snowscape

Not unlike the sand, blown about by the wind,

with morning light slanting across it.

Not unlike the mountains, shaped by the Master's hand,

splashed with gold at daybreak.

back to the birds

It is cold, cold and blustery.

Inside it is cozy, cozy and comfortable.

I still read the blogs about Haiti,

I am still researching the challenges of African refugees.

Yet somehow, my focus is shifting-

the times I feel compelled to pack my bags and do something

tangibly fewer.

I think, "perhaps next time,

next time when the kids are a bit older...".

And so it is with the world,

Haiti is no longer the headlines,

and African refugees seldom are.

Not so for the broken,

pieced together with relief and despair, grief and hope.

We may not forget to care

even though we get back to

all things normal.

Neema's child

Young mother, burdened by sorrows,

running from a past of brutal armed men

destroyers of family, home and all that was.

Wee child, your only haven was your mother's arms,

your heavenward flight from constant hunger

adding another burden to your mama's heart.

Aah child, I cry for you, and your mother,

and feel that we have failed you.

That we could have done more,

anything to bring you sooner to this promised land.

Tiny girl you know no fear, you feel no hunger:

you are in the Promised Land.

Tiny Mukandekezi, a year and a half old

died from malnutrition in a refugee camp.

The paperwork to bring her and her mother and brother here

in a stack of applications at the immigration office.

Another sad story among the millions.

imperfect world

The blowing of the wind,

the heat of the sun,

the turning of the earth,

the sometimes warm

and the sometimes cold

leave their marks

and create something imperfect,

but worthy.

The winds blow

the sun warms

the earth shifts

days and nights that pass

shape and mark....

...and we pray for restoration.

blessed

The tragedy of Haiti weighs heavy on my mind.

We sleep peacefully, comfortably, soundly.

In the morning we rise, we dress, we eat.

Our days task are normal, we are easily capable of performing them.

We hug our family, phone our friends.

At the grocery store I am aware of endless bottles of water, aisles of food.

I purchase tulips to usher in the feeling of spring.

Our vehicles carry us to and fro, for work and pleasure.

Appliances clean for us, media entertains us.

We cook, plentiful, nourishing food, presented on a clean crisp table cloth, candles glowing.

I think about it all day long,

feeling almost guilty about being so blessed

living life unscathed

and wondering why not me?

Jack's cousin Karen works in Haiti, tirelessly, selflessly. Another cousin is on his way to help.

Check out her blog: haiticoramdeo.blogspot.com

Love turned into action!

The school that we support is flattened, but Randy stayed behind to help his teachers and students.

Check out their blog: randyandkarenlodder.blogspot.com

Committment!

"come Lord Jesus"

"Earthquakes, war and rumours of war"

Signs of the end of time, yet catastrophes that have befallen mankind since the beginning.

Unbelievable grief in Haiti, unbelievable pain in Africa. I've been researching the refugee camps in Kampala, Uganda and the unbearable situation that the refugees live in, for a presentation that our church refugee sponsorship committee is preparing. I've been trying to keep tabs on what is going on with a christian school in Haiti that our church supports.

What can we do as we are moved by compassion? What can we do but pray....

and my heart is warmed by the memory of my little girl who went up to her room to pray, for Neema and Liliane and for the people in Haiti.

Make us all an instrument oh Lord.

Give us love that shows compassion and becomes action.

perfect winter day

A perfect winter day

for tying on little skates,

and trying on big dreams

framed in red.