder

As God's light unfolds through my days

I am visible.

To God, to you, to myself.

Dawn M. Switzer

Based on the Hafiz poem A Root in Each Act and Creature

I hear the bed calling

 Does your unmade bed ever call to you?

I hear it now from the next room ...

"I know you are tired, weary, in need of rest. 

Come, burrow here, and find comfort. 

Pull the covers over your head, just for a little while.

Blot out the world, the responsibilities, the weight of it all. 

Sink into me and let go. Cry if you need to.

Breathe.

Remember whose you are and gather strength.

When you are refreshed, rise again."

we can find Jesus in the midst of everyday things

if we but look and listen.

Dawn M. Switzer

Reflection on Matthew 11:28

"Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

 

The Shape of me

The shape of me is

a mountain goat, moving

from the deeper, darker ravine bottom to the mountain top

and the radiant light

The shape of me is

a whale surfacing

to take in the air, which sustains life; 

to play, up and out of the water, splashing down

before gliding back to the Kingdom of the deep

The shape of me is

a baby's hand, reaching out, wrapping little fingers around one of her mother's, 

finding connection, solidity, comfort

The shape of me is

all these beings and more ~ I am them and they are me

Infused with Divine Love from our creator we are different and the same

Our sacred paths intertwine within the Divine Presence

though we may never meet ~ goat, whale, you, me

we are one.

Dawn M. Switzer

meditation on Psalm 107, selected verses

Nan Merrill, Praying the Psalms

Mercy born

by the ocean

vast water of rebirth

water of life

living water

waves rolling to shore

God's great mercy 

rolling over me

I've done nothing for this

this cleansing

this renewing

Mercy & Grace & Spirit

pour the light over me

illuminate the darkness

eliminate the shadow

and bring forth the hope of life

rebirthed, renewed, eternal

reflection on Titus 3:4-7

5-19-2021

on the veranda

on the veranda it is 

almost normal - forgetting our isolation order

the birds singing their God given song

the colors of the sky & trees, God created colors

just a gentle breeze Holy Spirit is that you come to visit

I feel an almost irresistible urge to pull out another chair for Jesus, move it away from the fire table so he will have room for his legs

what are the birds singing I ask

do you want some water? a glass of wine? are you hungry? how long can you stay? (this is me ~ Martha)

why did God make the peacocks screech so

I get no real answers, but my heart is calmed; my anxiety at rest (this is me 

~ Mary)

He is with us. Father, Son, Holy Spirit, martha, mary, ~ all are one