Author: stevehaarman

Sometimes
a church service
seems to drag
 
Long pauses
Between the readings
 
The choir slow on the pick up
 
A sermon which makes its point
in the first sentence and
then repeats
 
The hesitations
The drama
 
I know this is church
but shouldn’t order and solemnity
have a place in the service?
 
These are questions and
they will never have answers
because feelings would be hurt and
that is not what we want
 
We desire beginnings and endings
during each phase
This is not too much to ask
 
The scrubbing of hands with antiseptic
is over enthusiastic at communion time
 
Does it have any real purpose
Wouldn’t the handling of
the body and blood of Jesus
be purification enough?
 
Today, after the blessing  and
before the final hymn
the words “Go and serve the Lord”
were spoken
 
The congregation responded
“Thanks be to God”
 
Then a child doubled down the exclamation
Repeating in a loud voice
“Thanks be to God” 
 
Amen
 
Stanski
February 23, 2020 ^

Those who came had faith
Prayed to God for good earth
They were glad with worship
Approached their destination singing
They were people of God

Knew He made them and
Would witness their manifestation
These devote children
Saw in their minds
Sheep in pastures
Cattle in fields

They had hope
Knowing too
That they were sheep
And would depend on
The Good Shepherd

They entered their “land to be”
With thanksgiving
They were steadfast with love
As they began their destiny

They knew His love would endure
Even though they may lose as
The land they cherished would fail
Causing them to move on
With renewed hope

This was North Dakota
Arid soil and timber less
Hundreds of miles from nowhere
Still possibility called
The human spirit lifted
In the answering

Many perceiving the outcome
As though mystics
And with their faith
Many succeeded, prospered
Lived their lives fully
Then eventually died in peace
 
Stanski
February 23, 2020 ^

I wake up
look out the window
see two black birds
flying
a warning or
an alert 
be careful
today is a new day
wait for your chances
think before acting
watch the road
drive safely
think of others first
be sure to listen
encourage others
reserve your opinions
remember who you are
a child of God
do His work willingly
do not complain
remember your goals
spread His word
respect for everyone
keep in mind
the kingdom of heaven
your ultimate destination
thank the birds
they are messengers
angel like
have glistening wings
sing sweet music
sing along with glee
be thankful
you are a chosen one
 
Stanski
February 23, 2020 ^

The bible says to forgive
To turn the other cheek
So it can be slapped too
Sometimes this doesn’t work
Plans were made
Agreed to; sounded good
The man left the east
Found land in North Dakota
Would claim land and build
A barn, a house, and fencing
A garden and fields readied
He would send for his wife
She had waited two years
Traveled by train to Bismarck
Then a horse drawn dray
Several days to the farm
 
There was no farm
No garden existed
A small sod house
Dug out of a hill side
No barn or coops
A few unsheltered animals
A broken heart
There would be no
Standing by my man
No face would be slapped
No cheek turned
A long walk lay ahead
Bismarck would be home
Then a job would be needed
Until enough train fare earned
The baby would never see the plains
 
Stanski
February 22, 2020 ^
 

 
There is no score
No one really cares
Act to satisfy yourself
Live with a little flair
 
Sun was bright today
Thirty-two degrees
Still like January
No complaining

Groundhog Day said spring
A few weeks away
Then six more of winter

April will tell us
That it was worth the wait
Plenty of time
Between now and then
Many things to accomplish
So much more to plan
 
By start of spring
Everything will be done
Then we can say
Let’s have some fun
 
But the truth is
We don’t have to wait
Joy comes with every day
Doesn’t matter what we plan
Be it work or be it play
 
It’s a little like a game
We’re not risking our fame
Living can be exotic
Instead of just plain
 
Stanski
February 22, 2020 ^

The night is full of music
Wind songs in the trees
Waves in many octaves
Crash the icy shore

Clouds are sparse
Temperature is cold
It would be nice to be at peace
But the conditions will not allow

Faith in our creator is helpful
Stories of kindness uplift
Still misery exists and we feel helpless
We can only care for that about us

But evil is worldwide
No letup is on the horizon
Nations at war
Persecution dominates

People are hungry, thirsty and at risk
Truth is hid or not disclosed
The internet has a way of discovery
This makes us wiser

Whoopi Goldberg is angered because
Her opinions don’t count due to age
A minor problem but the armor is chinked
Her concern could be more usefully focused

Discuss her take on the Coronavirus
What she might do if she could
The night music still plays
I am not sinking into despair

Try to understand people’s positions
Listen to their position
Usually it is based on old time politics
The times are new

Definitions must be reassigned
Good solutions to problems are fought against
The idea came from the wrong party
Automatically declared preposterous 

The swamp delights
More money is bound to come
They need the buoyancy
Not every member of either party is involved

There is honesty on both sides
Light will overcome the darkness
It will take time
I am feeling better
 
Stanski
February 21, 2020 ^
 

They know all the answers
Every fault of those they dislike
Make predictions that never come true
Never step up to the plate to acknowledge
Shift their share of the blame
Wave the flag of courage
Then leave the mess for the deplorable
Where are the wizards
 
It is an old story
Envy one’s accomplishments
Downplay integrity
Forget about the odds
Anyone could have done it
Only they didn’t
The best they had to offer
Failed miserably
Where are the wizards?
 
