Writers -- Professor John Fischle and Bobbe Brooks-Fischle

Dec 31, 2012

Powerful Preparation for The New Year


What lies ahead in 2013?

Will Americans fall off the "Fiscal Cliff" into some deep
Dark and destructive abyss--
Or will that pass as many theatrical moments
Have in Washington--
While both Parties play games
And seem deaf to the American people?

Have no fear
The "Fiscal Cliff" will pass,
Until they contrive more unethical dramatics.
Hopefully this is the year
We'll awaken
And take back Washington
In behalf of our precious Children and Grandchildren.

As the New Year approaches
You and I will walk ahead
Into bright tomorrows
Filled with joy, heartaches and challenges.

Yes, welcome to life.
 For us
And probably for you
2012 was filled with
Uncertainties, steep mountains to climb
Deep precipices to avoid
Many joys, challenges--
Love, laughter and
Peace in abundance.


No matter what lies ahead,

There are answers and solutions.
We can climb, cross or tunnel
Through every difficulty.
Amidst the uncertainties of tomorrow--
There's always reason to
HOPE!

Speaking of answers, solutions and hope,
 Hubby and I have an annual tradition
As we prepare  for the New Year.

We disconnect,
And trek high into the mountains
Amidst God's majestic splendor--
Seeking peace, quiet, solitude
And fresh new ideas.

Just after daylight
We drove away.


The car was packed with emergency supplies
In case we got stranded in some remote region,
The hot pot filled with steaming coffee
And lots of yummies to eat.

We both bubbled with excitement
Anticipating a day of delight and discovery.

The powerful weapon
Of preparation we've discovered
(as have many others* )
--Solitude.


"Solitude: the quality or state of being alone
Or remote from society.
A lonely place (as a desert)."
--Merriam-Webster.com

We left the frantic Interstate
And entered lazy back-roads
Of serenity.
Minus the glitz and glamor of bright lights
We found fresh mountain air
Aloneness
Quiet
And extravagant beauty.

 The purity of focus
Unhindered,
Serious conversation--
Silly chatter and laughter.
Thoughts about old ways
That needed changing
And new adventures and ideas
To incorporate.
 God's majestic wonders
Were breathtaking--
Made us want to dance and sing,
But rather than freeze
We oohed and ahhed.

Captivated and in awe.
We could understand
Others 
Seeking nature
Solitude
Quiet--
And yes
The Still Small Voice of Wisdom.
We found riches
That could not be purchased 
On Amazon, in Paris or Rodeo Drive.
 Hundreds of miles
Breathtaking vistas--
New thoughts and ideas.

As the sun lowered behind the mountains,
Darkness approached.

We were relaxed,
Refreshed and
Exhilerated.
And possessed a deeper connection
With each other.
Traveling through ski resorts 
 We blended into the traffic and
Drove away from the majestic wonders of
Beauty, solitude and quiet.

We were taking immeasurable riches with us and
Prepared to face the year ahead.

*****************


*"Solitude is not something you must hope for in the future. 
Rather, it is a deepening of the present..."
--Thomas Merton
 
"Solitude is the place of purification."
--Martin Buber

One of my fave verses of inspiration:
"In quietness and confidence is your strength."
--Isaiah 32:15 


Wishing You the happiest year ahead!
How do you prepare?



Dec 19, 2012

Rob's Christmas Star And Hope


 
Sights and sounds of Christmas are all around.



 
Please join me virtually and
Come sit in our living room.
 
Snowflakes are falling outside,
But inside all is cozy and festive.
Enjoying the exquisite strains of Christmas carols by IL Divo,
The London Philharmonic Orchestra and others--
While my fav--a hazelnut creme candle--blankets
The room with a fragrance of warm maple syrup.

Cheerful
Peaceful--
The fireplace aglow and
The Christmas tree sparkling with twinkle lights.
Valuable ornaments sprinkled all around.
Actually the ornaments are only valuable to us.


Some were created by loving hands,
Some are fav toys Lil "Heartbeats" played with
And others are gifts.
But the most prized ornament for me
Is the star perched atop our tree.

Years ago
During some very heartwrenching and difficult times
We were lucky to have a tree,
But ornaments were a luxury and the
Top of the tree was bare.

Son, Rob, who was a teen at the time
Surprised us--
He created a  very special star for the top of our tree.
The star wasn't glitzy or fancy-smancy
In fact some may have discarded it as trash.

