Wales' Tales

After a week of wintery cold,

A promise of thaw is a thought to behold.

A chance to de-ice when we know what’s the norm,

Allows us to slough off the wind and the storm.

You don’t have to shovel when springs in the air,

When skies are bright blue and the temperatures fair.

We’ll break out light jackets and put away gloves,

For this is the weather that everyone loves.

But a thought in our mind lurks in shadows so deep

That reminds us that winter is only asleep.

For we live in Kansas, where weather is fickle.

To bet on the springtime ain’t worth a plug nickel.

For somewhere up north, a frigid wind waits

To put snow and ice on our newly cleaned plates.

An arctic vortex is just smacking its lips,

Preparing to move when the coin finally flips.

A wind from the north will then start to blow

With promise of snow fall and temps ten below.

But that’s just ol’ Kansas, the usual change

Extreme from one kind just isn’t that strange.

That’s why we grow tough and survive as we do,

For early in life we learn nothing’s new

With regular change of days that go by.

No use in complaining, so why even try.

We just need remember that if we just wait,

A change in the weather will be our next fate.

And as we expect the nice weather to cease,

We pick up our scarves, and enjoy God’s sure…

                                                Peace,

                                                            Alex

Wales' Tales 01/05/15

The start of a new year is always a treat,

A time to rejoice, to hear a new beat,

A time full of hope for what lies ahead,

And yet every new year is oft filled with dread.

Who knows what will happen as months move along?

Who knows who is weak and who will be strong?

What dangers appear in the dark of the night?

And where will we discover a source of delight?

A new year is always a mixture of fears,

A wonderment ready to bring us to tears.

For we cannot know how the days will proceed,

We’re caught in the flow, and don’t know what will lead

Us into disaster or unbounded joy,

We truly can’t guess what each day will employ

To bring us temptation, or help us to be

The hero or villain in life’s mystery.

And if we have nothing to trust but ourselves,

We never are sure what is left on the shelves

Of the skills and resources that we have to use

In facing the future to win or to lose.

But when we discover that God’s by our side,

We just might consider reducing our pride,

And trust in God’s presence to help us get through

The challenge and struggle that we run into.

For we’re not alone in facing today,

Nor facing the future that’s headed our way.

With God ever present, we know we can last,

For God was our strength in the days that are past.

And should things be different, and life were to cease,

We know in the end, we’ll reside in God’s…

                                                            Peace,  

Wales' Tales

Another year has “bit the dust”

And one’s about to start,

We say good-bye to Twenty 14,

A year close to my heart.

A whole year spent with Trinity,

A year so full of change

That looking forward to the next

Will feel a little strange.

We said good-bye to Pastor Kate

Who ministered so well,

And now she’s headed on her own,

In Texas for a spell.

We spent the year in ministry,

through Lent and Easter, too

through VBS, Day Camp and more

My! How the time just flew!

Before we knew it, it was fall,

To start the new church year,

And in a flash, ‘twas Trunk or Treat,

As Advent moved so near,

And now our Christmas time has come

And soon, it too, will pass,

The winter winds will blow and snow,

It’s mantle cast.

And then as spring once more appears,

Another change will come,

The PNC will then inform that

They have heard from some

Whom God has chosen for the work

To pastor Trinity,

And that will mean it’s almost time

To hear good-bye from me.

But what a joy to serve with you

Until that time will cease,

I’ll be around to preach and teach

And share God’s word of …

                                    Peace,

Wales' Tales 12/15/14

Visions of snowflakes, tinsel and candy,

Popcorn and presents, all of them handy

To make our experience loving and bright

Helping to celebrate one special night.

All of the color, the songs and the candles

Even the music that we know as Handel’s

Try to express the feeling of rapture

That hopes to allow us to finally capture

The joy of the ages, the promise now coming

That beats in our hearts, magnificent drumming

A rhythm in nature that speaks of tomorrow,

The good news of hope that erases our sorrow,

For on this great day, we celebrate birth,

A vision from heaven that comes to this earth

To take away hatred, to heal the down-hearted

To take us all back to the time when it started

A Garden of Eden has now been restored,

Because of this child in which mercy is poured.

The chasm that sin has created ere long,

Erased by the power of love ever strong.

This baby has come to set us all free,

That we might become what we were to be.

It starts in a stable, he stands by the Sea,

His message of life is for folks just like me.

He speaks to the heart, to deep in the soul,

And promises each that they can be made whole.

But those who reject him, who just do not see,

Will put him to death by nails on a tree.

But death will not hold him

He springs back to life,

To end human struggle and end human strife.

And all of it starts with this humble increase,

And ends with the promise of eternal…

                                                Peace,

Wales' Tales 12/1/14

Learning how to wrap a gift

Is such a special art.

You take some paper and a bow,

That’s how you have to start.

You fold the corners neat and square,

Make sure the edges meet,

And carefully adjust the crease,

And then, you must repeat.

The process moves from side to side

And then from end to end,

And somehow as you make the folds

The paper will not bend.

The scotch tape sticks to everything,

The bow then comes untied.

I sense the pressure building up,

At least I know I tried.

On Christmas morn, it doesn’t look

As if someone had worked,

With paper torn and bows askew

As though an imp had lurked

Beneath the tree to make things worse,

Perhaps a child at play,

Would turn this present upside down,

A rather poor display.

But I did try to show my love

By wrapping it myself,

In taking time to buy and give,

Not left upon the shelf.

I should have followed the advice

Of the girl behind the counter,

“Let me wrap it for you, sir”

Much better to encounter

A friendly smile, a gifted hand,

And skill to wrap the present,

On Christmas Day, I’d look quite good,

A winner, not a peasant.

But then again, I really tried,

My guilt I can release.

Though carnage is beneath the Tree,

My gift’s a gift of…

                                    Peace,