Growth

The biggest bird I’ve ever seen

filled the sky and then my screen

formed of air and formed of mist

for but a moment to exist

suspended there with widespread wings

embracing me and everything

embracing all that it could reach

a lesson here for me to teach

for but a moment... yes that’s true

just a blink for me, for you

time is ticking soon it ends

we lose our patience, lose our friends

we lose our things we lose our light

the day gives way unto the night

we lose our joy, we lose our love

we lose our faith in God above

we lose the laughter, lose our grip

we lose our footing then we slip

we lose our childhood then our youth

we lose sight of what’s the truth

we lose time, we lose the day

we lose our chance, we lose our way

we lose the peace we fought to gain

we lose our mind we go insane

we lose our strength we lose our sight

we lose our cool and start to fight

we lose our dream, we lose our hope

lose all ability to cope

we lose our kids we lose our car

we lose all sense of who we are

we lose our parents, lose some weight

we lose our hair our eyes go faint

we lose so much it’s hard to know

how losing things can help us grow

and yet it does or so it seems

we grow some insight to our needs

we grow some balls, we grow a spine

grow out of saying “No, it’s fine”

we grow some wings, we grow some sense

we drop the need for all pretence

we grow some wisdom, grow some light

grow used to shadows in the night

we grow in touch with all we are

we grow used to battle scars

we grow weak or we grow strong

grow used to sometimes being wrong

we grow up, we grow old

we grow meek, we grow bold

we grow a voice that’s all our own

we stop expecting blood from stone

we grow patience we grow wealth

then understand that time is stealth

we grow sick we grow weary

we look around and we grow teary

we grow wistful for the time

before our age started to climb

for but a moment to exist

formed of air and formed of mist

filled the sky and then my screen

the biggest bird I’ve ever seen.

- Vera Patterson

 Prepared

From the sky and from the air

he watches me but I’m not scared.

My Father also watches on

as does His ever precious Son.

Eyes on me! He commands

I am the Shepherd and the Lamb

I am the way, the truth, the life

the evil one will bring you strife.

Know he’s there, be not afraid

it is for Me you have been made.

One life, one sky, One to be feared

one voice to raise, one God revered.

Your only hope, the Holy One

I’ll grant you life when life is done.

This one can only watch and tempt

In Me your soul can rest, repent

Eyes on me! He commands

I am the Shepherd and the Lamb

I will find you in the storm

from my hand you’ll not be torn.

I’ll wait for you with love and grace

resist the ways he tests your faith.

Turn to me, take my hand, 

heed my words, keep my commands.

The devil wants to steal your gaze

with eyes on Me you’ll not be fazed.

Just like these clouds that soon will pass

the life he offers will not last.

Look past my child, I wait above

to shower you with hope and love

Ignore this one who watches on

he’ll steal your soul and you’ll be gone

From the sky and from the air

he watches me but I’m prepared.

- Vera Patterson

 

This is me at the beginning of each day

killing it!

Jumping high

OVERCOMING

every obstacle.

That back leg though...

It’s

Despair

self-pity

anger

pride.

Sometimes it clears

I land

jubilantly

sometimes it 

knocks,

trips me up

knocks me out

and I feel

blindsided

In this moment I remember as I approach

the hurdle -

jumping is up to

ME

but being airborne?

That is

GOD.

If I FOCUS on 

HIM

I clan clear the challenge.

If I FOCUS on

ME

well...

That back leg right?

If I take credit for clearing the

hurdle

stop to celebrate

MYSELF

momentum will carry me crashing

into the next

hurdle

If I remember

IT WAS GOD

and it will

NEED

to be Him again in

3.2 seconds

I am more likely

to jump and be jubilant

that

HE is a PROMISE KEEPER

who carries me

EVERY

time that 

I TRUST HIM

- Vera Patterson

 

He seeks me.

From deep down in my soul

He bids me Waken!

Follow! Obey!

He seeks me.

Stalks my dreams

Imbuing the with ribbons of hope

for a life not contained by

these fingers, these toes.

A life where skin

dissolves, where my light

re-emerges.

He seeks me.

From a space within

where words from lips

maintain shape,

not transforming between my tongue

and his ears

confusing who I am and what

I need.

He seeks me.

Offering 

more of Him

in exchange for

more of me...

stripping me naked

all the while calling me

Beautiful Creation!

Daughter! Beloved!

He seeks me.

Over 

the mountains

through

the valleys

in the

meadows

in the

sunshine

in the

wind

in the throws of

every storm

offering

a crevice in

His expansive hand

where I curl up and

rest

before 

rising from dreams

imbued with ribbons of hope

to seek 

Him

- Vera Patterson

Cross words

Beat me, shame me all you can

 I am the lion and the lamb

When I die you shall be free

 It is the man you kill in me

I never sinned, I never strayed

I will rise beyond the grave.