Rob covered cardboard with recycled
Wrappers from Reese's peanut buttercup candies.
Yes he recycled trash
And created a Christmas star.
Christmas Star
created by
Rob
What a uniquely special star!

If that star could speak
It would share many stories.
Hard times,
Happy times
Heartaches
Love, joy and laughter.

Through the seasons of life
Many changes occurred--
Some tremendous surprises
Some deep sadness--
And with our large and wonderful family--
An abundance of joy.

Always
There was Grace for the moment
Whether joyful or sad.

And like the star
That shone brightly atop the tree--
Through the seasons of life
There was always hope.

Yummies for the Homeless
May I encourage you today?

I've walked the path--
Sometimes rocky and perilous
Sometimes tearful.
And I know that I know that I know--
The path of life may be so foggy you can
Only see one step at a time.

The hurts may be so deep
Loneliness so
Excruciating--
You think
It's impossible to step further.

Don't faint.
Don't give up.

There IS
A rainbow beyond your storm--
Bright tomorrows are ahead.
Always!

And you never know what great surprises
Our loving Lord has for you--
Just around the bend.

Like a lovely gift
Beneath the Christmas tree
And like Rob's star reminding me--
There's always reason to
HOPE.

Always!




"Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul
 And sings the tune without the words and never stops... at all."
                                            --Emily Dickinson

"God puts rainbows in the clouds so that each of us -
In the dreariest and most dreaded moments -
Can see a possibility of hope."
                              ~Maya Angelou

 
A Mother's PS ~
The creator of this treasured star
Is a uniquely special person.
 
Rob is married to his adoring sweetheart Laura--
Supermom and Superdad
Of 7 beautiful "Heartbeats."
 
(One is Perpetua,  mentioned in previous post.)
 
Rob is a compassionate and successful
Critical Care Nurse with a deep faith.
He's also a brilliant Theologian/Scholar--
And yes
A very creative person.
 
Rob, thank you for the star
But most especially
Your beautiful life!

Dec 5, 2012

Jessica ~ A Rare Virtue


Photo by Jessica D. Hanson
St. Augustine, Florida
 
Virtues--
What are they and
Where are they today?
 
What is a virtue?
"Virtue: a commendable quality or trait
Usually related to courage or valor."
--Merriam-Webster.com
 
Down through the ages
The importance of virtues
Has been written about and emphasized.
 
The Greek philosophers
Socrates, Plato and Aristotle extolled
The importance of virtues and
Later Paul of Tarsus emphasized the spiritual virtues--
Faith, hope and love.
 

Photo by Jessica D. Hanson
 
Personally I believe virtues are intertwined--
And one rarely found today
Is
Truth.
If one is truthful,
They're honest
And courageous.
 
Some contemporaries have written
About truth:
 
"Whoever is careless with truth in small matters
Cannot be trusted with important matters."
--Albert Einstein
 
"Rather than love,
Than money,
Than fame,
Give me truth."
--Thoreau


"In times of universal deceit,
Telling the truth will be
A revolutionary act."
--George Orwell
 
"Courage is not simply one of the virtues,
But the form of every virtue at the testing point."
--C.S. Lewis
 

Photo by Jessica D. Hanson
In our family
We have an exemplary standard for
Truth and honesty--
My youngest daughter
Jessica Danielle Bland Hanson.
 
A brilliant, compassionate and loving
Wife of a kind and scholarly hubby Mike--
And mother of two precious "Heartbeats"--
Emily and Bryson.
 
Jessica leaves footprints of truth, love and kindness
Wherever she steps.
 
Often I exclaim,"I wish Jessica were here,
She'd tell me the truth."
After hearing that a million times,
John chuckles, "Don't you think I'm truthful?"
 
Yes Jessica's an honest person--
A leader--
And one of the most courageous people I know.
She impacts her world
Like a modern day Joan of Arc.
 

Jessica
  Isn't it wonderful to love
Admire
And respect
Our family
And especially our adult children?
 
Treasures~
That's what they are.
 
Jessica & Mike Hanson
 And today I send hugs and praises to
Jessica--
The epitome of truth,
Honesty
And courage.
Oh that more possessed
Your rare and treasured virtue.
 
*********************************
 
PS - I'd love to show their beautiful children,
But I have a strong rule--
Children are not pictured on this blog.