Hope for New Year

Hebrews 11:1 
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Here I close the door of this old year and hopefully and faithfully opening the window of a brand New Year!
Call the family and friends, write to loved ones, or keep them in heart and thoughts with good wishes for a happy new year!
Make new year resolutions -- uselessly since I don't keep them. 
It is time to be faithful that hopes will come true, that the road of life will lead forward in joy and peace. 
Now it is time to hope for things unseen and have the faith that they will come true!

Cry to deaf ears

What should I do
with shattered hopes
and unresponded prayers?
When is no hope,
when is no faith,
no miracles can happen.
A broken heart,
a painful cry --
Do You hear our prayer?

The day after

Punishment that I deserve
to pay for sins
to cry out loud
and drink the cup
to empty.
Will never be the same
but after dying.

Like fishing net

Look behind and see
the search and struggle.
Each point in life
a knot
So many choices --
     strings in the life's
     fishing net.

The shadow

Like leaves in Fall
Our life is fading.
A time to grow
A time to die --
leaving behind
a shadow.

Change

Captive of my things
searching in a maze
to find my soul
when knowing where it is.
How hopeless one should be
to change the road?

Black sheep

Will tears help?
Can't change the past
Can only hope the future.
But choose the moment new.
Captive in this life
I sold my soul to things.
I lost the way...
Black sheep.

The lost

The lost road --
     when there is no return.
The lost time
     when is no time ahead.
The lost soul
      when crying out to God
Is there any salvation?

The net of life

Each step, a knot in the net
Each choice like a path to the road;
there is a way to go.
Risk -- to see what will come.
Next knot
there is another choice!

Don't carry the past in your backpack
the load
more than you can take.
Pack hope, and faith, and love.
Don't carry the pain.
Forgive and let heal.
Your eyes on the road
Your heart full of hope --
share it,
give always with love.

Sunday church

Sunday morning
breaking off
from the bed.
The hustle of morning
cars coming and going
speed rushing, impatient.
The bells are all ringing.
We go to plug in!
Cross off: Church, Faith
on Sunday's To Do list.
What do you say God?

Malfunction

This shell __
my body.
Malfunction in pain.
Should be a fix
to bring back what was
going so well.

Stuff

The feeling of guilt
to have
to be in a better place.
Fruits of hard work,
however.

Too many things
stuff around, useless.
What is the value__
the meaning
of life
of being
of having,
and having too much?!

Just a hobo myself

The rain
like little drums in the window --
cold and wet.
How many tonight
under the bridge,
in a corner,
soaked card boards,
freezing rain.
While under and between
dawn blankets...
How am I better
than them?
Just a hobo myself.

Choices

So many different ways
to live - another life.
What would have been
another choice?
Less freedom,
more wisdom,
or risk.
So different __
it would have been
another life!

Empty noise

There is a sadness in my heart,
for being restless in this life.
A life for to do;
busy running.
The noise
disturbing the peace __
like a nagging rain
in the darkness of the night.

Autumn

The colors of autumn
how wonderful creation
God's delight
for our eyes.

Crisp and cold air
Sunshine
translucid yellow leaves.
There is something
to say good bye, and
see you in the Spring!

Prodigal Son

What should I do
with my talents;
if I am stuck in a place.
To know is my blame,
my sins to forgive.
Like Prodigal Son __
I beg your forgiveness,
and ask again for
one more bright chance.

Heaven's connection

The surprise, the hope, and joy
The pain, the sorrow, and grief
Mary you lived them all
to be every woman's connection
to Heaven and God.

The pain of mothers

Nothing is more precious
than little hands rising to embrace.
How happy were you Mary
cuddling your Son.
How painful seeing Him
embrace the heavy cross.
To loose him
To understand, the pain of mothers
with their children lost.

Hope

The things not known
The Hope not seen
The weakest faith
a glimpse of what could be...
Surrender in God's will
and hope against Hope.

Not meant to be

Hope
for things not yet seen,
Just let it go!
If did not come to real --
was never meant to be.

Good Friday

There is no hope in my soul
No strength to cry out loud to
         God, my Lord.
No faith, no miracles to trust in.
Just empty heart
        a barren soul
gently offered to God
as ultimate act of Love.
It is finished.
Amen.

