seed

crocus in my backyard this morning

This is a good resurrection poem:

Seed by Luci Shaw

God dug his seed

into dry, dark earth

After a sprouting up

in hopeful birth

and healing bloom

and garland grace,

he buried it again

in a darker place.

Twice rudely planted seed,

root, rise in me

and grow your green again,

your fruited tree.

I hope you have a good Saturday.

Jane

Country

I'm a fan of country music. Sometimes I think it's because I grew up listening to it as it was played in my Dad's basement work room. I even thought my Dad looked like Johnny Cash. He had that same wavy hair on top. Dad also liked Alan Jackson. There's a new song by Alan Jackson that reminds me of my Dad. Here are some of the lyrics of Small Town Southern Man:

Finally death came callin'

For this small town southern man

He said it's alright cause I see angels

And they got me by the hand

Don't you cry, and don't you worry

I'm blessed, and I know I am

'Cause God has a place in Heaven

For a small town southern man.

chorus:

And he bowed his head to Jesus

And he stood for Uncle Sam

and he only loved one woman

(He) was always proud of what he had

He said his greatest contribution

Is the ones you leave behind

Raised on the ways and gentle kindness

Of a small town Southern man.

My Dad was a great guy and I miss him.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

sun

Last year my daughter took me to a Patty Griffin concert and I became a fan. One of her songs keeps going through my head. It's a song about spring and the sun and the feelings you have when you get to go out without all the winter garb. The song is Burgundy Shoes and the lyrics of the last verse are:

The leaves are green and new like a baby

Tulips are red, now I don't miss the snow

It's the first day I don't wear my big boots

You hold my hand, I've got burgundy shoes

Sun

It's only supposed to be near 50 today but I am happy with that. It's been a while.

Hope you are having a good day,

Jane

easter bunny

Happy Easter

When you have snow on Easter you make snowbunnies.

Grace and Peace, Jane

twigs

A week ago today, I put some forsythia twigs in some water and they have bloomed! It reminded me of this poem.

Quickening by Mark A. Noll

Dead trees draw life
when the days expand and the sun
fulfills its promise, oft delayed
by the clutch of ice.

Clotted, gnarled, knotted twigs
on the trees sense sap and the death
of death. They stretch, begin
to puff green on the end.

Men sing new songs
of a Life laid down for rebirth
when Easter is the Spring
and the branch is Christ.


Grace and Peace,
Jane

simple silver cross

crocuses breaking through leaves

This morning I went to Macy's and purchased a simple silver cross necklace to wear this week. I read a meditation about the cross and how Jesus death on the cross transforms our suffering. I want to meditate on what this all means as I go through this holy week. As I wear this cross around my neck, may it remind me to think about the love of Christ.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

snowdrop

This morning I took my walk hoping to see snowdrops in a yard a few blocks away. They still had piles of snow in the usual snowdrop spot. When I got home I saw a couple snowdrops right by my back door! Thanks Mike!

Palm Sunday thought:

"So it is ourselves that we must spread under Christ's feet, not coats or lifeless branches or shoots of trees, matter which wastes away and delights the eye only for a few brief hours. But we have clothed ourselves with Christ's grace, with the whole Christ - 'for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ' - so let us spread ourselves like coats under his feet."

-Andrew of Crete

Grace and peace,
Jane

Hey Jude

My Mom's friend Jude planted this bush last year in memory of my Dad. It's blooming even though there's still snow. Signs of Spring give me hope in the midst of the cold and lonely winter.

-jane

Song I'm enjoying: I saw God today by George Straight.