Dreams like fog drift out from the depths of night. Troubled thoughts steal all the warmth from our bed. Hazy glimpses of events filled with fright: I dream of habits I would bury dead.
Cold winds blow down the dreamy lane Where dreaming guilt weighs down my soul. Eyes open to a world more sane As thoughts bend to the night's dark hole.
A staccato heartbeat Slowly calms itself down. I live where fingers meet As soul seeks Heaven's Crown.
I would forget Dark dreams untrue: Part ways and yet, Guilt clings like dew.
O God... Bless me... Break rod... Free me...
Below the sun I kneel and pray. I seek the Son By light of day.
Sunlight burns away fog Revealing ways to see Not all is miring bog. There is much good in me.
Drifts lift to reveal a good heart That seeks to be a good parent. Terror unveiled to have a start In desire to straighten parts bent.
I cannot change past nor keep dreams away But sunlight reveals that the day has come. Fog burns away over a cold clear way Where any future has yet to become.
Light falls On empty path Through woods by still waters: A shrouded path for another. Light falls...
This poem is dedicated to a church member who passed away this last weekend. I’ve visited him for over five years in various facilities as he’s fought through various struggles. His journey is now beyond my sight and in God’s hands…
Still morning with blooming lilies outside my window…
Steel cut oats linger in salty water As coffee scents waft in the humid air. Gray light trickles in through old still windows As lazy flies begin to greet the day.
All is now quiet as mother and child Bask in dream filled worlds beyond human reach. The dogs sleep without a care in their heads. Only the black cat watches with my soul.
If I could keep this moment in a jar I would save it for darker days to come; Yet, each day comes once and fades far away. So, I sip and enjoy while I still can.
The other night I was stretching after a long day. We had spent the day with my wife running a garage sale while I helped to clean up the garage. My feet ached, my shoulder hurt, and I needed a good stretch for the Whole Life Challenge. I wrote this poem while reflecting on the events which took place while I stretched out tight joints while my wife washed up behind a closed bathroom door after a hot day in the sun.
Stretch your arms to toes While your crying toddler wails As her mom showers.
Stretch your sore shoulder. Call to your lonely toddler Who wants her mother.
Stretch your angry calf As you pray she'll let mom be After a hot day.
Rise to reach for her As the door opens for her Then closes on you.
Drink some cool water As toddler storms the shower With love and gusto.
“The Stretching Poem” from the Distracted Pastor, 2019
Today’s Rethink Church prompt is “Amazed.” The photo is from a local graveyard. As Easter dawns, there is life in the dead places of this world. While this photo was taken at sundown facing west, the sun is rising in the east over this graveyard as this poem is published. If I were to title the haiku, I might title it “Jesus’ checklist for today.” May Easter light fill your lives this day.
Roll away the stone. Fold up your useless linens. Bring life to the dead.
Today’s Rethink Church prompt for Photo-A-Day is “Believe.” In Christian tradition, Holy Saturday is a day of both anticipation and solemnity. Depending on your tradition, you may spend it celebrating or you might spend it silently.
I chose the photo I selected because it is my hope that we each tend to our light of faith on this holy day. May it burn brightly however you celebrate Holy Saturday.
Believe and have faith. No darkness overcomes light. Keep your candle trimmed.
Today’s prompt for the Rethink Church Photo-A-Day is “Among.” I decided to share a photo of my child and I sitting back and eating one gigantic matzoh cracker. It is my belief that there was laughter at the Last Supper in addition to seriousness.
Recline here with me. Be still for a moment here. Find peace here with me.
Today’s prompt for Rethink Church is “Here.” I decided to share a photo from the local zoo. Here’s why you should always look before opening a door. You never know who is waiting on the other side of the door, so you should keep your eyes in the here and now. This is doubly true at a zoo.
Here I am–watching… Do you have eyes to see me? Let me out of here….
Holy Week is really intense for me. I have been working to have a sense of peace, but things are often a bit chaotic with last minute preparations.
