Frost

Feathery spikes of numbing embrace
Drawn from that unseen, yet touched

Transforming changing cooling
Gathering under night’s covering

Or written by fog’s chill greeting
Air heavy with enfolding moisture

Growing delicate dainty arrays
Splendid intricate formations

Look closely in simple wonder
Upon its quiet arrival

Shining upon leaf and blade
Season’s brush raised in salute

Rising from earth’s frozen womb
Signpost of Jack’s dark days

Pointed touch banishing leaf and bud
To bide their time for warmer days

…Now crushed beneath heavy trod
Or vanishing upon warm touch and light

To await once more its rising

Reflections on Rice

• It takes a seed to form ideas to have a vision for great things
• We often underestimate the impact of one life upon another
• The effect of one person will have lasting results
• Fear and uncertainty can blind us or hold us back from taking positive steps
• Sometimes we need to remove things which prevent us from growing and becoming
• Cultivate good qualities and use them to benefit others
• A single skill or interest has endless possibilities for expression
• We absorb attitudes, assumptions, ideas, expectations, and philosophies from everything around us
• It is prudent to keep a clear head and take time for contemplation before making decisions and following a chosen course
• Let experience bring calmer responses and clearer insight
• Offering encouragement and value to others is like water to sustain a body
• Food for the soul comes from God, the great provider and source of life

From “Reflections from the Everyday”
“Charlotte-Anne Allen

Connections

Building growing forming joining
Connections produce the larger whole

Dot-to-dot, white country fences,
Friends and neighbors, family

Look around you everywhere
All with places or parts to play

Birds sitting upon a line,
Small child clinging to your hand

Business office, work and play
Emails filling texts exchanging

But best of all formed and strong
Speaking caring come together

Making connections
To last and treasure