Woods and the Rising Sun

It’s always a treat to be outside to meet the morning sun. The woods are at their best even for an audience of one. #getoutside. #PhotoPoetry. 

The sun comes up on the woods out behind our house. I can hear the woods come to life, while Black Brook rushes through the ravine below me.

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More Than A View

I think a lot of people would be better served if they could sit here for a week, or even two.

The isolation, creation so perfect, in thought and silence, would  be better than we usually do.

Autumn Rays

Some awake, and dread pins them to the warmth, a sigh instead of words to say.

Then, another looks at morning, embracing, God has granted me another day!

Early morning back yard. One of my favorite views.

2016 Election From A Small State Where It All Begins

It’s after 1am. I am wide awake. I couldn’t sleep if I wanted to. Not now anyways. This election for the President of the United States is not over, yet. Sitting here, I can still see Hillary Clinton pulling this out, and I can also see Donald J. Trump winning this election. Time will tell, and soon (hopefully).

Unfortunately, I have spent too much time on social media recently, mostly reading what others are saying. As I read comments, and more comments that are liked by the friends that I have who clearly have voted for Clinton, and the establishment; I am actually shocked. As I hypothetically apply such commentary to me personally, I am mortified at the things, names, titles, stereotypes, etc. that would be applied to me as a person. Now, in a different breath, I am certain that many, if not all, of these people who I know, do not see me as any of those things. Furthermore, regardless of the result in this election, I would shake hands with, or give a warm, welcoming hug to these people, were I to see them tomorrow. So, I battle the predicament of taking things personally, while pursuing what I hold dearest to me.

I didn’t write it, but I started to do so several times in the last few weeks. With the diversity found within our borders in this day and age, I find it nearly impossible that any one candidate could perfectly encapsulate, in platform, everyone’s best interest, or even one person’s. So that makes me wonder how outrageous and, quite frankly, frightening some of the commentary has been.

This is where I have to wonder how differently people see our country. I want to be proud of the United States of America, and mean it. I want our country to be great now, then, again, always. I want our people to be as safe as they can be. I value our veterans immensely, and they should be better cared for, always. I want my kids, and their kids, to be safe, and to have a place where Americans can get work, and perform in fields of employment with the best in the entire world. I do want one flag. One country. One God. I want us to be indivisible, maintaining liberty, and justice for all.

I have said for many years, that it is no mistake that the greatest organizations in the history of the world, have one thing, among other things, in common; and that is good leadership, good people, in positions, making good decisions. Personally, I feel as though our country has slacked off in this area, at an alarming rate for many, many years. I certainly don’t know what the future holds, but I do like hope.

As we pass 2am here in the East, one thing is absolutely certain; people are fed up with the way that politics have been done, and for some time now. At this point, only God knows who our next president will be. And I am good with that. God is the One I go to for help on these matters. Prayer, sincere, reverent prayer, when my ego, my plan, and my desires are shelved just to talk with God; this is when a clear, peaceful mind emerges. That is a good thing.

I am not against any one of any color, sex, or heritage being our president. Period. There is nothing to read into here. Listen, I am not a Hillary Clinton fan. She doesn’t come across to me as a loving, caring, sincerely interested in much outside of herself, type of person. Quite frankly, neither does Donald Trump. For the last two months, Hillary has told us in her ads and empty speeches, not specifically what she will do, and worse, she has stepped on opponents in an attempt to raise herself up. That last point is the only commercial loop I have seen from her for weeks and weeks. I get it, Trump is no angel either. To each of us, some things resonate, and other things do not.

After much prayer and research on the facts, and the promises yet to be kept, it became clear in which direction I would go.

So, here it is, in my own words, my own thoughts. I don’t know how you were raised, but I do know how many of my friends were raised. I see it like this. In my day, the household, especially us teens at the time, were always a little fearful when Dad was coming home, after we had been acting up. Because Dad would get the report from Mom, and discipline would follow, and guess what, rightfully so. Well, my friends, and each of you, in my opinion, we, the USA, have been acting up for some time. Whether or not Mr. Trump wins this election, people are fearful because just the thought of the instrument of correction coming back to the United States has turned this election into a dead heat that almost nobody saw coming. Correction and discipline in our society, it is so badly needed. Our quite imperfect founding fathers would be laughing at us for becoming the soft, whiney, entitled country that we have become. I don’t want that for us, for any of us. The left, the right, whatever, I want America to be great again, for every one of us. We may live in a great lifestyle, with freedoms that we enjoy, yet we are a still a shadow of what we once were, as a country.

Well, there you have it. I went there. A political piece on a night that won’t end. I haven’t said a whole lot to anyone about this stuff, so here, I share my opinion, or at least some of it. Thank you for your patience, from a small state in the northeast.

Night Lights in NH

Check the forecast at http://www.gi.alaska.edu.

There are different maps to choose from, but this one is my favorite.

I am a family man living in southern New Hampshire, USA. I live where I live, and in the middle of the night, without venturing from home, I see what I see.