Today I woke up early and decided to make some oatmeal. I texted upstairs to my wife who was waking up for the day and she said she’d like some oatmeal. Despite texting her on silent in order to keep our communication silent, our toddler heard the buzz. We broke the first rule: We woke the kid.
Empty bowls by steaming oatmeal.
I began to prepare oatmeal for my family. I split the oatmeal into our three bowls. We each had our own type. The toddler had dried fruit in hers, my wife’s was plain and ready to be doctored, and my oatmeal was mixed with some eggs and spices. As the bowls sat there, I thought about two things. I thought about Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
I also thought about where my wife and I received our bowls, which was at a local charity event called “Empty Bowls.” The event is connected with both Roberson Clayworks and United Health Services. The funds raised go to benefit the Food Bank of the Southern Tier. Every time I eat out of my bowl, I remember that there are folks in our community who don’t have food to eat.
I am fortunate to have food for my hungry belly. Others are not blessed in the same way today. I thought about these things and wrote this poem based on the three bears and hungry bellies.
Three bowls Steam rises up While empty belly growls. Bear-like hunger to empty bowls With thanks…
“Three Bowls” Cinquain by the Distracted Pastor on April 16, 2019
Today’s Rethink Church prompt is “Prepared.” I know that it is Holy Week, but after writing all of these haigas, I cannot help but use this prompt to recommend to all new parents that they either buy baby wipes by the case or invest in a lot of hand towels.
Be prepared for it. Your child will make a big mess Every chance they get.
Today’s Rethink Church prompt is “Rest.” Today I decided to share an image of rest within a family. Remember, even on Palm Sunday, that there are many ways to use your cutlery. You cannot run off to a parade with cloaks and palms with messy hair… By the way, she’s never seen “The Little Mermaid.”
A dinglehopper! My sister needs her hair brushed I have just the tool!
Today’s Rethink Church prompt is “Peace.” Being myself, I would prefer a Haiga to a simple photo. On March 31st, a Sunday, I fell asleep on the couch. At some point, a child grabbed my phone and took this photo. I was asleep, enjoying a heated blanket, and completely unaware that the photo was taking place. Peace is sometimes that moment when you let everything go and get some rest.
Sleep, dear child of God. Rest under a warm blanket. Find your own Sabbath.
Today’s #RethinkChurch prompt is blessed. My daughter actually took the picture I am writing a haiga about today. We were visiting the zoo when an albino-peahen showed off her lack of colors. She felt blessed by the moment and even brought it up in church as something that she was thankful for in her life.
Zoos are controversial in some eyes, but this zoo reminded my daughter why we should protect the wild world in which we live. Our world is filled with amazing sights which deserve to be protected.
O, blessed vision fair: You have shown my child to love And protect your home.
Today’s prompt for the Rethink Church Photo-A-Day is “Needs.” I decided I would write a Haiga, but wanted to give some background. A lot of folks over the years have joked that ministers work “an hour a week.”
We work far more than that amount. I run to hospitals, go to Nursing Homes, write sermons, read books, counsel the troubled, plan outreach, visit the sick in their homes, and try to be peacekeeper in everything from committees to marriages. I have spent sleepless nights thinking about the needs of my church.
There really are nights that I have trouble even going to sleep because my church has needs that I cannot fulfill, but must rely on God to meet: such trust does not come easily even for clergy. There are nights I wake up with bad dreams as a result. Despite all the rumors, ministers often do not see God face to face. We, too, have to rely on faith.
An honest response to this prompt for me is to show an “empty” church. I do not show it because the seats are empty. I show it because the seats are full for me.
I see the folks looking for a word of life during a funeral, a word of acceptance during communion, and a word of joy during a wedding. I see folks in tears, folks with smiles, and folks laughing. I see folks in doubt on Christmas Eve who have been dragged in by their family and folks with a smirk on Easter morning who have been brought by their loved ones. I see those folks next to the hopeful. This space is a sacred space that encompasses all of those emotions, relationships, and more.
Holy space divine: Please help me to do my best And bless all the rest.
The word of the day for the Rethink Church Lenten practice is “bring.” Being myself, here is a haiga. By the way, after nearly 32 of these, I am beginning to wear a little thin. Someone remind me to take a break from haiku after this is over.
