Archive for the ‘Faith’ Category

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Hopeful Anticipation

June 14, 2015

An indifferent lake early
Foggy
Monochrome gray
Offering no invitation
To look closer
Approach
Enter
Ride upon

Yet filled
With possibilities
Latent beauty
Much to be revealed
Later
Sparkling blueness
Drawing laughter
From children playing
Those fishing
Waiting in hopeful
Anticipation

Copyright 2015 Thomas W. Cummins

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Posted in Faith, Poetry | 5 Comments »

If we look closely

September 18, 2014

DSCN0972

 

If we look closely

Amidst dry, lifeless clutter

As our life seems, sometimes

Or often

Can be found

Breathtaking beauty

Hope

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Posted in Faith, Personal, Personal Growth, Poetry, Spirituality | 1 Comment »

Everything will be okay

September 14, 2014

I wish, somehow, there was a way to put up sandbags against today’s flood of sadness

But through God’s grace, I know things will get better

Patience

Acceptance

Finding sustenance for my spiritual roots

To not get pulled down, dragged down, diminished by the careless behavior of others

My best friend is with me

Everything will be okay

We’ll get through this

Gentleness, kindness, understanding and forgiveness will prevail

Surrendering to the power of Wisdom

Perhaps letting go

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Posted in Faith, Family, Health, Marriage, Personal, Personal Growth, Spirituality | 2 Comments »

Just step back

March 21, 2014

Sometimes as the storm rages about us, it is necessary to step back … and wait … and content ourselves with just being a lightning rod. And to remember that the lightning rod isn’t causing the lightning, nor the lightning the storm.

So one waits for a pause, for a patch of clear sky to appear, a glimpse of the sun obscured for so long.

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Posted in Faith, Family, Personal, Spirituality | 1 Comment »

Trying to Connect

February 10, 2014

—∞—

Where do they go
When they are gone?
That place
That gives them space
 
No compass pointing
No path suggesting
Stars to guide – growing dim
Silence, emptiness, yet filled – with loss
 
I call out lovingly
Listen hopefully
No appeal goes forth
No response returns
 
For it is only my heart
Trying to connect
Forgetting, actually,
Prayer
 

© 2014 Thomas W. Cummins

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Posted in Faith, Family, Personal, Poetry, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

If not me, who?

November 17, 2013

I’m preparing to travel to the prison where an execution will take place at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, November 20. In my role as a ministerial witness, my arrival is to be around 11:00 p.m.

The man scheduled for execution is Joseph Paul Franklin, a hate-crime serial killer. I have known Mr. Franklin for more than 12 years, and I have visited his isolation cell countless times.

Some may ask, Why bother? That question calls to mind a couple of lines from the movie, Longford, about which I have blogged previously. Lord Longford was on a radio show and was being challenged about his long, frustrating and futile efforts to free Myra Hindley, one of the notorious Moors Murderers in the early 60s. The crimes were horrendous, grisly.

Lord Longford: … Forgiving her has proven difficult, very difficult. Not for what’s she’s done to me, that’s neither here nor there; but for the terrible crimes themselves. Forgiveness is the very cornerstone of my faith. And the struggle to deepen my faith is my life’s journey. In that respect she has enriched my spiritual life beyond measure, and for that, I will always be grateful to her.

Lord Longford: If people think that makes me weak… or mad… so be it. That is the path I am committed to. To love the sinner, but hate the sins. To assume the best in people, and not the worst. To believe that anyone, no matter how evil, can be redeemed… eventually.

So, I told Mr. Franklin I would be there for him. And if the execution goes through, I will be.

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Posted in Criminal Justice, Faith, Ministry, Personal Growth, Prison Ministry, Social Justice | 3 Comments »

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