in passages

October 2, 2015 by Rick Stassi you

“Valery-sur-Somme” Artist: Degas

there are passages we traipse through
where lessons are learned
even in impossible darkness
interrupted by a lucid glimmer of hope.

a page is turned in a book of life
with trials passing by lying on my back
on green leas with you
and cloudless days with endless azure.

looking through a glass darkly
here i know change leads to clarity and
in clarity is the face of God where
I shall see myself as He has always seen me.
How romantic are words of Life
akin with warm spring sun
on my skin.

O love how you bind when
compassion holds sway
and harmonic measures with
melody flawless in times precious
Our hands are clasped in this.

The sound of a stream pouring
busily overs smooth rocks
emitting cool mist and a lullaby
of gentle sounds from which within
many voices can be deciphered
declaring all of cherished
voices and remembered songs.

I miss times of old
I hope to replay some of them
in reflective memory
and to dream of things to come.

tears of joy are the elixir
from tepid days in apathy
forgotten now in passages
to a new life now and forever.

a time before

June 10, 2015 by Rick Stassi you

artist: loriann signori

where would I be
if not with God?
entrenched in cunning vanity
on worn saddened paths.
I am overcome by my plight
of undisciplined boldness
wrought in self might
leading to thorny briar.

O, I can ponder the
ends of the night sky
wandering in emptiness
based on vain premise.
thoughts of grandeur
born so courageous
as a naive child –
even now i close my eyes.

Thoughts of dread invade
and curse darkness in night’s cry
a fleeting moment of wonder
and tears of sorrow meander down
pale countenance with embedded scorn.
black holes and evolution
mean so little to a lost soul
and a broken heart.

that was then, a time before
when hope was suffocated in burden
and a candled lamp was not yet seen
fed by oil of the Spirit beautiful
and one Word changed it all
’twas to love always with lovely call
and beauty rides on wind and sea
so then grace reigns ever o’er me.

reasoning

May 30, 2015 by Rick Stassi you

Reasoning held afloat
by caustic visions
and venomous tongue
within walls built to
keep one’s rationale in
and One truth out.

Soon time will exact
its due reward for
being the guardian
of hope as wistful
eyes seek a pardon
from sorrowful life sentence

And heart and soul
will reconcile at the meeting
of sea and sand
where the light of eternity
comes to those who listen
and cry for others who follow

i dreamed

February 20, 2015 by Rick Stassi you

Van Gogh

i dreamed about vast grandeur,
an eternal unfolding sky.
endless, enveloping, seeming
where old things go to die.

i dreamed of far bright lights
upon a darkened sullen gray
following, following, now ever closer
i choose to run away.

I dreamed of green, lighted fields
the ones inviting so
severing, severing my earthly ties
now begging me to go.

I dreamed of pale, wrinkled hands
writhing, wringing, singing sorrow.
endeavouring a desperate promise
of all things better tomorrow.

I dreamed of a brilliant light
beautifully adorned, ’twas He
revering all goodness eternal
His hand outstretched for me.

all and all again

November 15, 2014 by Rick Stassi you

Claude Monet
“Still Life with Roses”

again all is new
in soft light’s
gentle touch
warming the skin.
whispers to song in
heart’s awakening.
a new reminder that
all around us is
God’s radiance
embracing all
and all again.

a new day

July 30, 2014 by Rick Stassi you

Seurat

Ebbs and flows
Of persistent swell
Old one out
Meets new one in
Exchanging
Pleasantries – a nod and a
Good day!

I too say good bye
To yesterday who
Is ever cordial
To today.
And all is well.
As smiling hearts
Always hold sway.

And steadily
Onward going
On delicate
Green paths
Under even greener boughs
Of whimsical,
Reflecting bliss..

Nothing ever,
I surely state –
Not even one passing
Breezy, flowing moment
Deliberately and purposefully
Bathing my face,
Appears amiss.

a prayer because we are loved…

September 18, 2011 by Rick Stassi you

You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.
The LORD is righteous in all His ways,Gracious in all His works.The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;He also will hear their cry and save them. The LORD preserves all who love Him,But all the wicked He will destroy.
My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh shall bless His holy name Forever and ever.
Psalm 146:16-21

God Your fist opens as the right hand of righteousness and is also the open, beckoning hand of Your welcoming call. Help us to heed Your call.Your hand spreads far and wide. Your touch is gentle yet firm. We welcome Your offering and offer our self in response. For it is we who seek, and You who provide our protection from adversity.You are righteous in all of Your ways. If we can turn toward Your beckoning way, we may know that You impart Your righteousness to us each and every day. You are God and we are Your flock of whom can gather in Your hand under Your watch and feel safe. Lord help us to know that You permeate every corner of our life and are always there. It is us who wrestle with the reins and stubbornly try and lead. If Your hand will hold and guide all, where would we lead ourselves? What more can we do?

Help us to succumb and be disciples. Help us to nurture young believers and offer encouragement toward You. You will guide all Yourself, God. However, You entrust us, Your children, with a commission to tell others. We love You and we can show others our love for You and You will preserve us.All who turn away from You shall surely pass away and all who turn toward You shall surely be preserved.

We heed Your beckoning, we come to Your calling. We rest in Your hand that will hold all. It is beyond our reasoning yet we speak of You Lord – we speak with all of the love and praise of the saved and the preserved! For You are God and we are of Your flock. All flesh shall sing a new song of praise to You as we, ourselves, are renewed. We are a new creation in Jesus Christ and for that all is good. All is protected and all is safe. Your right hand unfurls to provide us a place of rest. If only other could see what we see. Shouldn’t that be the song of our existence?

You are so wonderful, God, and we need to praise You loudly and boldly so when we reach out our hand and we meet with the hand of a lost soul who wanders further into the darkness we are ready to emanate your work and Your Light

We hold tight this grasp and gently bring along a child lost, in despair, so sure that the reins wrestled from You God, are now secure and leading on a good path. How wrong they are and how wrong we were.