The 60-Second Sabbath: September 2023

Oh, But I Love My T-Shirt Wisdom

Yes, all really appearing on T-shirts.
I've been collecting these for a while,
so here we go:

----

Am I perfect?
No.
But am I trying to be
a better person?
Also no.

----

A penny for
your thoughts
seems a bit pricey.

----

    To quote Hamlet,
        Act II,
            Scene III,
                Line 92,
                    "No."

----

    I don't have the
    TIME
    or the
    CRAYONS
    to explain this
        to you.

----

I bake so I don't
choke people.
Save a life;
send eggs.

----

List of people I like:
1) Dogs

[ I would substitute "Cats."]

----

    In my defense,
     the kids were
         screaming first.

[This could apply to Sunday School teachers
as well as parents.]

----

HUNKLE
Like an uncle but
way better looking.

----

I'm out of SNACKS.
What else do people
do for fun.

----

[And finally, for me:]

    Books
    Helping introverts
    avoid conversation
          since 1454.

----

Hope you have enjoyed!

Text and image © 2023 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.
Visit The60SecondSabbath.com, where spirit and image merge.

Posted at 12:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Hospital, Day 10

I wrote the following on my 10th day in the hospital,
August 10, 2022:

Today a friend stopped by to visit;
he brought a card that read:

    Know what I say
        when I see bad things happen
    to good people?
        That really sucks.

And that, friends,
is exactly what is needed--
not "Things will get better,"
not "It could be worse,"
not "God has a plan,"
but simply this:

That really sucks.

To have my suffering and frustration
acknowledged?
Best. Comfort. Ever.

I know all the rest is true,
but right now what I really need
is just this:

That really sucks.

So to all of you suffering today:

That really sucks.

I mean it,
and you can say it loudly,
without apology;

This really sucks.

And I'm truly sorry.

Text and image © 2023 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.
Visit The60SecondSabbath.com, where spirit and image merge.

Posted at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sometimes,
unexpectedly,
Joy rushes in,
overfilling me,
pushing aside my bored, dusty ego
(with startling strength),
and I AM,
in that moment,
in the moment,
and all is present,
and all is Presence,
and nothing else matters
but to rest into the wonder
of whatever joy wants.

What Joy intends--
and what Joy does--
is to purge me,
like blowing out the sprinkler system
before the first freeze:
Woosh!

Joy purges,
then flows into the empty me
with the needed:
autumn tree ablaze in gold,
    cats entwined before the fire,
smell of bread in the oven,
    warmth of his touch,
burning (yearning) for all things holy
    (for all things are then holy).

What Joy wants,
Joy gets,
pouring in,
like now.

Text and image © 2023 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.
Visit The60SecondSabbath.com, where spirit and image merge.

Posted at 08:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Unsolicited Advice

If your words demean,
divide,
dismiss,
deride,
toss them in the trash.

If your words belittle,
besmirch,
reject,
refuse,
tape shut your mouth.

If your words invite,
include,
incubate,
inspire,
delight in their warmth.

If your words hold,
help,
honor,
heal,
remain humble and give thanks.

Better still--
speak not at all--
only listen,
sitting in love with God.

Text and image © 2023 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.
Visit The60SecondSabbath.com, where spirit and image merge.

Posted at 01:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Cross

'Tis death a'dyin' on the cross.
'Tis death itself a'dyin'.
'Tis not our sins, the marks we miss,
For such have been forgiven.

No judgin', tryin', shame nor guilt,
no justice left to serve,
'Cause love's response to stumblin' all
Is more love in reserve.

Forgiven all afore we ask--
Afore we know the need.
Such love's extravagant and large
And loosed before the deed.

'Tis death a'dyin' on the cross.
'Tis life that then is freed.

Posted at 02:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Power

Power and control
are the vices of the misguided.

True power belongs to God:
the power of meekness,
the power of surrender,
the power of sacrifice.

God lonely, frightened,
    God ignored, forgotten,
    God beaten, spit upon,
    God mocked, bleeding,

God carrying their own death device
past hordes of the hateful,
God pierced, dying, grieving, forgiving,
releasing all.

Behold the power of God.

Not the illusory power of politics or guns,
pulpits or celebrity,
sports or wealth.

The power of God is weakness,
and only through weakness,
resurrection.

Posted at 06:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Loving Through It

Letting go--
releasing expectations,
    dropping my desire for any particular response,
letting others be who they are,
    each on their own journey to You,
sloughing off the misunderstandings,
    the unwanted, unneeded advice,
smiling, nodding,
    loving through it.

Loving through it.

I have changed;
I am better (slightly? more than slightly)
at letting go.

And loving through it.

Still, I have my moments:
I judge. I critique.
Ego bullies its way forward.
And these moments, too, can be released, redeemed,
letting go of my own slips,
my own misunderstandings.

Loving myself through it.

Let go.
Release expectations.
Drop the desire for any particular response.

Let everyone be
who they are,
each on their own (unique) way to You.

Loving our way through it.
Loving each other through it.
Loving ourselves through it.

You
loving your way
through us.