Month: November 2021

The song birds have left
But they haven’t stopped singing
They just migrated to someplace warm
Others now are enjoying their songs
The Father knows where they are and
Who failed on the journey and 
Who of them will return and where
We feel the loss, but should be happy
Others are now able to enjoy
That is the way it should be in life
Whatever we have is just for a while
It is fine to have but there is a time
When we must give it up and in
The process understand that we are
Not losing it but others are going to enjoy it
The Father knows this as well as He know
Our attitude about everything and always
He know every Church Bell that will be
Ringing today on His day
It is we, the foolish, who have to wake up
Our important thing in life is purpose
In one week we have had cold, wind, 
High waves, snow, rain, a full moon,
Soft, mild breezes, warmth, and sunshine
Four seasons in one week, a miracle
There will be weeks where we just face drudgery
We must be able to accept both with thanks
Many in the world are dying for these beliefs
We know this and have been told and still
There is nothing we can do because there is
No system in place to deal with these atrocities
We my pray for the people affected and
Pray for the perpetrators, the dictators and leaders
God has a purpose for all that they do and also
For all that we do.  Our purpose may be
Coincidental with His, but we do not know
We know that the little birds are gone and
Are expected to return in the spring
A time for a new beginning here for them
And also a fresh start for us and a time
For us to divest ourselves from some of
Our treasures so that others may enjoy
We will feel light enough to fly and sing

Stanski
November 21, 2021 ^

I often think that life is useless

You try to improve things and

Find yourself alone in the effort

People are too busy with themselves

Life is full of use

People are busy

We should not bow our heads and

Walk away from our efforts, but

Double down in prayer and sacrifice

We are not alone in doing the good work

God speaks to us in many ways

He sees all of our flaws and

I don’t think He pauses to lament them

He slips through our cracks and

Brings the light to us and then

We are set up to proceed,

Always with hope and thanksgiving

When we finally know this,

We see that we have grown and

Our value has increased

Stanski

November 20, 2021 ^

Sometimes I feel I’m in a conversation with myself.

Everything I bring up is answered with one word.

I give it my best, but it makes me tired.

A dragged out feeling is what I have, but

The person only answers and never engages

I go on and feel disappointed when anything brought up

Is treated with indifference in a monotone voice.

Where was it that I went wrong, I wonder?

These are pretty interesting subjects that receive no interest.

Should I pack my bags and leave?

Knock my head on a wall or wipe my eyes with a sleeve?

I am not a bottomless pit of ideas, although I have plenty.

This person just has no regard.

I could play him like a card.  A joker.

I think of an adage I like: 

Don’t waste time with unproductive people.

Then say goodbye and turn to leave, but

Stop when he asks something personal,

Wondering, I ask if he is keeping a journal and

Having no clue of what I mean, he walks away.

Can’t imagine what he wanted me to say after

I had already worn myself out trying to reach him.

Good time to remember an old song,

“I’m forever chasing rainbows, Watching clouds drifting by”

Today it was a cloud, there can be no doubt.

A.H.McKricken aka Stanski

November 20, 2021 ^

I pray for a slow beating heart
When I do exertive things in
The name of improving this
Universe where help is needed
In every direction.  We must
Revitalize the downtrodden,
Work hard to get them back
On their feet and teach them
How to fish once more.  If God
Is for us, who can be against us.
I need the strength of the Holy 
Spirit within me and of Jesus
Who is at my side.  We have
Nothing to fear.  I pray for humility.
 
Steve Haarman aka Stanski
November 19, 2021 ^

In the fall in Wyoming
Beauty is all about
Aspen leaves turned yellow
Reflected in moving clouds
I think of eternity
Looking at the endless blue sky
Mountains magnanimous 
Lift us to where we have never been
Roads drift toward the sun
Then turn and float away
Beauty continues in the flow
Doubt that it will ever end
Small towns come and go
People appear as normal
Hypnotized by natures features
Taking it all in stride
Cars and farm machines rust in fields
Labeled by natives as abstract art
No one willing to argue the point
We are just lucky to be passing through
Mountains begin to appear black
Missing the angle of the sun
Then the yellow blazes again
We decide that this is heaven
 
