Easter Sunday Thoughts

Today, morning broke with sunshine that pierced through the sky. Churchbells chimed in sync to verify the truth. Resurrection Sunday brought renewal to life, whether it be human life or nature's tending to the earth. Spring's path will continue with its sweet scents floating through the sky like burning incense rises and perfumes an altar. 

As the 40 days of Lent ended, so has the 31 days of the 17th Annual Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge. Challenges may have created pauses along the way but faith brought each writer closer to the end of a faithful journey. May each new friend I met find continue to write with zest and the many slicers I have met throughout my 10 years of slicing continue to meet each Tuesday of the year. I look forward to continued friendships.

As evening slows life down,

Memories of this Easter Sunday family day

Spins around like a top.

Faith and love connect.

Blossoms open.

Hearts renew.

©CVarsalona, 3/31/2024

Successful Easter Egg Hunt  

Day 31 ends the journey. I extend sincere gratitude to the leaders of Two Writing Teachers for opening their space that brings reflective writers together from across the globe.  

Path to Renewal in Late Autumn

Looking back to my teenage years, I remember falling in love with fall. I enjoyed walking alone through the leaves listening to crunching sounds while breathing in the scents of autumn. I became a Central New York autumnophile who observed and reflected on the beauty I saw.  

Two weekends ago in Virginia, Autumn brightened the sky. Temperatures were warm and inviting. When my husband suggested taking a country ride to Shenandoah National Park I welcomed the trip. After all, I had years of memories of New York autumns. The short trip was filled with Aha moments. The countryside was dotted with multi-colored trees in brilliant tones. I don't think I ever saw such splendiferous beauty at the end of October. I felt renewed energy as I breathed in the warmth of autumn air and was astonished by the breathtaking beauty found on Skyline Drive as we drove upward stopping at various elevation sites.

copper-colored, regal red, and cinnamon paints

splash across the blue-bonnet sky

nature unveils her autumn gift

along a mountaintop trail

splashed across the blue-bonnet sky

darkened hues edged in white cotton puffs

along a mountaintop trail

offer nature's expansive wilderness view

darkened hues edged in white cotton puffs

above rows of fieldstone edging along the trail

offer nature's expansive wilderness view

a mute testimony to a cultural past*

above rows of fieldstone edging along the trail

majestic trees blaze in brilliant colors

a mute testimony to a cultural past

of copper-colored, regal red, and cinnamon paints 

©CVarsalona, 2023

*Shenandoah National Park: From Idea to Reality article

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

Breathe in Autumn's breathtaking views.

Feel RENEWED.

Be grateful for the Master Painter's artistic touch.

"I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles."

-Psalm 145:5

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Be mindful:

Fallen leaves on the ground are the golden song of immortal creativity.

~Amit Ray

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I am grateful that this month's Spiritual Journey host, Fran Haley, teacher-leader, and writer, suggested the theme of renewal as our prompt. It is the right choice for the first days of November which allow us to breathe in crisp air and watch the leaves fly by. 

My path to renewal of mind, body, and spirit began with the trip to Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park and continues each time I step outside into nature's freshened pathway. I reflect on these slowdown days of Autumn that showcase Earth's beauty and provide renewed energy to partake in nature's gifts.  

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day." -2 Corinthians 4-16  

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Because my time is running out this weekend, I am adding my post to the Poetry Friday Roundup. Children's Author/Poet Buffy Silverman is hosting today, She is celebrating the publication of her newest children's book     ==================>.  

November enters with gratitude for life and living.

TIME TO CELEBRATE POETRY FRIDAY

#smallpoem for Anastasia Suen's November Challenge

Renewal

Yesterday, sunshine brought out the best of what early spring offers: a time for renewal. Landscape crews were buzzing around the neighborhood, revving up their engines, preparing the earth for its rebirth. Winter jackets were shed and sweaters placed in cedar closets. Spring cleaning was the topic of morning talk shows. Everyone was readying themselves for a fresh look on life as the last vestiges of winter were disappearing. 

While the earth was busily preparing for a quick changeover of color from monochromatic gray days to brilliant springtime hues, the heart, spiritual center of the body, was also seeking inspiration. As I looked at my seasonal photos, I thought about the transition from winter to spring, realizing that nature understands renewal!

as spring renews its promise

winter's icy breath softens
restoring nature's balance

Hope finds a resting place in spring, the season of rebirth and renewal. 
This year, it coincides with the Lenten season. 
The following verse brings a message of hope.

