Among Weeds – A Tanka Poem

Weeds can overwhelm

or so it can often seem.

But, look more closely

and you can surely find hope.

The rose . . . delicate yet strong.

by Martha L Shaw – Words and Images Copyright 4-20-2013

Weekly Photo Challenge: Up

Here are but a few examples depicting “up”

as my heart sees it:

Photography Copyright 4-18-2013 Martha L Shaw

Six Word Friday – Bloom

Click the image and join the fun!

Rain ceases – birds sing – flowers bloom!

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Words and pictures

By Martha L Shaw © 4-12-2013

Daily Prompt: Stranded

The Challenge: You’re stranded in a foreign city for a day with no money and no friends. Where do you go; what do you do?

Wow.  Here I am . . . the girl who craves intimacy of those she loves . . . here in a fabulous foreign city . . . but broke and with no friends.  Sure, we have all been broke from time to time, or thought we were.  Who among us has not, at some point, felt abandoned . . . but this time it’s the real thing, for a day anyway.  What to do?

1. Run to the library?  Can’t read the language.
2. Hang out at the mall?  Alone in a crowd and no money – worse.
3. Walk around and admire the city?  The loneliness is like a chill in the air.

What to do?  Where to go?  

Hmmmm . . . the churches, cathedrals, shrines . . . amazing sacred spaces representing the presence of the divine to so many faithful over so many hundreds of years . . . I could never be alone there.  Oh, the buildings might be empty to the eyes, those orbs of the body, but not to the soul . . . not this soul anyway.  Armed with my backpack, plenty of pens and a fresh notebook, and the remains of peanuts from the plane trip here and my last bottle of water, I set off.  How can I describe my day?  The day I dreaded wasn’t long enough for all the blessings before me . . . and I can’t wait to go back again!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Lost in the Details

Love this challenge!  Getting lost in the details means, to me, an invitation to slow down a bit and appreciate God’s creation at a deeper level than I normally would in this rush and hurry world.

Hope of Spring

Copyright 3-1-2013 – Martha L Shaw

Hope of Spring

My heart,

Still chilled from the long hard winter,

Fluttered just a bit

At the sight of

A simple, tiny flower

Poking its pretty face

Above the cold ground

By the rocks and trees

In the woods nearby.

Smiling,

I realize the coldness in my heart,

Like the snow,

Has begun to melt.

By Martha L Shaw © 3-1-2013

Pizza Bagel Tease

Since I already teased you with photographs of my first ever homemade bagels, I will now tease you with my first ever homemade pizza bagels from yesterday’s adventure:

Superbowl snacking, watching the game, writing, ah, Sunday night peace and restful fun.  Feeling blessed.

Images of Grace and Glory!

Copyright 2003-2013 Martha L Shaw

Joy UNCEASING!

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To the heart that wants to sing, 

there will ALWAYS be a song!

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Words and images by Martha L Shaw Copyright   2007-2013

Six Word Saturday – Jesus

 

Fifth

Day

With

My

Newborn

King!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Surprise

What does surprise really mean?  Thinking about it, I know that I’ve enjoyed a “surprise” from when I was very young.  Thinking about it further, I suddenly realized that in some ways the words change and surprise are not all that different.  One merely has come to receive a more  positive response and the other a more negative one, not unlike weeds versus wild flowers.  An odd bit of greenery grew in my yard not long after I moved here.  I nearly sprayed it with weed killer.  I’m glad I didn’t because this beauty surprised me one morning soon after I considered spraying:

Changes . . . surprises . . . weeds . . . wild flowers . . . when we approach life with an open heart, the surprise, the greatest surprise of all, is the joy which erupts from deep within the soul!  This is a season for the celebration of the greatest surprise of all.  The birth of a baby who was also a King.  He came to earth to suffer for our redemption.  Wow, think of being a peasant girl asked to give Him birth!  As your rip the paper and bows from packages this coming week, consider the real surprise and joy the day celebrates!

Merry CHRISTmas!

Participate in the Weekly Photo Challenge!  Click here for more details!