Steve Haarman

Spring landed a few days ago, and

everyone seemed delighted as

the winter had been a long season,

cold, with plenty of snow. We were

ready for a break. A little warm

weather came, and a lot of the white

precipitation vanished. The roads

were clear and traveling was easy.

Then Saturday, nature took a turn

and dropped eight inches of white

delight upon us. The moaners and

groaners were moaning and groaning.

Will this stuff ever come to an end?

The day rolled on and soon there

were ten inches of fresh snow on

the ground. The Old Farmer’s Almanac

had promised an early spring. Just

because they are old doesn’t mean

they are always going to be correct

and obviously, they were no longer

reliable for this year. The snowplow

man was possibly tired but the way

he kept ringing up sales refreshed

him. In seven weeks it will be mother’s

day and the hummingbirds will be looking

for their nourishment. They are territorial

and fight away any intruders. The deer

are the same way. There is enough food

but they keep trying to keep it all for

themselves. I wonder if they learned

from us or did we learn from them?

It has a touch of lunacy, but as we look

around the globe, we can surmise

the worst and only hope that we

will improve as we move along.

Stanski

March 26, 2023, ^

Sometimes writing is like abstract art.

I put down words in a way

that I think is coherent.

Then hear later that

my meaning wasn’t understood

or some expression is stated that

didn’t represent what I truly meant.

Everything said was positive, though,

and that is the amazing thing.

I look at some abstracts and

dwell on them for a while.

Make an interpretation that works for me.

Have no idea of what the artist meant, but

the main thing is:  He spoke to me.

I have no argument. 

I feel that way about my work.

At least it was read or heard.

Words are musical and

the tune may vary from person to person.

I do not strive for perfection.

It is an impossible goal.

My idea of success is to

hear people tell me to keep on.

What can I say?  Bravo!

Thank you very much.

Stanislaus Kuperski

December 8, 2016 ^

Stanski

March 25, 2023

The night was dark and silent

An unusual state.

It may be nature’s way of

Telling me to slow down.

We have lost three years

due to the Chinese flu and all

of the mandates made be people

whose critical thinking is clouded

by a fog or our destruction is their goal.

Leadership lacking in Washington

they say they don’t know, but they have

been bribed to not know what

to do to correct things and get us back

to there we were but now don’t want to go

but we have spent billions of dollars

pretending we’re solving problems.

Where the money goes is

a guess. The southern border

is wide open, and crime is rampant.

the flow of drugs is killing 100,000

citizens each year, and the sex trade

is ruining lives beyond our ability to

count. Wars have countries banding

together against us, and we are now

the laughingstock of the superpowers.

We need to reestablish the pipeline that

takes oil to Nebraska for refining. The

Chinese Communist Party owns the Biden

Family and have enriched Mitch McConnell

Along with others. Our justice system is

One-sided and will remain that way until

All of the swampers can be removed.

It better happen soon or we are all doomed.

Stanski

March 24, 2023, ^

We are in despair

Wondering why

How does this happen

Addiction

My child

Once

So close to me

And now

How?

How do you deal with this,

What is there left?

Love does not have a place

Release is all we can do

We lookup

Wondering if

There could be an intervention

Beyond what we believe

Sadness does not leave

Heads turned away

No contact with these eyes

No surprise

Same as yesterday

Everything

On delay

Must it forever

Be this way?

Hearts are broken

Every hour the same

Will it be this way tomorrow

What we view now?

We are on standby

Nothing left to intervene

Sadness is reoccurring

Like the tears in our eyes

We stay strong

Prepare for the call

Could anything be worse,

Then waiting for the hearse?

Steve Haarman

September 16, 2013 ^

Reissued by Stanski

March 23, 2023

 A MEDITATION FROM JOHN 14:1-6

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Do not let your hearts be

troubled. You have faith in

God; have faith also in me.

In my Father’s house there

are many dwelling places.

If there were not, would I

have told you that I am

going to prepare a place

for you?

And if I go and prepare

a place for you, I will come

back again and take you to

myself, so that where I am

you also may be. Where I

am going you know the way.”

Thomas said to him, “Master,

we do not know where you

are going; how can we know

the way?” Jesus said to him.

“I am the way and the truth

and the life. No one comes to

the Father except through me.”

Stanski March 22, 2023,

Sticks picked up along the path

are lined up on a slight incline,

in a fashion that might make

Andy Goldsworthy proud, then

left to let nature take its course. 

Weeks go by, and the same path

leads to the familiar incline,

where the masterpiece still speaks out. 

Weathered just enough to give a patina

adding luster to its settling grace. 