Last Saturday we celebrated my wife’s birthday with a picnic at the local zoo. I caught this image which reminded me of Noah! Bring me two of every animal!
“Bring me two of each” Says a voice over the years. No, not you kiddo!
Today’s Rethink Church prompt for the Lenten journey is “Sent.” I wrote this haiga with the simple understanding that we try to share in church enough on a regular basis: that it is a blessing to have enough and enough to share. Maine Federated Church is collecting Easter baskets for our Chow Pantry, because most of our church members have enough to cover their basic needs and enough to put together an Easter basket for a family that may be struggling to cover medical bills, utilities, or rent. Similar to our participation in CHOW, we believe by taking care of simple things like food or Easter Baskets, we help community members free up resources for other bills. The picture is of the stack of buckets that is mightily diminished since they were first put out. I will try and take a picture of the completed baskets for next week.
God sends out neighbors To share love with good people Who need to pay bills.
The word for the day for the #RethinkChurch Photo-A-Day challenge is “rest.” Yes, it is Sunday again! Being myself, I can’t leave well enough alone, so here’s a haiga! Today’s post is inspired by H, the ever restless toddler… Oh, child who will not get out of bed without milk (like your father and coffee/tea), go to sleep when you obviously need rest…
Rest is part of life. We all needed to find rest Before any rules.
The word for the day for the #RethinkChurch Photo-A-Day challenge is “celebrate.” Being myself, I can’t leave well enough alone, so here’s a haiga! Today I wanted to celebrate two things, so I am going to put in two haigas! The first is a haiga based on the “Live Wires” from Maine Federated Church. These ladies are amazing.
Blessed years of hard work: Celebrated with coffee As more plans are born!
The second haiga is celebrating a very special person. Have a very special day today!
You parent with love; which is one reason your kids are very awesome.
The word for the day for the #RethinkChurch Photo-A-Day challenge is “worthy.” Being myself, I can’t leave well enough alone, so here’s a haiga!
For the last few months my family has been slowly stockpiling broth for our church‘s upcoming dinner on Holy Thursday. We have smelled the scent of leeks, chicken, carrots, onions, celery, vegetables, and (family secret (inspired but not limited by “Mastering Stocks and Broths” (Your work is pretty awesome Rachael Mamane and people should support your work))) and spices wafting through our house most weeks of the past few months. Between J.B. (not the music celebrity) and myself, we provide the broth for the matzoh ball soup for dozens of folks since our good friend Alice Hopkins passed onto the other shore.
Store bought broth is fine for most nights, but we love spending time learning about the intersections of faiths on Holy Thursday. Store bought is good, but not great! We work hard, but the end result is definitely enough. We love our church.
Chicken broth wafts up; Our home is filled with the smells Of community…
The word for the day for the #RethinkChurch Photo-A-Day challenge is “welcomes.” Being myself, I can’t leave well enough alone, so here’s a haiga!
My middle child is super energetic and has ADHD. Maine Federated Church has been an awesome appointment as they have never said a mean word about her energetic nature. They are super supportive of our family. I love serving here if only because my whole family is welcome. I hope they understand how much I love them for loving her (and us) despite the interruptions.
I picked this photo because it shows the love of my youngest for my middle child. Our toddler doesn’t see a problem–she sees a sister who is always ready to play!
ADHD kid: Welcome all my family. You welcome us all.
The word for the day for the #RethinkChurch Photo-A-Day challenge is “listen.” Being myself, I can’t leave well enough alone, so here’s a haiga! I heard a sound at a park the other day…
So, you thought that Lent Would pass without a bad joke? You just quack me up
The word for the day for the #RethinkChurch Photo-A-Day challenge is “near.” Being myself, I can’t leave well enough alone, so here’s a haiga! I keep thinking about how Easter is drawing nearer. Even as the darkness of Holy Week approaches, life already begins to spring forward in new ways!
Also, I wrote this post before it started to snow. Really funny April.
Ground breaks forth with growth. Winter’s deadly cold gives way As the spring draws near.
