These random thoughts come to me as I try to make sense of sacrifice and goodness against the turmoil that affects the earth in this ever changing 21st century.

21st

The image of Jesus
seared into my mind as a tower of strength sometimes angry
but kind

How would he feel
if he came here today become suffused with such sorrow
would he weep

22nd

Was Mary dry eyed
as she waited for him her first born to come down the mountain again
did she cry

How did Joseph then comfort
the woman he knew as his wife but the handmaid of Jehovah too
did he weep

23rd

He probably did the thing that he could
he made her a keepsake out of hard olive wood
it was love

love that kept all of them
deep in the well of loneliness/happiness how can we tell
love will survive

24th

I spoke to my oak tree
it grows large by the field I walk then I stand and speak softly
I hear the noises around

no rustle of leaves yet
its branches now thicken with sap rising calling the birds to its form
it stands there yet

25th

If only we could know
what the trees have seen throughout the centuries they stand
and become wise

Mayhap we should stand more often
listen to the earth as it tells its story of survival and torment
at human hands

Very best wishes – Denny Bradbury©

Thank you for bearing with me as we journey through Lent – here are the next five days’ thoughts, randomly they come but they are honestly felt. I hope they find their home.

16th

Kith and kin
so important to us just so the family that Jesus left behind
how did they feel

Joseph and his children
Father and siblings to God what an honour what a burden
what a mystery

17th

Simple fishermen
twelve men left to wonder why their friend and leader had gone
without them

how could they begin
to understand the enormity of the position that Jesus was in
dying to live

18th

a concept so difficult
an idea that we find too heavy to contemplate
in the depth of our minds

that living and breathing
we function just so eating and working and loving
onward we go

19th

but tell us we die
then live once more in the bosom of god
shakes us to the core

the life we are given
through love and desire is made much more precious
by heavenly choir

20th

I once met an angel
so softly she came that before I had noticed
she’d gone left no name

but I know it was heaven
sent her to see that I needed a guardian
there she was just for me

Very best wishes – Denny Bradbury

I offer my further ramblings through my mind as the days of Lent tick away:

11th

As you trod the stony path
how did you react when stones not bread accompanied
your every waking hour

did not the bird song
nor the bleat of goat and lamb alike keep you focussed on the moment
when treachery would strike

12th

Did you hear your father’s voice
borne in softly on the wind did you imagine him with you
in your soul and in your mind

were you fearful in your way
that this was all too much to bear turning stones into your bread
did it seem you might go there

were you ever in some doubt
as to the task that you were set breathing mountain dust and dirt
did giving in occur to you

13th

I can’t believe you wavered then
it all makes sense to me that you were ever steadfast true
if only we could see

How much more the sacrifice
of the lenten journey means if you lead us to the top
where we rest in God’s safe arms

14th

Feelings of guilt
I am overwhelmed by the myriad ways I have transgressed
Need to regain proportion

Focus on Mary
Did Jesus take his leave of her as he withdrew to momentous domain
how did she bear it

15th

Morning fog lifts
revealing the stillest of days time for standing thinking
absorbing nature

my fog also disappears
how must we go on we fight for what is right tolerance justice
love for all
it is the only way

DennyBradbury©
💚 very best wishes to you in all your journeying

Here I humbly offer days 6 to 10 of my journey through this Lent. This year it seems more focussed – I have no idea why;

6th

The world is in a winter
a winter state of mind where people bomb the innocent
no glory there to find

how can those victims realise
the presence of a god who doesn’t interfere at all
no glory there – no doubt

7th

Today is much more hopeful
the news is still more dire but somehow through the misery
I feel the heavenly quire

we must keep up the battle
to fight in our own way for human rights and justice
for this I pray

8th

were there birds in the mountains
did they stay by your side did they sing songs of hopefulness
did they help stem the tide

was it here that you saw
the lost lamb of your heart protected it loved it
never to part

9th

How do we merit love in such measure
are our sacrifices really enough even if we feel the pain
a lifetime through

Eternal joy eternal pain
these are the mainsprings of loss and of gain love and its minions
a lifetime through

10th

After we’ve settled the pain and the loss
we just give our love and send it out from the cross
uplifting love

falter we may get up and get on
no use in dwelling on what might have been we need to have more
uplifting love

Very best wishes – Denny Bradbury©💚