Flowers of every color adorn the cross. It is gorgeous but only a memory now. As I gaze at the photo, I reflect on Lent and Easter. Each year is different, though my goals remain the same, to love God more dearly and sincerely. This Lent I resolved to take up two actions and give …
As I sit on the porch before my day takes off, a Carolina wren flits from the potted avocado tree to the rim of the bird bath. Her tail, always cocked at a perky angle, strikes my funny bone. She hops this way and that until she’s comfortable with her surroundings before dipping into the …
A sand piper needling the sand trots in a fast staccato along the edge of the gulf’s waters. With uncanny intuition he gauges the breaking and receding waves, scuttling back and forth. As I watch I fear that this time the little creature will be caught and dragged into deep water, but as always, …
It’s the strangest thing to step out the back door with mowers thrumming in the neighborhood and motorcycles zipping on the interstate a mile away then to spot a dark speck circling overhead. The form is a red-tailed hawk unexpected in this environment, but there he is lazing in curves. His eyesight amazes me. He …
I relax into a beach chair while in the water my husband straddles a surfboard waiting for waves. The beach and the floor of the gulf in our region are formed with sand as white as snow, making the water an aqua hue worthy of a postcard. A squadron of five pelicans glide in a …
I grabbed the keys, locked the door and backed out of the driveway. I was running late to a meeting I didn’t want to attend. I should go, for myself and possibly for others, but my heart was not in it. When is doing something you don’t want to do a choice of love and …
“Chip. Chip. Chip. Chip.” “Teacher, teacher. Teacher, teacher, teacher.” I scanned the tree branches searching for the bird with its unmistakeable calls. Ah, there he is, so easy to spot with bright red plumage. Cardinals make me feel satisfied, because they’re the one bird I can always identify. I call him, Mr. Cardinal, and he …
Are your thoughts disorganized from this unexpected and oddly threatening, yet quiet time? The mockingbird seems scattered in his thoughts. He cannot finish a song. He’s so enthralled with one, he belts it out until another distracts his perky little mind, and he quickly switches with as much enthusiasm as he sang the first. I’m …