Beginning

If light

can be spoken

so too

justice

hope

change

We too

are spoken

into being

to bring

light

justice

hope

change

#pictureAdvent Day 25 John 1:1-5

Treasure

What treasure

lies

at the center

of our 

season?

What are we

holding?

What do we need

to let go?

#pictureAdvent Day 24 Luke 2:1-11

Glorify

Magnificent

militancy

not meek

or mild

Arms ready

to hold

and to fight

Eyes open

to the true

turned-upside-down

world

to come

#pictureAdvent Day 23 Luke 1:46b-55

Look

Fear not

how many times

how many variations

of those simple

impossible

words?

Don't fear, childless couple

Fear not, unwed mother

Don't be afraid, righteous man

Fear not, humble shepherds

Fear not, tormented world

Your redeemer

is born

#pictureAdvent Day 22 Matthew 1:18-21

Restore

Creation waits

for light

to be restored

for day

to lengthen

for hearts

to soften

and open

to transformation

#pictureAdvent Day 21 Psalm 80:18-19

Redeem

Born
as we were born
held
as we were held
lifted
led with measured step
and a firmly clasped finger
tired
and anxious
and bruised
burdened
by ordinary aggravations
and crushing grief
weeping
dying
redeeming

#pictureAdvent Day 20 Galatians 4:4-7

Unity

Have we forgotten

the glowing cloth 

of grace

that wrapped us

in light

and instead

wound the 

borrowed finery

of our privilege

tightly around us

covering our faces

obscuring our eyes?

#pictureAdvent Day 19 Galatians 3:23-29

Salvation

Green

in winter

promises

green

continues

despite the cold

despite the dark

green

is growing

within

#pictureAdvent Day 18 Zechariah 8:12-13

Grow

The river's

rippled mirror

breaks 

into sound

and mist

From stillness

to cataract

From whisper

to roar

#pictureAdvent Day 17 Ezekiel 4:1-6

Thirst

For sun

for warmth

for loved ones lost

for calm

for peace

to stop calculating the cost

for justice

for hope

that want and hunger end

to know

to feel

it's my hands

that will mend

#pictureAdvent Day 16 Psalm 42:1-2

Go

Why must we
always go
looking for another,
turn down
some blind road
stumbling
lost?
Why must we
ask
for miracle-proof?
Isn't another 
sunrise
enough?

#pictureAdvent Day 15 Matthew 11:2-6

Rejoice

When fear

is a lion

in my gut

and my back

to the magnificance

of the sky

eyes shut

to the purity

that would heal me

I stumble

against the rock

of your love

and hold on

hold on

hold on

#pictureAdvent Day 14 1 Samuel 2:1-2

Holiness

I see

holiness

and all things new

in the afternoon snow

a blurry hour

of flakes

that soften

the dark edges

of winter

#pictureAdvent Day 13 1 Peter 3:11-14

Stay

Despite

my longing

for roads

journeys

my sometimes-wish

to be

gone

I stay

tied by love

that cannot be

should not be

calculated

or weighed

not burden

or beholden

but carried

and held

#pictureAdvent Day 12 Ruth 1:16-18

Believe

The starry wishes

of childhood

seem as distant

and lovely

as the night sky's

stars

Cynical

and over-wise

can we recover

wonder

and 

believe

the promise

made?

#pictureAdvent Day 11 Genesis 15:5-6

Preach

Unseen

seeing

Unheard

hearing

Unknown

knowing

Unkind

kind

Unlovable

loved

#pictureAdvent Day 10 Romans 15:20-21

Love

Love

whose movement

is as silent

and hidden

as the currents

that move

unseen

between rocks

beneath

ice

and snow

#pictureAdvent Day 9 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

Repent

In the wilderness again
facing away
or inward
are we not ready
to turn?
Or  are we
so turned around
we don't know
the direction
out
of our selfishness
or ourselves
out of our comfort
and into a new
brighter
wilderness
of radical fire
and light?

#pictureAdvent Day 8 Matthew 3:1-4, 11

Baptize

Where is our

wilderness

in these modern

times

where the freeway

carries us everywhere

lined with stores

filled with all we desire?

In our wilderness hearts

a voice is crying

feed the hungry

provide shelter

to the poor

#pictureAdvent Day 7 John 1:23-28

Listen

Swept

in the wake

of the world's

whirlwind ways

I tumble

tormented

by negativity 

and noise

My heart 

longs

for lull

to listen

...

...

...

#pictureAdvent Day 6 Acts 13: 16, 23-25

Shelter

Clouds embrace

the last flame

of dawn

before the frost

fades

Later

clouds return

holding

the sunset's glow

against bare trees

#pictureAdvent Day 5 Isaiah 4: 2-6

Return

Leaves unfold
fade
fall
Water flows
freezes
in fault lines
Geese
gather
wheeling
south
but will
return
Winter
is waiting
for 
Spring's
redemption

#pictureAdvent Day 4 Isaiah 54: 9-10

Promise

Photo originally taken 1/23/14
The seemingly endless winter
that still surrendered
to spring

When the cold
fractures the light
into rainbows
this, too,
is God's 
promise-sign
Color
will carry us
through winter's
bleak days
covanent-protection
for every
living 
thing.

#pictureAdvent Day 3 Genesis 9: 12-17

Blessing

Clear and bright

early and alive

blessed by sky

and trees with arms

wide open

This morning

every morning

awake again

and moving

#pictureAdvent Day 2 Psalm 21: 13

Awake

Am I 

awake?

My guilt

and recriminations

deafen me

to any good news

Dawn promises

light

that will illuminate

my fears

#pictureAdvent Day 1 Matthew 24: 36. 44