Night throws its dark mantle across the land
as rising moon
joins silver
scattered
stars.
JDG
Night throws its dark mantle across the land
as rising moon
joins silver
scattered
stars.
JDG
Wandering minds, just
sweeping around, stirring up
dust of discontent.
JDG
Dark clouds overhead,
but in the distance the sky,
though not cloudless, holds
more light. Tomorrow it may
be the other way.
Such is the ever-shifting
nature of all our journeying.
JDG
That Christmas cactus
is bursting with blooms,
embodying wisdom we
need to see – wisdom
of deserts and blooming,
of waiting and hope.
JDG
This year March marches
to a different drummer –
two days, side by side,
with full sun, wide open skies.
If only we would join this march
with clear minds and open hearts
and follow the lead
of such a drummer.
JDG
No ripple disturbs
the pond’s clear surface as day
begins. Trees stand tall
and motionless. The sky is
empty of calling
birds or shape-shifting clouds. May
the winds within grow
as silent as the winds without.
May my heart be as open
as the cloudless sky above.
JDG
In a brief conversation with the very accomplished organist at his Baptist Church, Roger learned that she was a Muslim and her mother was from Iran. Touched by her presence in their congregation, he wrote the following poem and despite his concerns about how it might be received, he gave it to her at the end of a Sunday service. The next Sunday she put his mind to rest when she turned from the organ, looked out over the congregation, located Roger, and gave him a warm smile.
Ordination Wondering
A woman,
a woman hustles
back and forth,
back and forth,
serving, weaving
in and out of our
worship.
She, in part,
rooted and nourished
by worlds
I know not,
many of us know
not.
The music,
our interactions,
are we connecting,
are we drawing
together?
My view?
Perhaps God
has ordained you,
perhaps we
have ordained you,
selected you,
placed hands on you,
to wear a collar,
to be a priest
with us,
in the work
God wants to
accomplish,
in this part of
the world,
at this time
in the world.
Roger Bruce Giffen Pittard
,
Pine trees sway,
branches waving in the wind.
The big Spring dance begins.
JDG
I was as prepared
as I could be for the storm
that wasn’t. Is it
human nature to want at
least some lightning for my pains?
JDG
Sometimes my mind goes looking for trouble
and then loudly
complains it
can’t find
peace.
JDG