To let go

Time cannot come back
Of all that is lost -
none will ever return.
To let it go -
       easy to say.
Like putting a burden to ground.
Accept it -- let go.
The burden of pain.

Near dawn

To hope and trust
To ask and wait
and let it go
all of old.
The pain be gone
The dawn of tomorrow
      is near...

Can you hear me?

What kind of nature in other Heavens
based on faith only.
How are your days?
What do you do?
How far or close?
When we cry out -
can you hear us?

Like little ones

Without worry
like children,
like little white dogs
      sniffing in grass and yellow flowers.
Knowing that God is in control.
To trust and hope,
        believe, and let it go!

Faith

It is not in the oil
rather is in Faith,
          in Hope, and Love
that we can find the courage
         and strength to go on.
All Saints, and all who still believe - to help us.

To find in our weakness
the limits of that Knowledge,
a glimpse of understanding.
The rest all melts in God's mercy and love.

Her voice

If I would just have
as much faith
Like the old Lady
singing from top of her lungs
in front of the Virgin
Her voice
    so loving
    so pure
    so faithful...

Like tinsel

White garments in golden

         tinsel-like margins

So pure and clean

So honored

So simple

Mother of God

            of Mercy and Grace

Hear our prayer. 

Readings 17

"If we confess our sins, 

He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins 

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 1:9

Time of lent is always time for repentance.

Pope Bendict XVI has shown us what humility and meekness means. He was humble and taught us what Jesus was asking: Do not think you are better than the other and know that you are the servant of all.

I have the tendency to think and act as if I would know better than the other. I also have a hard time accepting that I am wrong.

Often times I correct the others and have no patience to listen and wait till they finish their talk.

A good lesson in humility and thankfulness that god loves me no matter what!

Readings 16

"There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, "And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?" This too is vanity and it is a grievous task."

Ecclesiastes 4:8

There is one month since my last post when I was talking about that there is a time to be well and a time to be sick. The next day 1/11 a Friday I was hit by the flu! It was long, miserable, painful, and still continue with sinus and ear infection. Ha, there is a time for everything....isn't it?

Today's quote is also from my favorite book from New Testament, Ecclesiastes. So much for all the toil and sweat in work, the white and long work nights, and the weeks that seem to be a marathon of labor, and not personal time, no unplug from the work till one has dreams about the work being late and wakes up in panic.

A friend of mine gave me for Christmas Getting Things Done – The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, by David Allen (2001). Started reading it then but did not get to finish it. I am mid way through and so far ALL that the author says I do, but I still work 60-hour weeks and am behind always and stressed.

What for? 

This too is vanity and it is chasing of the wind!

Readings 15

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven- A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Now for one entire week I battled a bad cold. Not the flu - at least I tell myself given I got the flu shot.
The first two days I kept telling myself is not a big deal and I will just ignore it. But then when it knocked me down I had to accept and give in. Teas and medicine, nose blowing and wiping, headache and watery eyes, finally heavy breathing and coughing.

There is a time for everything under the Sun. A time to be healthy and a time to be sick. A time to work and a time to rest. A time for laugh and a time for cry.

There is a time for everything -- we know it. The big task is to recognize and accept the time when it comes.
In the end we will have to give in.

Readings 14

The Lord bless you, and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine on you,

And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance on you,

And give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

In this new year with all the gloomy news regarding fiscal cliff, increase in taxes and prices accordingly. More loans and less savings, global changes in weather, drought and floods in different parts of the planet, wars and killings of innocents ... What else is left than to just hope against all hope that the strength will be according to the hardship and difficulties we encounter in the new year.

Days will pass and people will die; just as mornings will come every day and babies will be born every minute of the day.

Take one day at a time.
Take time to do good and love yourself as you love your neighbor (or your work for that matter!).
Go forward since only then you will find what is to come up next.
Bend under the storm and strong winds since only that way you will not break!
Take time to look back and also to wish for the future.
And most of all, do not loose hope and do not despair since all shall pass.
The good will fade as the pain also.
We are so small and insignificant compared to the Universe. However, the Universe is in us and we ARE it.

Readings 13

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, 

 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; 

 My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalms 18:2

Happy New Year 2013!


May it be full of hope that brings the better in all;
May it be peaceful to everyone and bring the love and good will in the world;
May it be prosperous and help the sharing of the goods with all those in need;
May it be this Year of faith in things unseen the one that brings all closer to God.