TEN CENTS WORTH

I want to tell a story
It might make you laugh
Happened quite a while back
When I was just a lad
It shows how savvy
those dime store gals were

I spent all morning reshaping
a medal of a saint
Made it look like a dime
It took a lot of twisting and filing
Finished it around noon

Then off to the candy counter
at the local five and ten
A dime’s worth of kisses, please
When the bag was handed over
I paid with my “ten-cent piece”
Just out the door I heard “Hey you”

I ate one piece before I was busted
She showed me my medal
Oh, I wondered where that went
amazed at the discover

I must have lost my dime I claimed
in my most innocent way
I lost the candy, too
You have to hand it to them
They were pretty sharp
but then I was just a kid

Stanski
December 28, 2019 ^

GRAY CLOUDY DAYS

GRAY CLOUDY DAYS

Many days come and go,
Not all sunny and bright
Some are full of quiet beauty,
Not completely in our sight.
The doubters think the end is near
They don’t know what to do.
Complaints and then sad music
Keep them in the mood of blue.

There is more to life than being down
And that’s a fact that’s hard to teach.
I guess it’s by example then,
You show them how to reach.
Life is full of good times
If you look you will see
And what it is that will tickle one
To another an offense will be.

Gray clouds are rolling in the sky
They’re a beauty to behold.
When a ray of sun breaks through
We think we’ve found some gold.
The gray was sad, but then gave dazzle
The dazzle took our breath away.
Was it real or another miracle
None of us could really say.

Life we take one day at a time
It is such a wonderful thing
While we have it let’s live it well.
Let’s rouse and give it a fling.
We’ll love the obvious
And look for the prize.
The gray and the bright, hand in hand
We finally realize.

Stanski
December 28, 2019

A MUSING: WHAT IS SO BAD ABOUT FAITH, HOPE AND UNDERSTANDING

There is anxiousness out in the marketplace;
a lot of struggle. And every once in a while
you hear someone say that they’re all set and
I often wonder, in relationship to what?

If I’m all set and you’re not, am I?
How can anyone with compassion be all set
when those around them are still in the struggle?
There is so much work to do, and we will pass on that moniker.

There is enlightenment to share, much teaching to do,
so much leading, mentoring, and convincing to accomplish.

There is much proof to provide to show
that success can happen, but it takes,
first of all, a belief and then a plan
and a willingness to start.

Then guidance must be given to these
unsure participators, who are taking tender,
trusting steps into the unknown.

But we see that the steps are taken, giving subtle support.
Success is not guaranteed, still the steps must be taken,
and failure is not looked for, but if it comes we must be prepared.

We must be ready for this so we can regroup,
plan again and try with dignity, because we did what we did
with an eye out for God’s Guidance.
How great that is? And where would we be without it?

You can never get sassy with your faith, but you
can get excited at the prospect of God’s Word.
He will be there for us.

His answers will not always be there when
we want and expect them, but we stay diligent,
believing in Him and doing our part and
when His answer comes we will either start all over
or see it manifest itself in ways so beyond our comprehension
that we have to step back and prepare ourselves,
with his grace, for what is available.

When you reach this point, your journey just begins.
We must begin. Let us identify the schools we want
Look for the best and access it. It takes courage.

It takes leaders, who will step in.
It requires caring parents or their surrogates
to be there for those who need them.
What’s so bad about faith, hope and understanding?

Stanski
December 27, 2019 ^

THE STORY OF MANKIND

There is destruction, death and darkness
about us in the world today
We have leaders wanting to keep this quiet

The job of safeguarding their people is
the reason they receive money
from the international community

The press is keeping the killing of
Christians and the demolishing churches
quiet, not wanting the world at large to know

Even when money is not at stake
being Christian is a slippery when wet condition
Islamic groups have no use for Jews or Christians

So many are murdered, starved and imprisoned
that the count is lost and no stories are made of it
Many are perishing by starvation

We wonder what we can do
Our leaders are giving money to these very groups
Trying to keep peace is an expensive proposition