I gaze at the night sky from just north of the 43rd parallel. But on night’s like last night, the forecast was special. Rated a 6 out of 10, or a ‘high’. And the map showed that I would be well above the viewing line of the north horizon. Were I further north, or higher in elevation, my views would have been even more impressive. Then again, you never know if cloud cover will override the forecast, too. So, upon seeing the forecast for last night, I was happy to see that there was not a cloud anywhere to be seen.

It started with no moon and a bright starry sky.

Now, I am not very good at taking pictures, especially at night, but I do try. A lot. These pictures honestly don’t do the scene justice, but I wanted to share them so that others might also #getoutside and see that there is just so much to see.

I live where I live, so I see what I can see. Looking north over the top of my neighbor’s house.

I was outside from 12:30 am until just after 2:00 am. It was 39°F, and the breeze was doing all it could to be upgraded to a full-fledged wind. After my eyes adjusted I was amazed at the light, even with no visible moon. Just stars, and these dancing lights on the horizon.

I waited, and I watched. looking for the light.

I used the tripod (awesome gift from my kids, a few years back), my camera, and I stood in my front yard, grinning. I must admit that I was tired, and probably a little giddy too. I thanked the Lord out loud, and I prayed off and on. I sang the words to How Great Thou Art, and I had an absolute blast out there by myself, watching the sky.

Then, it started. The light show I have been hoping to see.

Even though I didn’t want to go inside, I figured that at some point I had to go in and sleep. So, shortly after 2:00 am, I went inside. I checked the temperature, still 39°F. And I went upstairs to bed.

Blurry, yes, but wow. The colors rise up illuminate the sky.

From upstairs the view was even more impressive, but I didn’t want to shoot pictures through the screens. Or, open the windows to the cool breezes and freeze out my wife. Minutes after I climbed into bed, our youngest son came into our room and climbed into bed. I noticed that he was wide awake. Then father and son, had a nice little moment as I held him up high to the window and let him stare at the lights on the horizon. I asked him if he knew what they were called (he’s 6 years old). He said, “Yes, they are the Southern Lights”. Close enough. He corrected himself and then referenced the movie ‘The Polar Express’. We enjoyed this moment somewhere around 2:30 am. He was nearly as excited as I had been.

As if the stars weren’t enough, God arranged more lights for the show last night.

Then, finally, with everyone tucked into bed, I found sleep. I am willing to bet that I fell asleep with a smile on my face. I thoroughly enjoyed being out in the cool, clean, crisp air, watching the skies and all of the beauty found across this vast space. All from my little spot here in NH, where trees in all directions block most of the views to the horizon. One day, or night, I’ll get to an open, elevated, space when the forecast is 5 or higher, and I’ll watch.

Amazing!

I had so much fun watching these lights.

I watched and kept taking picture after picture.

Finally I called it a night. Buy, my oh my, what a delight!

What Did You Do Today?

It was you I came to see, I chose this to do with my day
In tears, I left, just how much do these troubles weigh

Tone, I can handle some, but I tripped over the string,
The slim grasp of matter from where the words you sling

Love is hard sometimes, but it’s always better than the dark
Where the evil dwell, taking aim to hit their mark

I can’t put myself in your skin, in kindness I visit each time
Are we that close to the end, there’s no telling what we’ll find

Looking for a sliver in the shredded mound left of hope
Measured, I smile, looking for my way along the tightrope

My eyes peer down, lit with love, and warmth inherited
Objective, careful, and with respect, I thought, words merited

Maybe God’s will and the plan in that mind are the same
I know for sure there’s no one across from you to blame

So, wearily I’ll lay my head to rest long after the sun has set
Thinking on you, my last thoughts long for your rest, you can bet

God Bless the USA, Let’s Pray

I don’t need science to tell me that meditation repairs brain matter

Just bow your head and talk to Him, void of all the societal chatter

 

See, there are places all around you can find a spot filled in silence

Here, at least for now, my walk and talk with Jesus, is my license

 

Go to some quiet place, exhale, bow in reverence, and just pray

List every little thing you are thankful for if you need words to say

 

Ask with respect, Lord please give me direction in these areas of life

Better yet, kneel beside your bed together, praying, husband and wife

 

Then maybe look inside yourself, find the hidden, and set it free

Talk with Him about it, all of it, don’t open your eyes, and you’ll see

 

It’s okay to ask Him for help here, where else would you rather go

There’s always an answer whether we understand or not, God knows

 

Which came first the Power of the Almighty or the power of repentance

I know it changes hearts, much less the obvious, our countenance

 

Pray at length for our leaders instead of complaining about him or her

We all long for the way that it was, so bend a knee, that’s how we were

 

Bring your grievances to the bench of the Supreme Judge in humility

Don’t carry them another day, have faith, it’ll be better for you, and we

 

It’s heard across this great land less and less, God Bless the USA

Maybe we’re the problem, let’s find a place, bow our heads, let’s pray