Exhaustion depresses like bricks on foam squeezing out air, leaving you heavy, squished, flat-out dense. Sleep and love, contemplation, are nectar, nutrients (just eat what fits). Breathe in, exhale. Find a place deep inside a favorite space: grab a book; take a look at what brings you joy. In time you’ll stretch, get back upContinue reading “Powering Up”
Author Archives: Linnea Boese
All I Have is Yours
This month you told me, “Hold on lightly to possessions; all you have is mine.” Then you brought me chances to let go: my sweater to the shivering boy, my shirt to the cadavre (swollen past the size of her own clothes), my mat to the child who had no bed, my socks to helpContinue reading “All I Have is Yours”
Pen in Hand
pen in hand the words press out anxious for paper a place to live the silence sizzles sentient and longing standing on tiptoe to read the news what I am hearing what has been forming in hidden spaces how I’ve been growing invisible the thoughts take on colors and edges given a page Yes, myContinue reading “Pen in Hand”
A Contemplative Life
Checking Out My Ways
This I desire: integrity— heart and mind undivided unfragmented undistracted truly focused deeply centered all transparent and devoted— set apart for only You. So take this moment: give me grace to know truth see your hand understand what you did how you worked what I did what it meant— how to live set apart forContinue reading “Checking Out My Ways”
Exhausted
Exhaustion depresses like a brick on foam squeezing out air, leaving me compacted, heavy, flat out dense. Sleep and love, contemplation are nectar and nutrients (eat what fits): breathe in air, restoration. In time I will stretch and power up for life as usual. Once I get to the beach, or to another quiet spot,Continue reading “Exhausted”
Helping Hands
Barbara Slater, my mother Her fingers crook now at the joint, swollen and unwell. But even though they ache and chafe they still cannot be still, a tender testimony to a history of easing life for others in her world. They tap upon a tabletop, thinking audibly, type heartbeats into keyboard words to pleat divisiveContinue reading “Helping Hands”
Practicing His Presence
Written over twenty years ago, this poem was a commitment I was making to learn to really “practice the presence” of God. Whether a day was filled with routines or with unexpected delights or sorrow, walking in constant awareness of him is life-changing. It is ongoing, the deep desire of my heart, yet so oftenContinue reading “Practicing His Presence”
Grateful for this Morning Hour
I thank you, Lord, for this morning hour, when you deign to come and sit with me, when you calm me by your Spirit’s power, and open my eyes so that I can see. Without you, days would just pass by, empty of meaning, empty of peace. But with you teaching my heart to fly,Continue reading “Grateful for this Morning Hour”
My Cup Overflows!
My cup overflows with amazing grace, precious gifts poured out by your hands into my life: my husband, life partner; the gift of words and service to you, beyond anything I imagined; my offspring and all the years of watching growth; community here and over there, treasured brothers and sisters; the beauty of this worldContinue reading “My Cup Overflows!”
Linnea's Lines 