I smell the hint of the whispering breeze
moving each blade of grass.
I watch a small black ant struggle
with a giant treasure found
in the depths of who knows where.
I wonder at the beauty of the speckled red
ladybug nibbling her way up one blade
and down the next.
How can I possibly interrupt this symphony
by walking barefoot in the grass?
©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.
Let us open our eyes to our surroundings.
We are not alone; to live a life of beauty,
accepting their needs as ours.
This is Love!
The more we open our eyes to our surroundings,
we are filled with the glory of nature;
we are filled with questions that after years
gives rise to wisdom; wisdom that only comes
from our God of Love.
We open our eye to our wonderful surroundings
and see the glory of God’s beautiful creation;
we try to help our struggling neighbors;
we search for answers to questions that seem
unanswerable, but prayer and hard work
brings community together in God’s Love.
This is What is Good!
©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.
God’s bountiful gift of everlasting Love.
a gift of joy, watching them grow and mature.
A gift of trepidation, urging them to leave the nest,
be on their own, make a new life, create their own family.
Begin the circle of life and Love of God anew.
©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.
I come alive each day in the morning sun. . .
realizing I am incomplete as I stand naked
after my shower, cleansing my body
for new adventures.
I leave my humble hovel to join humanity. . .
completing the purpose I am to fill, completing
the body that God created me to serve.
We are each separate parts of the body,
needed to join together to be whole. . .
to be productive. . . to be one – one pure body.
To be the complete body God created. . .
to be the perfect Adam. . . to be the perfect Eve.
Yes, and to be the perfect gender person you may be!
We do this together as one body, joined together
in God’s world. We are one perfect body – God’s
©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.
.
It takes patience to live a life surrounded by those you truly love. We must truly give ourselves a lifetime to carry out this very difficult task. Unfortunately, our loved ones are not as patient with us as God is, so we have to do the difficult task of change by ourselves.
Point of order: Keeping one’s mouth shut and enjoying the discussion. Last week, I enjoyed an outing with my family at a local restaurant. We had a glorious time, a really fun time. My brother-in-law is visiting us for his much too old reunion at his university and he is sharing his upcoming fifty-fifth festivities with my daughter who is hosting her old roomies for her thirtieth college reunion. Holy cow, am I that old???
I listened! I took part as much as earthly possible for someone who never had the chance to go to college as they did. Believe me! It took a lot of patience. Jealousy, yes. I repeat: Jealousy, yes. You see, I was one of those kids that wasn’t lucky enough, or smart enough, or, well, you pick the adjective, to experience the four-year college experience. I experienced college the night school way. I am very, very jealous!!!!
You know, working all day, then going to class at night, then coming home and studying ‘til midnight routine. I returned home happy but depressed, knowing that I missed an experience that I could never share with anyone. On the positive side, I did continue my schooling and retired and as a college professor – proudly guiding those young men and women, struggling as I did, while working and going to school.
A very short time ago, I struck out at those I loved in frustration at times like these, but God has struggled with me and taught me patience. The love of family, the strength and security of the relationship and love of the fifty-seven years of marriage I have had with my loving wife have taught me that patience is vital in life. As is Love. I still struggle with jealousy and patience, but I am a work in progress, I pray. . .
Hot summer sun baking our brows. . .
black-winged hoppers snapping knee high
as we walked the dusty roads. . .
yellow jackets massed around
hidden blackberry bushes.
Oh, those wonderful summer days of yore!
©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.
I met the Wizard
as he floated by a tree
this morn!
I was walking my dog. . .
it wasn’t the first time
I had seen Him,
but it was the first time He spoke.
His language was strange. . .
almost archaic;
but I understood every word.
He spoke of brotherly Love. . .
©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.
As the morning glows on the horizon,
the tiny insect stretches its wings
from its nighttime nap;
the daylilies rise with the sun.
trees, blinded by the light,
turn their leaves to the Sun,
shyly covering their nakedness
from the passersby.
© Russell Kendall Carter, BA, MAT, DLitt
battlefield death – no celebration. . .
he lives in a tent. . .
under the bridge!
eats from the garbage bin
behind the IHOP
drinks from the hidden bottle
swiped from the liquor store –
brought home, no coffin, no body bag
he dies another horrific death. . .
every day he awakens
a Bronze star still pinned to his chest
. . .
©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.
to truly enjoy nature is to experience absolute tranquility
one cannot notice the tiny ant exploring the leaf of the vine
as it violently assaults the husk of the tree in its everlasting
quest for absolute light and warmth from the morning Sun.
silence is also a requirement for space our brains to breathe
creativity ne’er comes from bedlam, nor travail, nor revelry
our creativity needs the quietude of space to allow the whispers
of God to enter our hearts allowing us His voice to lead.
The Gift of Silence – A Necessity: A Space to Breathe
God’s Grace of Peace – A Blessing: Infinite Life
©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.
Meditating to Heal 
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