Renew me by Avalon

Thank you, Irene Latham, for reminding our Spiritual Journey 1st Thursday Community to gather at Dani Burtsfield's blog. I send gratitude to Dani for hosting and posing a question that needs further contemplation:

 "How is the act of renewal making itself manifest in your life presently?"

I have already started sweeping away winter's dust, opening windows, and breathing new life into old routines. With hope in my heart for a spring that restores life and rejuvenates energy, I shall listen and continue to grow in faith. 

During National Poetry Month, voices rise. 

It is my plan to unveil both my Abundant Autumn Gallery and Winter's Embrace Gallery during National Poetry Month. Stay tuned for those vivid displays of nature's enduring majesty. 

This week I wrote poetry daily but due to my second bout of acute sinusitis and professional development commitments, I felt the need to merge my thoughts for two writing communities on this eve of Poetry Friday. 

I am also joining the host of Poetry Friday, Karen Edmisten who is sharing a beautiful poem, Late Echo by John Ashbery, that fits so well with my thoughts tonight. 

"...it is necessary to write about the same old things

In the same way, repeating the same things over and over

For love to continue and be gradually different."

SAVE the DATE for a POETRY TWITTER CHAT
with our Esteemed Poetry Guests, Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong
There will be 3 Giveaways.

I will be moderating for #NYEDChat and would love for our poetry friends to chat with us. Stop by and raise your voices to poetry.

Renewed

The joy of Easter has brought renewed spirits despite the cool temperatures of this spring. I, along with others, await the full warmth of springtime as the earth readies itself with new buds trying to pop their blooms each new day. 

Be renewed in the spirit of the earth and of the heart.

Renewal is a message for both the temporal and spiritual worlds. On a night filled with the beauty of a crescent moon, St. Agnes Cathedral opened its doors for a Special Easter Mission, Renewed Church, Renewed Hearts In The Year of Mercy. When I saw the announcement of this event, I knew that I had to attend with my husband and son for a family friend and powerful speaker, Bishop Robert Brennan, was to lead the Tuesday night mission. 

As Bishop Brennan addressed the parishioners asking all to share in the power of the altar, a peace entered the beautifully reconstructed cathedral. His reflection began with gratitude for the renewed beauty of this church that had been his home for many years. He asked us to ponder what we are grateful for. I remembered a day that I was grateful for, the day Bishop Brennan as a newly named Auxiliary Bishop married my daughter and son-in-law. After this brief reflective thought, I returned to carefully listening to the Bishop's words filled with a mix of scripture, poetry, and inspiration. This led me to select some of the Bishop's words to remix into my own poem.  

Renewed

Sacrifice.

Be transformed,

not in motion only.

Sacrifice.

Give from the heart.

Change.

Gather

at the table of

God's family-

the Altar.

Partake of the

food for the 

journey.

For life within,

come to the 
table of joy.

Be restored.

Be renewed.

©CVarsalona, 2016 

You may be interested in listening to the beautiful song, Renew Me by Avalon.

Isaiah 40:30-31

Today is Spiritual Journey Thursday and I was moved to write this piece on a mission message and ceremony that touched my spirit. In the quiet of the church, as the incense rose, all on bended knees felt moved. May you be moved as well and be grateful for all you have. Please visit Spiritual Journey Thursday led by Holly Mueller here. 

Trust in the Message of Renewal

Hope radiated from the darkness. It floated in the air with the distinct aroma of incense. A single candle processed in. From that light the darkness was extinguished as candles were lit one by one. With faith and trust a community moved quietly into the light and so the Easter Vigil progressed. All reverently listened and reflected through every pause and reflect. A message of faith, hope, and renewal was proclaimed and we trusted as a family of believers.

Now, Easter morning is here and the sun is breaking through the grayness. We will gather as a family once again to walk the beach and find renewal in nature. Later, in the tradition of Easter joy, we will join friends to dine and celebrate. 

Please watch the short Animoto video I created documenting my Easter preparations to send out Easter blessings to all.

On DigiLit Sunday, Margaret Simon, is discussing the topic, trust today. When creating digitally, it is important to note that trust is essential as we send out our messages across the universe. With trust, I float my video and post out, hoping that my thoughts on trusting in the message of renewal will be accepted. 

In trust, we 
collaborate,
create,
and export.
In trust, we
grow as a
community.
In trust, we
appreciate
and
understand
that from
trust hope
grows.
In trust, we 
become one.
We renew
our quest
and 
step lightly
onto
enriched
paths.
In trust, we
renew 
our journey.

©CVarsalona, 2016 

Today marks the twenty-seventh post of my Clearing a Path series for the Two Writing Teachers' March Slice of Life Challenge. Please see other slicers' posts here.

DigiLit Sunday