Somewhere Nice

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

The parking lot is stained with fallen leaves
There's a parking block missing
And found next to its neighbor block
There's an old loading dock that can be seen from the road
That's still in use in the morning,
With a sign above pointing to the back, "additional parking"

Taking out the trash
And the recycling
Improves the health of my apartment
It takes a sigh of relief
When it's a quarter full, half full, or even three quarters full
It just sits there stinking and rotting
But 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
Mean on display and cut to order
All the local, organic products you could want
Even 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 can become a game
With win or lose outcomes
This means that sometimes things aren't going to go our way
But 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
We'll try again next time when we're better and stronger
We won't forget what it means to compete
But we'll live right now, content
With everything we are and everything we've done
Proud to have a voice
Right now

Boating

The crisp, fresh air
Stinging the cheek muscles and
Tugging on hair follicles
Burning wide-open eyes until they well-up with water, soon to be streaming down to the chin

The cool breeze is so quiet you can hear yourself think
The waves rock your body up and down, back and forth
The open freedom humms and buzzes under the 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 adventure and excitement
A good laugh to strengthen family bonds
A picnic in the wilderness
And another good memory
Of success

Waiting

I'm trying my best
To remain humble
I'll be patiently waiting
For a time when my talents are needed
When I'm wanted
I'll be following orders
Fitting in
And remaining useful
Ready if I'm ever called upon

I've got nowhere to go
Nothing better to do
And I don't much care for leaving
I'll be in the corner 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

Mankind is in a spiritual darkness and death
That is our natural state
We need to be reborn, with a new heart
We are unable to choose good over evil, 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

Is for that special club you joined, with only a few members
And you're always hoping everyone shows up to every meeting
And gets the most out of being there
Encouragement
Is for that one guy at work
Not because you need the help,
But because you know he doesn't always make good decisions
And he has kids at home and he really needs to show up
And do well, not relapse into old patterns
Encouragement
Is for that family member that is usually doing well, but today something seems different
Because you know how well things can be when everyone gets along
And you know that a little encouragement is all that 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
A faded ambulance rumbles past with rubbed 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 a troubled youth 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
Is the great separator
Between two once inseparable forces
Long forgotten memories of cartoons and ball
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 grass of the lawn
Now so special and perfect in every way
Now coffee and scones, alone
Now different

Hope

I plan to make the most of my time here
Not too much
Not too little
I have my vision of just a bit in front of me
I have far-off dreams
And I know what I'm gonna do tomorrow
A also know what I'm not gonna do
What won't or shouldn't happen
Because I'm strong
And I have faith
I can see my tiny little rock
My high-flying adventure through space
I know my flag doesn't mean much
But there it is
There it will be
My own

My family is going to be a part of it
I have hope
My friends are already there and hopefully stay a while
I have strength
My future can be great if only I could focus and work hard enough
I know it's good
Where I'll fall or change course I don't know, but that's ok with me
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 the 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 happy to be competitive
I'm so glad to be me