The world is in a sad state
Disease, genocide, retraining camps
Murders of Christians
Assaults on the Jewish people
Starvation of people all over the globe
Sex-slave trafficking, illegal migration
Smuggling dangerous, tainted drugs
Sanctuary cities; infanticide
Where re the wizards
 
The carbon hoax
The climate hoax
The energy hoax
The population hoax
Where are the wizards?
They are out perpetrating
That is what they do
Everyone else is debased
Irredeemable
 
Stanski
February 21, 2020 ^
 

I see the possibilities and
I cry at the reality
The potential existing
Blindsided by ignorance and ego

All suggestions are ignored
Blown off with a whimsical excuse

There is an attraction to the bizarre
Keeping items that are undesirable
Giving away needed items to other organizations

Garbage is accepted and priced without reason
A fisherman may buy a diseased ice bucket for fishing bait
Legitimate offers are refused for items that won’t sell
Potential customers leave forever

Store layout is a nightmare
Fixtures being used belong in dumpsters
Dumpsters are raided for merchandise discarded
Volunteers are exasperated

The voice of the dictator/director is paralyzing
No one knows what to do except
Call another meeting; nothing is accomplished

The desire to write for grants remains a desire
This after two years of wishing

The Board of Directors is dysfunctional
There is no business plan
Monies are handled improperly
There is on accountability

A hoarding mentality exists
A kitchen without running water
Washer and Dryer machines not hooked up

Funds provided to buy the building, but
The building is not paid for
What happened to the money?

The Board of Directors should call for an audit
We must survive
 
Stanski
February 20, 2020 ^

I see her approaching
Can read the anger in her face
She is the director

I am talking to a female volunteer
She is showing me a table for sale
We had a chance to sell it for twenty dollars
This was over a month ago

The lady wanting to buy had donated to the store
Her deceased husbands clothes and other unwanted items
She could not pay more than her offer
It was refused and the table is still for sale

A similar incident had taken place with cross country skies
A sale for ten pair for one hundred dollars had been refused
The director sequestered the better skies and they are hid away
 
The approaching lady wanted to know what we were doing
The volunteer said we were wondering how
to get rid of the metal in the back room
He is not in charge said the director

I volunteered that I had made no claim and
that we were only having a conversation
The director was spiteful
Show me what you mean

The volunteer obediently led the director to the metal
I walked away, shaking my head in wonder

I visited another volunteer
What are you doing I asked
Packing away these baby clothes
Why aren’t they being put out?
 
They were out but were not selling.  Why?
The price is too high for baby clothes
Why not half-price them?  The director says no

I said that we were hoarders; there is no room to turn around
I know, I know said the volunteer; what are we supposed to do
We are running out of room to store boxes

We’re taking stuff to Good Will Industries
That makes sense.  We won’t lower prices, but we’ll give it away

I was told I wasn’t in charge.  He isn’t in charge she said
I had made no claim.  But we do need someone in charge
A non-hoarder who can get this stuff moving out

We have a lot at stake; would hate to lose it all
Egos and control-freaks cause a lot of ruin
We definitely need an audit

We need to evaluate; make adjustments; grow; survive
 
Stanski
February 20, 2020 ^
 

 
The combatants are all lined up
Nothing we haven’t seen before
The pride
The glint in the eyes
Readiness prevails
Just waiting for the call to arms, 
Whatever that may be
 
There are no rolling drums
Just a thing called drive
Get in there --- do your best
The whole idea is just to survive
No one taking notes on how the game is played
Milling around as if it were just a parade
 
But for you:  you know it’s different
You will do it right
This thing you’re struggling for
This precious gift of life
This chance for you to score
 
It must be lived, and rightly, too
Otherwise it’s not worthy of the fight
Others drop out, one by one
They seemed not to have prepared
No one takes notice, 
No one really cared
 
A mother, somewhere 
May have a broken heart
She did all that she could do
Wasn’t she, too, just a child?
Clues were given, just ignored
When our own parade is over
We call it just another day
 
Maybe!  Maybe!  Maybe!
Maybe it will, maybe it won’t
Tomorrow that is
Will it bring us a better float?
The weather, too, could be risky
Don’t over-prepare
Don’t get too frisky
 
The crowd may be different
Show appreciation
We’ll do what we have to do
Forget about salvation
 
Years go by
One, two, ten and twenty
What once was scarcity
Is now the land of plenty
You didn’t give up
Continued to show
Saw others pack it in and leave
The way it seems to go
 
All were lined up
Now there are just a few
Who ever thought the winner might be you?
Wisely wondering, yes
But costing the best years of your life
Now, use well the time that’s left
Prepare for the real parade
Don’t be afraid
Bring on the clowns
 
Stanski
February 19, 2020 ^