And now these three remain… 1 Corinthians 13:13
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp stand and it will give light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
Or in lament’s terms, set a good example by being the light that outshines the darkness and other’s will begin to follow.
Rather a grain of sand than a snowflake
With fleeting attributes that are absorbed and lose shape
A sandy shore gives guidance to uninterrupted tides
It’s never destroyed yet is subject to being carried away
In and out with the ebb and flow
East or west with hurricane winds
The drift creates for future uncertainty of place
But it is the nonexistence of time and the immorality that pains
The latter is candid and sincerely frank
Pulled slowly south by gravity and quenching in taste
The frozen precipitation piles piece by piece
And it’s inevitable evanescence goes undoubted because of faith
Rather a grain of sand than a snowflake
But furthermore breaths will come to an end
Let the circumference be minuscule and existence significant
As long as the pursuit is made
Today was Charleston’s 2013 Walk to End Alzheimer’s at The Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina. My family and I have participated in the walk for the past three years in honor of my Nini, Betty Tallarico. My Nini is 90 years old and although she has had Alzheimer’s and dementia for about ten years, she still is the sweetest, most God-fearing lady I know. Of course we have to constantly remind her of things she doesn’t remember and she barely recognizes me but just thinking of her brings a smile to my face. Currently she lives in Texas and we don’t get to see her that often but when we do, we cherish every second. A lot has happened over the past few years with our family and her care, so it is almost a blessing that she doesn’t retain or remember much. But the bigger blessing is that she is still here. She is so sweet yet very hard headed. Her faith is deep and she loves with every inch of her being. When you tell her you love her, she replies, “I love you more,” which only makes you love her more. I included some of the pictures below of the walk today with my family along with a picture of my sweet grandmother embroidering. Check them out and check out http://www.alz.org to learn more about the fight against Alzheimer’s.
Regrets sink it to depths
Deep dark blues surround it
As it drops it takes the light with it
The free fall is messy and unpredictable
In the descending it becomes blind
Unable to seek refuge from the capsizing
It reaches for ledges to decelerate the plunge
But that only diverges the path
The inevitable plummet is needed
Its security will create stillness
A calmness where mercy is given
As the iron digs into the floor
It becomes a cornerstone of protection
It fights against the doubt
Battles the decaying of the foundation
And guards the spoiling of its fruit
The stronghold grips the rope
It leaves enough slack for growth and extension
But it holds tight enough to keep one from getting lost
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19
What inspired this poem was the thought that hope is what keeps things going but what also keeps things in check as well. Hope keeps us anchored in our faith. What would we have faith in if we didn’t have hope for redemption, hope to see Jesus in heaven or hope for better things, a better life? I’ve been growing deeper in my faith recently and always seem to hit a plateau. But I have discovered that hope is what keeps me walking that plateau until He is ready for me to take that climb to the next level. And it’s His love that gives me the confidence to actually make the climb. I pray that my hope will keep my faith secure and strong to help fight against the detours and stumbling blocks along my path.
He sees right through me
Past the layers of heavy bricks
Pavement accumulated to push away
Stacked up to keep intruders out
He knows each piece just by looking
And he breaks them down one by one
Through each open hole that he steals
Shines a light that stings my skin
The flesh starts to melt away slowly
And a long crescendo within the soul begins
Yet the mind keeps the foundation steady
Beat after beat, levying the on rush of falling mass
As the sounds get louder, each block shakes
My barricade becomes fragile and vulnerable
The secrets are unable to stay enclosed
I am exposed and have no control of what’s next
But he continues his charge till he triumphs
And it’s hope that keeps us both entranced
My Faith, My Hope, My Love 