I walk on intrigued by the wonder of life,

nature and possibilities while thinking of

the chaos and disrespect we witness,

wherever we are or would go to on this planet. 

Order seems to come so easily to

the simple things about us,

where egos and power-seeking

do not come into play. 

Around the globe, we witness nomadic peacefulness,

sanity among the aborigines who follow

a simple code honoring personal growth and

thankfulness for the earth’s gifts,

then to another place where genocide is prevalent or

dictators control the movements of their citizens,

many places where ideology requires the killing of infidels. 

Peaceful coexistence is not easily found on this earth and

when you look at the cosmos and see

that we are less than an insignificant speck

you wonder how great minds over time

have not stepped up and put an end to

the horrible waste of humanity and instead

find a path where sticks could be picked up,

then lined up on an incline in such a way

that a calming spirit came over all of man and

the feeling of hope, love and peace prevailed. 

Then, although a small sphere,

we would radiate golden light

throughout the universe.

Stanski

March 21, 2023, ^

I sit alone in this great house of worship.

It is quiet and dark. A few candles burning

and the outdoor light has a way of getting

through. We try to open to the desires of

the creator. I try not to judge others but

to think of all the possibilities which go

by us, with none of us stepping up in

service to Him and addressing what we

can do and want to do with His grace

and help. We need His light, and

it is very intimate in this dark building.

Life goes on in many ways around

the world. Politicians and dictators

attempt to control, but with God’s

grace, we will overcome. We must

follow His precepts and continue

to do good. Love Him and our neighbors.

Be willing to share His light.

The giving is fulfilling.

Stanski

March 20, 2023, ^

O Lord, this holy season of Lent is passing quickly. I entered into it with fear, but also with great expectations. I hoped for a great breakthrough, a powerful conversion, a real change of heart; I wanted Easter to be a day so full of light that not even a trace of darkness would be left in my soul.   But I know that you do not come to your people with thunder and lightning. Even St. Paul and St. Francis journeyed through much darkness before they could see your light. Let me be thankful for your gentle way. I know you are at work. I know you will not leave me alone. I know you are quickening me for Easter – but in a way fitting to my own history and my own temperament.   I pray that these last three weeks, in which you invite me to enter more fully into the mystery of your passion, will bring me a greater desire to follow you on the way that you create for me and to accept the cross that you give to me. Let me die to the desire to choose my own way and select my own desire. You do not want to make me a hero but a servant who loves you.   Be with me tomorrow and in the days to come, and let me experience your gentle presence. Amen Presented by Stanski written by Henri Nouwen March 19, 2023, ^

When asked by one of the students

of Mosaic Law to declare what

is the most important of God’s

commandments? Jesus got right

to the point in driving home his

answer, “Love”. We must love God

wholeheartedly which would include

loving yourself and your neighbor.

The scribe approved of Jesus’

answer, and Jesus approved of

him. When Jesus said you are

not far from heaven if must have

put a smile on the scribe’s face.

When we show by our actions

that we are following Jesus with

our actions we might hear him

say that you are not far from

the Kingdom of God. This Kingdom

is all about us and whenever we do

something that brings joy to someone,

we can in a sense get a feel of what

heaven is all about. Goodness is easy

to accomplish, especially when we think

of others’ needs ahead of our own.

Jesus brought this Kingdom to earth

and then died on the cross so that

we would have access to it shows us

what love for others is. We should

be eager to follow him.

Stanski

March 18, 2023, ^

Just a five-letter word that has been with us

for our lifetime. When we examine our record,

we find that we come up short in the mercy

department. We are secondhand witnesses to

brutal crimes and come out with our opinion

of what the consequences should be. The

perpetrator should be strung up and severely

punished. What they need more than punishment

is mercy, understanding, counseling, and meditation,

along with someone who can lead them through this

maze. None of us are above God’s desires, and

we all need mercy. We are not better than the

criminals and God shares his love equally. If we

are to imitate Him, then we must be willing to

forgive and show mercy to everyone, as we are

all sinners. We are in awe when hearing of some

of the horrendous crimes committed, and we

sit in judgment instead of forgiving, showing

mercy and realizing that God has a purpose for

us all. It is difficult to understand, but we should

make every effort we can to follow God’s example.

He loves us and wants us to do the things that

make up a good life. He gave us free will and

exposes us to enough people to make it easy

to know right and wrong. What causes the

wrongdoing? We don’t always know, but

we do know his words,” When I was hungry

and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you

gave me drink, a stranger, and you welcomed

me, naked, and you clothed me, ill and you

cared for me in prison, and you visited me.

We must learn and do these things.

They are our show of mercy, our show of love.

Stanski

March 17, 2023, ^