“As a Rainbow”
Nature
Thoughts of Summer
Barefoot days
Shorts and T’s
Cool clear water
Garden fresh veggies
Warmth for body
Sun’s rays heating
Fans blowing, shade cooling
Welcome breezes stirring
Birds calling, dogs barking
Yard mowing, weed pulling
Storms rolling, rain falling
Golden sun rays, moist woods
Early morning and evening’s chill
Dew’s sparkle and quiet hush
Life and faith one day at a time
Summer’s rhythm speaks of contentment
Washed Out
Warning touch and growing rumble
Feel it building coming coming
Welcome respite or call for shelter?
Jarring one from settled niche
These drops intruders in our day
… A sigh a chuckle as we retreat?
What do they say of grief or toil
As waters surge and tumble by?
Pale countenance sinking down
Or head uplifted to cool embrace?
Built up dirt and grime release
Muddy churning wash away!
Letting it go, now light and free
Cleansing. Revealing… sparkling stones
Charlotte-Anne Allen
“As…so” Proverbs for Summertime
• As cool weather moves to summer heat, so does time flow ever forward
• As gatherings bring reunion, so friendship brings renewal
• As outdoor activities and fair weather draw us, so encouragement and enjoyment bring us together and build positive relationships
• As lightning flashes and thunder roars, so is one who seeks attention or hides pain
• As vacations and travel bring welcome breaks, so shared experiences and time bring greater understanding and perspective
• As fields are harvested, so completed work satisfies and brings provision
• As yards are mowed and gardens tended, so treat your own bodies with care
• As the smells of summer cooking waft through the air, so does the telling of stories and revisiting of sights renew and build memories
• As the sun’s light and heat engulf us, so may God’s Word fill us
• As water cools and refreshes, so does a positive spirit bring calm and hope
– from “As… so Proverbs”
Charlotte-Anne Allen
Unfurl
Tiny frond
Essence of spring …Safe
In its underground seclusion
Stirs within warming abode
Tight coil
Slowly stretching… Pushing
Through covering protective layers
Awakened from winters slumber
Fiddleheads
In feathery company… Emerging
Adding beauty to moist shade
Tucked among woodland passes
And so do we also
Stretch and reach to warming light
Gather strength and determination
Draw nourishment… Unfurl
Transformation
Oh! Wow! Look! Look! … Here it comes. Here it comes! It’s coming out!
Have you ever watched a caterpillar forming its chrysalis (cocoon) and then waited … and waited … to see it finally emerge? What an amazing transformation from a creeping crawling caterpillar to a graceful soaring butterfly!
Before the caterpillar enters its cocoon, it’s not just lying around or curled up in a ball somewhere, is it? Think of all that goes on during the long wait. It’s busily moving, finding just the right dinner table… and eating, eating, eating. It needs its nourishment to grow and to prepare for the future. I wonder if it is aware of the coming time of transformation.
What if that caterpillar, in its eagerness for that final vision, decided it wanted to skip the period of eating and growth? Or what if there was no time spent in the cocoon? It seems crazy to even consider that!
So many times in my life, like all of us, I set my sight too much on a final desired outcome. Like the caterpillar, we need nourishment to grow and to prepare. Like the developing butterfly, we surround ourselves with the presence of things that help us to become what we are meant to be. We need time to develop both physically, mentally, and spiritually. Learning new skills, gaining in knowledge and wisdom, and developing our faith are all vital pieces. They are the stuff of life, aren’t they?!
It’s easy to grumble about the need to wait, isn’t it? We impatiently shuffle our feet and are eager to be done with whatever we are waiting for… or to finally participate in a long-anticipated event, achieve our goal, or acquire some possession.
How often do we consider the process of waiting as our success and our purpose? Like the caterpillar busily eating and exploring, we take time to taste life. That reminds me of the Psalm that says, “taste and see that the Lord is good!” * We live the best we can and find contentment in Him. Even God waits! He waits for us to respond or to complete our tasks here. He waited for Noah to finish building the ark! *
I don’t often read in the book of Titus but came across a verse that says “to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait…” * Through the goodness of God, we are being transformed as we prepare for our final great transformation.
My prayer for us all is to live life fully and with contentment in our waiting.
* Psalm 34:8, 1 Peter 3:20, Titus 2:12
Charlotte-Anne Allen
“As… so” Proverbs for Springtime
- As the soil is tilled, so are we made ready to receive
- As seeds are planted, so are our thoughts guided
- As creatures emerge from winter shelters, so we step out to discover and grow
- As flowers rise from the earth, so life is reborn
- As the sun warms and draws new life, so kind words bring healing and hope
- As spring rains soak in and nourish, so the sharing of knowledge and wisdom betters our lives
- As wind tears and roars, so ill-spoken words tear and hurt
- As weeds are cleared to make room for desired plants, so removal of harmful relationships or habits encourages healthier lives
- As bushes are pruned and stronger growth results, so we gain wisdom and strength through trials and experience
- As flowers brighten and green buds burst forth, so music and laughter express joy and peace
– from “As… so Proverbs”
Charlotte-Anne Allen
Springing Upwards
Struggling warring twisting whirling
Cold and warmth do tear and battle
Fiercely roaring, toss and break
Snatching breath and striking ear
Yet sun’s bright shining speaks of promise
Fragile warming growing stronger
Coaxing life from bud and root
Drawing rising filling lifting
Oh, what life now lies within
Drawn from yesteryear’s memories
Midst cold reminders and warmth of hearths
Springing upwards, ever upwards once again
Bright Stars
Bright stars piercing the night with their clarity
Or shimmering through tree branches and distant cloud
What vastness and might you speak of!
What awesome power and beauty!
We look, we behold such majesty
Mind does not contain
The works of our Creator
And His great love for us
Stretch our arms wide
We who stand below in our smallness
Securely wrapped in the arms of God
Bright stars showing us His splendor
Weathering
When we awaken to the day
And things are bright and sunny
The sky is fair, and thoughts are clear
We’re eager to get started
Stretch our arms and raise our eyes
To the Maker of us all
To God give thanks and offer praise
He shines His light anew
When there come rumbles warning grumbles
Great flashes crashes gusty tempest
Skies are blanketed and heavy
Hearts fearful searching seeking
Stretch our arms and raise our eyes
To the Maker of us all
To God give thanks and offer praise
His strength and power overcomes
So, when the wind begins to shift
Or dark clouds drift our way
See the shaft of light break through
Be nourished by His cleansing rain
Stretch our arms and raise our eyes
To the Maker of us all
To God give thanks and offer praise
His care for us is true
On those cool morns of cloudy gray
When fog touches with fingers chill
There too is found a quiet peace
As His comforting hands enfold us
Stretch our arms and raise our eyes
To the Maker of us all
To God give thanks and offer praise
A place of rest within our struggles
In winter’s bite and icy dread
There’s beauty in the snowy white
As a joyful child in simple faith
He draws us to His warmth
Stretch our arms and raise our eyes
To the Maker of us all
To God give thanks and offer praise
May He shine on us anew
The Still Small Voice 