Resting in Time
By Barbara R. Williams-Hubbard
Time— give me time to praise your glory more in pen, in breath, in opening windows and doors to see the goodness of your heart in all seasons, beyond sometimes the reasons we can’t see. Time— your peace reigns in rainbows after rain, plain beauty in colors chasing gray in ways that lift clouds in silent awe, drawing us upwards to you and all time in your hands and all our questions resting, trusting in your understandings.
© 2020 by Barbara R. Williams-Hubbard
Corona Sonnet/Psalm 91
By Pamela Leggett
Living in the shelter of the Most High Trusting and abiding in His shadow Sounds lovely, but is it true he draws nigh When we face deadly pestilence or foe? When virus invites dark nights and abyss When terror and destruction both hang near Can we count on that sure and strong fortress That rescues us from loneliness and fear? Yes! He commands his angels over us They bear us up and guard us on our way Our shield and refuge is God’s faithfulness It protects, guides and holds us though the day God promises to answer when we call And makes his love available to all! Read Psalm 91 and meditate on it.
© 2020 by Pamela Leggett
Nature is Strong
By Emy Kamihara
A month ago in April, NPR ran an article about the blooming of a famous cherry tree in the town of Miharu, in the northeastern part of Japan. This tree, called “Takizakura,” literally, “waterfall cherry tree,” is a thousand years old! Each spring, its branches fill with a cascade of pink cherry blossoms. Normally, thousands of visitors view this ancient tree, but this year, due to the corona virus pandemic, only a handful have come.
Sidafumi Hirata, who grew up in Miharu, is the tree’s chief caretaker. When Fukushima Prefecture experienced its terrible earthquake and tsunami in March, 2011, he rushed to check on the tree. To his great relief and delight, the tree was not harmed. “Whenever I went out, I worried. I had to see if she’s OK or not,” he said. “But every time I saw that she’s still standing, unchanged, it was always a relief. No matter what, the cherry blossoms are still there.”
Every year, many people of Miharu join together in taking care of their treasured tree by weeding, fertilizing, and building wooden beams to support the tree’s limbs. Despite the few visitors, Hirata philosophically says, “This tree has lived so long, and the longer you live, the more bad events you see. More tragedies,” he said. “So she will see more bad things, but she’ll also see good — life is layers, layers of bad and good.”
I felt very moved by the communal love of many to take care of this thousand-year-old tree. Hirata referred to the Takizakura as “she,” as if “she” were a dear, revered ancestor, surviving through storms, earthquakes, famines, and now a pandemic. Yet, even in these uncertain times, we are reminded that nature and the beautiful creations of God have endured through the ages.
“Takizakura” A thousand years blooming still, Cherry blossoms dance Waiting through seasons Alas, no one visits her Sad, she misses us Ancient grandmother Leaning on her wooden canes Alive and smiling
© 2020 by Emy Kamihara
Witness to a Socially Distant Gathering on Sunday, March 15, 2020
By John Ashbrook
The season was rent when the authorities prevented people from coming together. We sheltered in place, feeling more like
refugees than prisoners after our sexton locked down our church and its empty sanctuary.
Mourning this loss, I felt vulnerable, maybe like an Old Testament figure who, after being defeated
by a conqueror worshipping a false god, felt susceptible to losing his own. When I joined our virtual
group gathering, I worried we would become more like TV viewers than worshippers. At ten o’clock,
we looked up at the light from our devices. Cloud servers distributed picture elements
to homebound elders and others, whom I could no longer aptly describe as congregants;
a Wholly Futurist magic transubstantiated our screens, by solid bytes and liquid streams, into images of ourselves,
eagerly consumed. But no one said hocus-pocus and though the images remained, the magic disappeared.
There we were, praying for the power to repair the season and our hearts, contemplating
— the one who wore a corona as malevolent as a virus
— the one who died for all, but is present when two pixelated people gather
— the one who now comforts those suffocating alone, in hospitals and at home,
and whose singular presence among us, both heavenly and human, I now record with a few strokes of my pen: there He was, with us.
© 2020 by John Ashbrook
Love
THE WEDDING OF KASSEE GORMAN AND BRENT TURNER April 11, 2020, Not in Phoenix, But in Greer, NE Arizona An Alternate Location Covid-19 Not Withstanding
Standing against days of sadness, grief, doom, guests numbering not ninety, but twenty: two families joining in nature’s vast room.
No parents corded off in seats’ first row, but removed from the wedding party, guiding cameras and video.
Not a front altar where Groom and Groomsmen should wait, but all the sisters and brothers, Attendants, anticipating the Bride’s walk to the mountain lake.
Not a pipe organ, but wind’s bold bass, making quake evergreens and swirling dark clouds’ reflections--a dramatic take!
Not a mahogany altar nor scheduled “Man of the Cloth,” but behind a round table, the Officiate, Brent’s Best Friend, Robert, the Bride’s Brother-in-Law.
Not a girl tossing flowers, nor a white-pillow bearer but in bright winter jackets, children processing, stately with straw basket and silver lantern: the vows-- and ring-carrier.
Not a rolled out, white aisle, but a long, winding dirt path, where gorgeously gowned Bride, and Father stride through spires of straw grass.
Not quickly, but at last, growing more, and more grand, they approach, Kassee with white and orange bouquet; then, the giving away; the completed Wedding Party — a stunning reappointment of the shore.
Not hasty with words, but thanking their parents, Gem after each Gem--for faith, goodness, support, and for loving them.
Robert, “Love is not envious, arrogant, rude but patient and kind; protects perseveres, hopes.*
Not dishonoring, self-seeking, nor angry, but forgiving of wrongs, rejoices in truth, not wrong doing; Love trusts.”*
Kassee vows, “‘Love’ is a 5-Letter word, B-R-E-N-T, its signs being everywhere — In an embrace, when Today almost got taken away. And I love you forever.”
Brent shares his courtship’s sequence: “Prayer, courage, recognition, completeness, this proud moment of our wedding.” Vows, “Our marriage, forever.”
Having exchanged both vows and rings, been pronounced “Husband and Wife”-- they kiss. “Presenting Mr. and Mrs. Turner!” Triumphant Wedding!
Immediately, from parents, siblings, Daffee, and young, Joyful Love: hugs, kisses, Congratulations! Daffee running, children rushing to catch snowflakes on their tongue
For guests, no rice or tiny bits of confetti to throw, but winging to the couple, as expressing newness and blessing, bright sprigs of Spring Snow.
Later, no clinking of champagne glasses, thus begging the Groom’s kiss, but Two, drinking-in the Sun, framed by the Branching canopy of a Golden Pine Bridge.
*Paraphrased from I Corinthians, 13. For Donald and Sandra J Duguid, Maternal Grandparents
© 2020 by Sandra Duguid Gerstman Maternal Great Aunt