We spend trillions and our soldiers are still dying
Christians are receiving no protection and
the subject of the atrocities is kept quiet

In Haiti, dictators are keeping their people starved
Still we send money, thinking we are helping
One may read of the deep faith of mothers with dying children

Mass murders in Cuba, Korea, China, Gaza, Turkey and elsewhere
are ignored as we try to negotiate peace with liars and thieves
The bold on each side of the discussion are enriching themselves

Daily prayers in many churches and by millions of people
the world over have not stopped the brokenness nor helped
those living on a prayer and boiled water and grass/weed soup

There will be a day of reckoning.
Destruction, Death and Darkness will vanish

Stanski
December 27, 2019 ^

BREATHING DEEPLY

LIFE CAN BE VERY ANXIOUS AND COMES TO YOU SO QUICKLY AT TIMES
THAT IT IS REALLY HARD TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS HAPPENING.
IT IS THEN THAT WE WANT TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND LET IT OUT SLOWLY.

SETTLE DOWN TO WHERE YOU HAVE GOOD FOOTING AND
LOOK AT THINGS FROM THE BOTTOM UP.
THE PATHS WE’RE SEEKING WILL BE EASIER TO FIND
WHEN THE VIEW IS NOT CLUTTERED BY THE TOP DOWN GAZE.

ONCE WE KNOW THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO AND
THE ROADS WE WANT TO TAKE, WE CAN PLAN SO THAT
OUR MISSION IS ACHIEVABLE IN A WAY THAT WORKS FOR US.

WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT AND THE WAY WE DO THINGS WILL BE TOO.
WE EACH GET THE NEW DAY AND TO NAVIGATE THROUGH IT SUCCESSFULLY
TAKES A FAIR AMOUNT OF COURAGE.

WAITING TO START, PUTTING IT OFF, OR
CANCELLING A PLAN ALTOGETHER JUST WON’T DO.
WE NEED TO START AND THEN DO AS WELL AS WE CAN.

THAT WILL BE THE MEASURE, NOT IF YOU DID IT
FASTER OR BETTER THEN SOMEONE ELSE, BUT
THAT YOU OPERATED UP TO YOUR HIGHEST STANDARDS.

DOING AS WELL AS YOU CAN ON A REGULAR BASIS
IS AN UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE. WE SHOULD BELIEVE IN
SELF RELIANCE AND ADHERE TO THE OLD “CAN DO” SPIRIT.

WE MUST BE OPPORTUNISTIC. WE ARE NOT VICTIMS AND
WE ARE NOT HELPLESS.

WHEN WE BELIEVE IN OURSELVES AND ARE WILLING TO
TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS WE CAN FIX
ANY CIRCUMSTANCE INCLUDING OUR OWN.

WE MUST STAY CALM, AVOID STRESS AND STAY WITH
OUR BASIC FUNDAMENTALS.

EACH DAY IS UNIQUE AND BRINGS WITH IT,
IT’S OWN PECULIARITIES AND WE MUST BE
THE CONSTANT FORCE WHICH KEEPS US GOING FORWARD.

BREATHING IS GOOD. TAKE A DEEP BREATH MY FRIEND
AND BEGIN THE JOURNEY, STEP BY STEP,
DAY BY DAY AND MOUNTAIN BY MOUNTAIN.

Stanski
December 26, 2019

STARTUPS

Up is a funny word
Taken in many ways
The startups I think of
Suddenly rise to
Some sort of fame
Many times by accident
Not by any design
Then the whole world
Seems conquerable
Just stay out of the way

Truth always comes out
Ready for a great big bite
Those who were just
The glamorous ones
Have britches that feel
Too small, too tight
Their faces are sullen
They didn’t last long
Now face reality
They can only frown

Fifteen minutes of fame
Is it worth it at all?
They are there on center stage
Confounded by it all
Suddenly the curtain falls
The show, we guess, is over
I hold dear to innocence
Quiet growth and advancement
No need to beat the drums
Or march with a colorful flag