Stansberry McKricken aka Stanski
February 8, 2017 ^

The morning was gray
Precipitation was spitting
Out of a cloudy sky
Some people were downhearted
Others were speculative and hopeful
It is bound to lighten up
Soon the sun broke through the clouds
A little rain/snow here and there
The upbeat people were smiling 
As the doubters were coming around
There is uplifting spirit in some
Even as tensions exist in the world
They have gathered corn stalks
Into a teepee shape and surrounded
The base of each with pumpkins
A lot of work required but the task
Had to be done by these people who
Refuse to give up on our possibilities
They endure and take the steps
Needed to demonstrate their beliefs
Many folks are flat and blasé
Their emotions cannot be stirred
The ones having fun decorating
Are not in the least perturbed
They know what is at stake
And the simple act of expression
A custom in which they partake
To not would be giving up
They want no part of this
They are bound together like soldiers
Knowing what is really the truth
The sun lights up the clouds
Whitecaps stir in the lake
Soon they will form Ice Mountains
A part of the give and take
They would like to see this in their leaders
But know that is asking for a dream
They will wait for the march to be over
And then it is goodness that they will glean 

Stanski
November 18, 2021 ^

Silence is not all bad
Quietude is a gift
The Spirit has its way
Listen for His word

Stanski

More and more lately, as, 
I try to keep moving forward,
Never complaining about setbacks
Or trying to explain my condition
I observe the kindness of others
Which usually comes with a dose of humor

What I used to think came about because 
I never gave that much time to them
As my own concerns took many moments
I think this is universal

Sometimes I was frustrated because 
I could not find my enthusiasm in others
And thought them indifferent to 
Something of importance
I responded to them by not giving thought
To how they had their ideas and agenda 

Now I look at them differently
Sensing that they had their dreams
I concluded I may have let them down
My self-imposed discipline superseded
Any consideration for their needs
Now I feel differently

I am rewarded by their delight when
I take an interest in them
There are times we work together
Achieve undreamed-of results
It is then I feel a little mortification
Knowing earlier distress was self-inflicted 

Now plans are easier to put into action
More is accomplished in less time
We understand our limitations
Try not to exceed them
Are aware of the consequences
Yes, wisdom is a good thing

Stanski

A dull gray morning, but beauty exists
I wait longingly for signs.  I am not sure
Which way to go and have not started.
The Holy Spirit will watch out for me
During this dismaying time.  I am working
On taking useless stress out of my life.
I pray for improvements in the 
Conditions in this world.
There are anti-Christ’s everywhere
Watching their people die of starvation 
And disease.  It is heartbreaking and
Will not do.  The direction I am being
Led to is prayer to the Savior for
Intervention.  May His will be done.
Secondly I am being nudged to donate
Money to the humanitarian causes that
Will help the suppressed people to
Some degree.  I pray that we all will
Do a little of both.  Ament

Stanski
November 17, 2021 ^

I made my prediction
A long beautiful fall
Today brings doubt
Raking leaves in a snowfall
Washing outside windows
While the rain came down
The sky and the lake
Are the same color of gray
Difficult to see the horizon
It is better than shoveling 
While the leaves are still
Colorfully hanging on the trees
The cold and damp chill the bones
Being on the ladder is shaky 
Now the work is over and 
I take time to warm up
This is the way of life
What we thought we had
Under control, rears its head
What seemed normal turns awkward  
But sometimes that is not all bad
We take many th00ings for granted
Failing to consid0er others difficulties
We act as if the whole world 
Was at peace and functioning
Properly then trip over a person
Making the sidewalk his home
A long beautiful fall
Gives us time to act on 
The problems before us0
This is not always easy
People get in each other’s way
We have to work together
The work is not easy and
Often it is frustrating, but
We must not stop, otherwise
Life will have little true meaning
We have to give to others 
This is a gift similar to the sky
Opening up and letting the sun 
Give us a comforting soft pink on
The unpredictable steel gray clouds

Stanski
November 16, 2021 ^