Lasting Love

Lasting Love Copyright Doug Blair, Waterloo ON, 2020

Vines

Planted in good soil Two of them By loving hands At the base of the wall.

Peaceful place.

Flourishing green In sunny days Grasping the bricks

1

With little tendrils.

Gaining height And resilience.

Bracing somewhat brittle In the chills.

Playing children Would pass them by In happy times shared.

Birds sang at housetop Perhaps hiding for Moments in their green.

Bases became sturdier As God would have it.

Winds caressed The tinier extensions.

But those two vines Ever moving upward Skyward in Grace Appeared as just One Intertwined Content Supportive Bearing witness to

2

Lasting things of love.

Isaiah 54: 10-13

Thinketh No Evil (1 Corinthians 13)

John Mortimer creator of Rumpole, that animated barrister

Have you smiled? That’s right just that. The person receiving the gesture probably looked a little puzzled. Was I some long lost friend? Was his zipper open or some other unanticipated faux pas?

3

Finally that one realizes it was just an act of goodwill or neighbourliness. Next comes the regret that thoughts should have been suspicious or guarded. Yes and so often these days we are expecting something cynical or hostile.

This makes courtesy and well-wishing such precious commodities.

“Hey Buddy you are OK And this is a special and precious day to be sharing somehow.” Be blessed. Stay safe. Give yourself a breather every little while. It isn’t as bad out here as you might think.”

“This face opposite you has not been grousing or hosting the chip on the shoulder or wanting to relay-pass some nasty bit of hurt or embarrassment. Just being friendly.”

And oh yes the sun will come out tomorrow. Little Orphan Annie was right.

Taking the Elements

4

We take it

And humble neighbours

Pass the plates

Waiting for Pastor’s words

”This do remembering.”

Small bread morsel

And images arise

Of the whip and jeers

Of stripes for healing sake.

5

Chewing, ingesting with thanks.

Then the little goblet

Of regal purple.

The stuff He came to share.

Humanity, vulnerability

In the precious flow

Poured forth.

And one can see

Prayers of struggle

6

In that Olive Garden

Til obedient resolve

Accomplished

And accompanying

All the way up

Via Dolorosa.

Again the under-shepherd says

�This do.�

We drink and savour.

7

First Corinthians eleven

Brings focus.

Searching selves but

With Holy Spirit equipping.

Family likeness arising

Around the Room.

Worldwide Body remembered

And treasured uniquely.

Til He comes.

8

​https://momentsmidstream.blogspot.com/2011/08/on-into-evening.html

Voyageurs

The two of you Have travelled much To scope the world of men You’ve scaled the cliffs And crossed the seas And flown time and again.

You planned the ways And special days When celebration led When times of learning Sights so rich Would pull you from your beds.

But now there comes A special trip A journey of two hearts As man and wife Secure this bond And finest teamwork starts.

Not always right Not always peace Some trials are sure to rise But persevere My children dear 9

You’ll have your paradise A trusting hold A wealth like gold And history cherished long It starts today Forgive, hope, pray And build your marriage song.

Uplifted MARCH 4, 2017​ / ​ISSUUDOTCOMSLASHDEWANE​ /​

The smile can be sent

10

To that lady so old

Who pushes her walker

In spite of the cold

Who heads to the diner

Though slippery the street

And holds to the hope

Some kind people she’ll meet.

Or look to that mother

Who reigns the kids in

And single these three years

11

And no it’s no sin

That she should be struggling

The bills and the house

And two jobs both part-time

No thanks to the spouse.

And smile for the young man

So new at his task

And offer kind pointers

If ever he’ll ask

He so wants to fit in

12

And many seem gruff

And yes he has fouled up

The skills often tough.

You see here an ointment

A blessing so dear

And really so simple

And you Friend are here

To offer an uplift

That might change the day

For some who are struggling

13

In life’s fickle way.

Shoulders

You’re up on my shoulders

And tugging my hair

And laughing

For all you hold dear.

And Daughter

I’d carry you anywhere

Delighting that you

14

Cling so near.

The sun is at apex

And waves wash my feet

And time has been

Frozen it seems.

Oh will you remember

When years pull apart

Our walks and our talks

And our dreams?

This Father is weeping

15

In spite of the joy

For blessings

Unearned in your smile.

And thinking the Father

Has carried me high

And kept me from harm

All the while.

https://adopttheworld.blogspot.com/2016/06/seated-high.html

16