Flashing forth boldly
Not one to ignore
Bursting with energy
Life and death, love and war
Prosperity and fortune
For some weddings a fashion
To welcome and protect
Living life with great passion
Fire, danger, and fury
Sun’s glow in the morning
When anger arises
Heed now its warning
With life it flows…
Full, open, and free – is red
From “On Colors”
Charlotte-Anne Allen
• Joy and peace sound out from the heart
• Words and actions will peal far and wide
• A soft voice, like a carillon, sooths, calms, and brings enjoyment
• A welcome call for meals announces care and fellowship
• What we choose to consume in life brings nourishment or illness
• Unexpected announcements bring excitement or dread
• Be vigilant and heed warning signals when they come
• The tolling of bells draws attention to our own mortality
• Guard your senses and cling to faith to drive away harmful impulses
• Welcome joyful messengers both great and small
• Simple hands and strong cords are each of great value
• Victory celebrations and shouts of triumph lift spirits
• God’s calm strength rings out to all nations
• The ringing bell herds us back to the Shepherd
from “Reflections from the Everyday”
Charlotte-Anne Allen
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
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
from “Reflections from the Everyday”
• Unexpected or misunderstood actions can create alarm
• We raise the alarm when threatened or endangered
• It is wise not to ignore a warning
• When alarm is raised we may react unwisely or prematurely
• When we react unwisely others are affected
• We often emit foul odors when threatened
• Attempts to protect ourself may be perceived as being antisocial
• Beauty is difficult to see when we focus on the negatives
• Negative expectations can create bad outcomes
• Positive expectations guide peaceful encounters
• Skunks want to enjoy good food and family like we all do
The Still Small Voice 