Startups come and go
Some will stick around
They went about it
The right and only way
Earning every upward step
Never get in the way of the foolish
Best to stay clear; out of reach
Give them the necessary room
Watch their glorious dance
Then the tears as they flounder

Stanski
December 26, 2019 ^

BROKEN SOULS

Some gave their lives, others a limb or two
Don’t overlook the invisible hurt, that’s not the thing to do
Here we are standing, pretending not to be a fool
Not thinking things are okay or just another day a school

We want to help; that’s the bottom line
We thought in doing so, everything would be fine
We are a long way from there, but here we are, anyway
Injuries mental run deeply, approach with gentleness today

The present festers, accompanied with resentment from the past
It will break through, be prepared for that
Here we are, so inadequate, we’ll prepare the fish dinners
We would rather try to teach how to fish and be a winner

So we feed and listen; waiting for a growth or sign
Trying to build solutions, knowing we have no design
We listen to the lashing out; remarks not to be recanted
Because the truth lays therein, at least the truth he chanted

He could kill with bare hands, you hear him talking mayhem
There is a mother somewhere, who desperately still loves him
Flare-ups, false friends, personal responsibility on hold
Rejected out of fear, just another story told

We’ll do our best, as they did, too
Knowing there’s no solution at least at this school
For now we just patch, we soothe and understand
Paint every picture with a positive, and hope we’re doing grand

Theirs is ongoing; no answer for them in sight
We’ll keep on encouraging and pray that we are right
We walk out the door, while they remain sitting there
With shredded lives and broken souls: they were those who dared

Stanski
December 26, 2019 ^

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU SEE AND HEAR

Time flies
Decisions made
Arduous journey
On snow covered roads
To a church you have chosen
On the Eve of Christmas
Arrival is early
Welcoming is heartwarming
Seat yourself, close to friends
Listen to music
To the Epistle
Then sing songs
Hear a solo
Bringing you to tears

The beauty of it all
So lifting, so mesmerizing
Then the Gospel
Words written long ago
Followed by new words
Prevalent words with
Real meaning
Words peculiar to what
We sense and know and
Words rooted in condition
Existing world wide

The pastor concludes
Tears are wiped from eyes
A baby’s cry can almost be heard
The evening has been transforming
We are complex people, but
Have been reduced to
Understanding the simple
And not being satisfied with it
Challenged to make necessary changes

Bread and wine consecrated
Distributed to the congregation
Candles are lit
Silent Night

Stanski
December 25, 2019

STAINED GLASS WINDOWS

People gather, prayers offered
Music plays, choir sings
Pastor preaches
Faces lift or bow
Always shining
With hues of the
Stained glass windows

This ambience adds to the
Essence of worship
Soon the service is over
We walk out into the world
Where we become
The stained glass windows for
Those about us
Spirituality should not
End with the loss of color
Our core beliefs
Are manifested
In our actions and behavior

It is easy to be saintly
In a safe place
It requires courage to
Proceed alone
When we think of the cross
We realize how easy our task is and
Know we are not walking alone
We gather ourselves and
Become open to His purpose

Today we celebrate His birthday
Dwell on the notions of right and wrong
Rededicate ourselves to the following of Him
This Child of Wonder, Who will die for our sin
Churches overflow on this special day
But then life’s troubles get in the way
So easy to forget those wonderful windows
and how the many faces held the glow

Stanski
December 25, 2019 ^

WONDER LUST

Flirtations with nature
Making a case for
her as a cathedral
as you take a forest walk

The balance is there
The symmetry, as it were

With the components of
sky, earth, sun and light
Harmoniously bringing you peace
often superseding that felt
in the conventional House of God

His presence is true
and you there alone
speaking out loudly to Him
expressing gratefulness
for the gifts of solitude,
oneness with Him and the
insight to His majesty

No organs playing
Choirs are not present, but
His overtures in the form of
forest speak leave you
in a state of wonder

the glory of it all
Breathtaking

Stanski
December 25, 2019