Somewhere Nice

He wanted a favor
And I said no
This potential friend
This soul in need
I wasn't going to die
By helping out
I had the power
To do something
Yet, his day worse
And mine better
That's how it is

Their parking lot is stained with fallen leaves
A parking block missing
And found next to its neighbor block
There's a worn loading dock visible from the road
That's still in use this morning,
A sign above points to the back, "additional parking"

Taking out the trash
And the recycling
Improves the health of my apartment
A sigh of relief is taken;
When it's a quarter full, half full, or even three quarters full
It just sits there stinking and rotting
When you're finally ready to take everything outside
The empty recycle bin
And clean trash bag
They smile

Inside are the freshest fruits and veggies
Meat on display and cut to order
All local and organic products
With a small sandwich shop that's usually glad to get you a specialty of theirs, or whatever you want
But it's really very small and quite pricey
I usually shop elsewhere

Losing
Is a part of life
It happens
Everything becomes a competition
Win or lose outcomes
Sometimes things aren't going to go our way
Yet we were there
We still matter
Our voice was heard and will continue to be heard
We aren't going to run away
But pridefully accept defeat
Try again next time 
When we're better and stronger
We won't forget what it means
To compete
We'll live right now, content
With everything we are and everything we've done
Proud to have a voice
Right now

Boating

Crisp, light air

Stinging the cheek muscles and

Tugging at hair follicles

Burning wide-open eyes until they well-up with water

Last seen streaming down to the chin

The cooling of the breeze;

It's so quiet you can hear yourself think

Waves rock your body up and down, back and forth

Open freedom humms and buzzes under the just-too-warm sunshine

Up front the bow jumps wildly in the air

Like an animal in the wild

Smooth and fast

Free and powerful

An unsteady walk to the stern

A time-out from the action

A side-view of the sprawling forests

Clean and well-kept beaches

And a massive divide;

Cut deep into the earth's temporary shape

Fanning out and slowly falling back in line

A long day of excitement

A good laugh

Strengthened bonds

A picnic in the wilderness

And more good memories

Of success

Waiting

I'm trying my best

Remaining humble

And patiently waiting

There will be a time when my talents are needed;

When I'm wanted

I'll be:

Following orders

Fitting in

And remaining useful

Always ready if I'm ever called upon

I've got nowhere to go

And nothing to do

And I don't respect leaving

So I'll be around, just waiting

And training

Watching and hoping

That someday what I have will work

Thoughts

Let us sit in silence
I am a moment
You are forever
There is no power greater
Than love that's almighty
With our hearts full of praise
Oh mighty love
Give us peace

That which is born of the flesh is flesh
That which is born of the Spirit is spirit
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear it's sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes

Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom
And the power
And the glory forever

We are in a spiritual darkness; death;
That is our natural state
We need to be reborn, with a new heart
We are unable to choose good over evil, we are dead in our trespasses
We are reborn to be alive, free from sin
The word made flesh

God owes nobody his love
It is our responsibility to repent and believe, and trust in the Lord

Sometimes Sidewalks

Encouragement
For that random club you joined, with only a few members
Where you're always hoping everyone shows up
And just gets so much from being there
Encouragement
For that one guy at work
Not because you need the help,
But because he doesn't always make good decisions
And has kids at home and he really needs this to work
To do well and not just fall into old patterns
Encouragement
For that family member that usually does well, but seems different
You know how well things can be when everyone gets along
And know that a little encouragement is all it takes
It works if you give it a chance

A lone beer can lurks beneath a fluffy green bush, awaiting redemption
A young woman reclining in a rocking chair on the porch, lights a blazing candle to ward off the bugs
A shirtless young man wipes sweat from his brow and glances around before returning back under his jacked up car
An aging ambulance rumbles past with scrubbed off emblems from a city 10 hours to the south

Like red, yellow, and orange leaves falling from a great oak
You're not there
I still own the good times
The warm feelings and happy memories
What was and what could have been
What didn't happen
Not now, not ever
I'll be wearing an extra layer
Outside
In this cold, cold world

As the sidewalk ends a sole jogger dances back and forth with the white line, sometimes falling into the road
A stuttering line of cars veer over the lines in both directions to avoid the jogger
One sports car screams past with laughing and jeering out the open window
Along the sides, houses with neatly trimmed grass sport brown spots from the heat and lack of rain

Distance
the great separator
Between two once inseparable forces
Long forgotten memories
Cartoons and baseball
Time that has passed and won't change
Time that's correct and forever wrong
Time for something new, yet again
Time to forget
Now blended in like burnt grass of the lawn
Now so special and perfect in every way
Now coffee and cake, alone
Now different

Hope

I will make the most of my time

Not too much

Not too little

With a vision that's just a bit out in front of me

Far-off dreams

And what's gonna happen tomorrow

I know what I'm not gonna do

What won't or shouldn't be

Because I'm strong

And I have faith

I see even a tiny little rock

An adventure through space

Which might not mean much

But there it is

There it will be

My own

Family will be a part of it

I have hope

Friends that are already there;

Hopefully staying a while

I have strength

The future can be wonderful

Just focus and work hard enough

I know what's good

Where I'll fall or change course I can't know

But that's OK

I have hope

Gratitude

For having something

When we could have nothing

Gratitude

For those before us;

And after us

For those above us;

And below us

Gratitude

Keeping us well-mannered and honest

For things we have and that we don't

Gratitude

For the new clothes on my back

And my worn out shoes ready for the trash

Gratitude

That I have the chance to buy fresh produce

And not the misfortune of stale bread

Gratitude

I'm healthy and happy and whole

I'm free and exuberant and ready to be competitive

So glad to be me