My Visit to the GRAND Canyon

 

Arizona heat lessens as we drive north. I’m skeptical. Will the picture-perfects from Facebook and travel brochures steal the grandeur like a spoiler robs the surprise of a movie? Our car approaches the rim. People walking, traffic crawling, buildings block my view. Then, a brief first-sight glimpse! One sharp breath, my eyes sting, as the vastness slams into my senses. Heights stage contrast with depths, shades of colors collide, and my stomach flipflops seeing land give way to bottomless space. I whisper worship. Later, we hike downward and then watch a sunset from the top. It's second-rate, for love-at-first-sight has ruined me.

Random Musings

 I'd like to do better about writing every day. If I had assignments and deadlines, I would have structure and goals. Being disciplined without those borders is challenging. Anyway, here is the writing for today. I followed a prompt and this is the result:

“At the end of the day”,
Became a buzz phrase to say,
From pundit to preacher,
It doesn’t go away.

 

I pondered, what did we use to say,
To mean the same thing in another way,
All in all… or when
all is said and done…
Or it boils down to…
Or when you stop and think about it…
 
Catch phrases come and go,
What makes one popular? I don’t know.
I feel either apropos saying the trendy words,
Or resist what feels overdone and absurd.
 
All in all, what is now lit,
Will fade and something new will fit,
When all is said and done,
Now will be then and lose its fun
 
It boils down to keeping in touch,
Choosing to use it, or not so much,
When you stop and think about it,
If it helps understanding, why quit?
 
So at the end of the day,
What more can I say?

Untangle Their Hearts

 

I'm coming unannounced as I walk into their driveway. The fenced yard has a gate right next to the garage. A couple of bungee cords are crisscrossed through the handle and through several links in the fence, making a maze I have to untangle. This time a flat board dolly of some kind, on wheels, is parked in front of the gate, and the bungee cord winds through the handle of the dolly. I thread and pull the cords like yarn from a mixed-up, knotted skein, hoping I can put it back together correctly when I leave.

I had tried to call but no answer. I knock on the door several times and almost conclude they aren't home, or worse, one of them is in the hospital. Then I hear sounds behind the door, and it soon opens. Richard, a grey-moustached man, greets me. He doesn't say why he didn't answer my phone call earlier, but he is friendly, and we begin conversation. I'm bringing a pretty, variegated red and white poinsettia to brighten their Christmas season.

We talk for a while. Judy emerges from downstairs, and we chat some more. Our church theme this year is One for All and All for One. Names were written on puzzle pieces of the "ones" we want to invite to know Jesus this year. Richard is on my piece. We've built up a connection through their dog, Dolly, who greets me when I exercise walk by their place. I don't know where they stand with Jesus, but I want to show them His love.

I leave, securing the gate the best I can.

Lord, please untangle their hearts and minds from any mess the enemy has knotted into their thoughts and beliefs. Prepare them to receive your love and salvation. Give me your heart to care and ways and ideas to bless them.