THE LITTLE THINGS

We find what we are looking for

In the little things of life. Helping

Others especially children can lift

Us to heights we have only dreamt

Of. To do for others without thinking

About it gives back to us a feeling

Of satisfaction and peace. Many times

We have the opportunity come to us

And our response being positive

Fills us, and we realize that we can

Never do too much. One man said

Don’t give until it hurts but give

Until it feels good. This should be

Our motto.

Stanski

December 13, 2023, ^

THE ART OF NATURE

A rose by any other name is still

A rose and its beauty comes from

It transforming from a bud to an

Open lush flower. Although it lasts

For a while, it finally fades and We are left

With the memory and the bush.

Other flowers go through transition

But none can compare to the rose,

All things considered. The garden is

A lovely, or can be, place to be at one

With nature. There are so many things

Happening at once or in turn and we

Can go dizzy trying to keep up with all

The changes. I like an organized garden,

But not to the point that it becomes

Landscape. I keep it clean and free from

Weeds, feed it with fertilizer now and then

And water if needed. The plants themselves

Are partners and they can be collaged with

Shrubs and bushes, along with ornamental

Grassed. Many entities to make a

Beautiful showing of what nature can do if

Given a chance, which means if we are

Willing to get dirty and help it along. It brings

Peace of mind and body, and spiritual growth

All things considered.

Stanski

December 12, 2023, ^

MONDAY MORNING IN NOVEMBER

A silver streak of the sun’s reflection

Is painted along the horizon. It is a

Reminder life begins and ends and

What it amounts to is what we make

Of it. We must not be content just

Because we have no problems at

The present time but should reflect

On the problems of the world which

Begin in our own communities and

Stretch to the far corners of the world.

What can we do changes to what we

Must do and that is to pray continuously

And give to organizations which will

Provide food, water, clothing, and

Shelter to those who have been deprived of

Them by acts of nature and by dictators

Who take pleasure in persecuting

Those peoples who they control. There

Will be a price to pay for their part in

The misery of others and our part if we

Choose to do nothing. The feeling of

Peace comes to those who help out

Others in a time of need. You will see

The beauty of your act which will

Compare to that of a rose blooming.

Words without action remain words.

Stanski

December 11, 2023, ^

WE CELEBRATE

People from various church

Choirs gathered today with

The pastors and celebrated

The advent season with

Scripture readings and hymns

Of the season. A few did

Individual performances

With instruments, songs, and

A bell choir. It was very well

Done and reminded me that

This was the beginning which

Begin with the birth of Jesus and

Will end around Easter with

The crucifixion of this baby

Yet to be born, then the

Burial and ascension. We know

He will come again to judge

The living and the dead.

We are at the beginning and

Do not know when the end will

Come, but are prompted to live

Our lives in a way which will

Assure everlasting life with Him.

His kingdom will have no end.

Stanski

December 10, 2023, ^

WHAT I SEE

At the horizon I see

A long strip of cloud

Which is pink in color.

I take it as a reminder

That heaven is just a

Long reach away and

At the same time hell

Is available for those

Who do not wish to

Live a healthy life and

Are willing to gamble

On eternity. I see beauty

In many ways and it is

Essential to me to feed

My ambitious spirit.

I have much to do   

And need positive

Stimulation to go on with

Projects I have started.

The length of the pink cloud

Tells me that I have a long

Path ahead and should not

Put off beginning or

Continuing. It is nice to have

Heavenly reminders.

Stanski

December 9, 2023 ^

GOOD NEWS

Good news is not coming to us

In abundance these days, with

All the wars, natural disasters,

And normal human events. We

Should not disregard these

Messages and although we have

Little power to do anything about

Them, we must remember the

Power of prayer. All the great

Philosophers have left us this

Message and it is easy for us

To forget just as we have

Forgotten to be thankful for

All the gifts we have received.

There are many things to be

Thankful for even while ghastly

Things are happening around us.

I look out at a beautiful sky which

Lifts my feelings as it reminds me of

The ascension of our Savior or of

How a perfect painting should look.

In the foreground, all the snow

Which most did not want has

Melted and evaporated away.

This is good for the animals

Who forage the ground for their

Food. We must learn to take the

Good with the bad.

Stanski on December 8, 2023, ^

GOOD NEWS

Good news is not coming to us

In abundance these days, with

All the wars, natural disasters,

And normal human events. We

Should not disregard these

Messages and although we have

Little power to do anything about

Them, we must remember the

Power of prayer. All the great

Philosophers have left us this

Message and it is easy for us

To forget just as we have

Forgotten to be thankful for

All the gifts we have received.

There are many things to be

Thankful for even while ghastly

Things are happening around us.

I look out at a beautiful sky which

Lifts my feelings as it reminds me of

The ascension of our Savior or of

How a perfect painting should look.

In the foreground, all the snow

Which most did not want has

Melted and evaporated away.

This is good for the animals

Who forage the ground for their

Food. We must learn to take the

Good with the bad.

Stanski on December 8, 2023, ^

WE PRAY

We pray for peace

In Jerusalem. May

All who love this city

Prosper. Are we

Headed for the

End time. No one

Knows, although

Certain things line

Up with what has

Been prophesized.

Those who say yes

Are not false Gods,

They are just expressing

What they believe

Based on scripture.

We are going through

Tough times, especially

Israel. Many are dying

And whole cities are

Being destroyed, but

We can only pray that

The terrorists are defeated

And wiped out. We must

Wait in prayer for the day

Of reckoning. We must not

Fear Russia, China, North

Korea or Iran. The Lord is

Our shepherd.

Stanski

December 6, 2023, ^

WHAT LOOKS SAD TO ME

I watch the game on TV

A match between two powers

It is tense you see

You hope neither team sours

The coaches walk the sideline

From all the spitting there is slime

They expect their team to be fine

Overhead the sky is blue

Excitement causes them to chew

They go crazy, at least many do

Chewing, spitting and throwing

The clipboards they are holding

Being a good sport seems absurd

We’ll win, I give you my word

I’ll get some fresh pieces of gum

And chew like a cow chews it’s cud

The sky darkens as we fall behind

I’ll really chew, and we’ll be fine

I scream at the players, then cheer

Buckle down we are almost there

A quick prayer to cleanse the soul

Thank God, we win by a field goal.

The day has been nothing short of grand

To the delight of every fan and

I spit out the rest of my gum

Smile, like we’re having fun

Stanski on December 5, 2023, ^

THE FLOW

Kindness is part of the marketplace

If is often not seen as it takes place

Often it is obvious

Sometimes heralded

Mostly done quietly

Changing lives

One at a time

Affecting receiver and giver

A passion for compassion

Frees the soul and removes burden

Just a word may be necessary

Serious gifting is also called for

No judgements are made

This would shackle the effort

Reduce its importance

The emptying of oneself

In the service of others

Is the vehicle necessary to

Keep us filled up with grace

How easy to look away and

Difficult to engage personally

But, this is our challenge

We will be held accountable

Fear of this should not be a motivator

Kindness is an act of love

Seeing need and moving on it

One act makes so much difference

It is often compounded because

One good thing leads to another

We keep track of ourselves

There is no human scorecard

A happy heart is a great reward

The burden of ignoring is heavy

Which way are we going to go?

We must all decide

Especially when we are aware

To give is a precious thing

Enduring is not always easy

The Cross was not light

It lead to a great sacrifice

The greatest act of love and kindness

Should we not follow?

There is still time

We can start right away

Stanski

December 4, 2023, ^