My father waits and He is pleased

that I have suffered your dis-ease 

You disbelieved that I am He

To your salvation holds the key.

Father? Forgive them one and all

On your merciful grace I call.

You were right, they all are lost

My precious blood will pay the cost

It will redeem them when it’s shed

The sacrificial lamb be bled

Father! Father! Bring me home

To sit beside you on your throne

Your will for me, it is complete

I die in glory not defeat.

My sheep? Your sins He’ll not condone

And so for them I have atoned

Come my child, sit at my feet

It’s in your need that we shall meet.

 I am your shepherd and the Light

 I will keep you through the night.

It is my blood that cleans your slate 

Young or old it’s not too late.

Tell me... whisper what you’ve done

I’ll lead you home my precious one

When you believe you are the host

for Father Son and Holy Ghost

I am the One, the Great I am 

I wait to love you all I can.

 

- Vera Patterson

ANGEL

The sky is blue the feather’s white

my angel stayed all through the night

she watched me cry, she heard my wails,

reminded me of Jesus’ nails.

I shook my fist, I ranted, raved

She said His love led to the grave.

It isn’t fair! I moaned and sighed

She said you’re right, for you He died

He took your sin He gave His life

and you are stuck on earthly strife?

Where is your hope for what’s to come?

Where do your help and strength come from?

Your lack of faith is so absurd

put on your helmet, shield and sword!

Even now He sent me here

so you would know He’s always near.

Cry and rave but in the end

you’ll bend your knee, begin again.

you’ll follow Him as close you can

you will repent, yield to his plan.

Let it go, your need for this

your joy, my child is found in His.

Delight the Lord… make Him smile

rest in His grace, abide a while

You’ll find that you will want to stay

He planned your life to be this way.

She took my hand, she dried my face

He died, she whispered in your place

His perfect life was used for you

Trust in Him and be renewed!

The sky is blue, the feather’s white

my angel stayed all through the night.

NINE

I had the pleasure of taking these two cuties to Ripley's Aquarium this weekend. As we wandered around looking at the exhibits, it dawned on me that this place was more than just a venue to look at sea creatures, it's a microcosm of the ocean... but more importantly, it is a microcosm of life.

A large group of people above the water contains the same variations as the creatures we marvelled at in the tanks: they were many different colours and species; some fish travelled in schools while others travelled alone; some creatures worked together to better the environment and others were just there because they literally had nowhere else to go.

When this shark swam by, I was like, "Look at those teeth!" then, "Yeah... too bad people who are predators don't have their sharp whites out there like that so everyone knows up front who they are and what they are about." Don't worry... I said it to myself!

"What about the baby sharks?" You ask.  I have to admit to finding them cute but Athena almost touched one by accident when she reached into a tank to pet a stingray. The baby shark was swimming underneath and slipped out just as her hand came down. Human sharks can be like this also...hiding in the shadows then slipping out at opportune moments looking all cute and safe. "Don't touch the shark," the Aquarium employee shouted, startling us all. Thank God for his warning. Even when we watch for danger we don't always see it right there, hidden in plain sight.


We were patient and waited. When the coast was clear, we did pet the stingrays. So smooth and cool to the touch and much like many people I know, safe to hang out with if you don't ruffle their feathers but trigger their defences and you'll know it when they sting you.

Jellyfish too though they don't have to be triggered... they are just always going to sting you, no matter what, if you get on their wrong side, which is well...just about every side.

If you think the Aquarium lesson ended when the exhibits were over, we had to exit through the gift shop, a place full of shiny things designed to catch your eye but which on closer inspection prove themselves to be mostly junk. Rather than grab at the pinkest, cutest or shiniest thing, if you take your time to search, you can usually find something of substance and value hidden amongst the rubbish. I set out to encourage this...

But then I remembered that she's NINE! Unicorns, the tooth fairy and Santa exist... I am still almost always right. I remembered that my bed is the comfiest place for her to sleep and she hasn't realized that she really is too heavy to be sitting on my lap. So I bought the stuffed seahorse with the hearts and pastel colours that made her voice rise two octaves when she talked about how much she loved it. I also bought her a handful of candy from the bulk station just because I wanted to see her smile her crooked smile and skip her crooked-legged skip all the way back to the GO station. I bought them for her friend as well because I know the only thing better than having one happy nine year old is having two.

I filled the empty shopping bags with their discarded jackets, balancing the weight of their baggage from a pace behind. I watched their free arms swing while their others clutched the seahorse tight to their sides, the stuffed heads bouncing in their little-girl grasps and smiled inside knowing there is still so much time before she understands even half of this - thank God.

Happy Birthday!