Communications

Communications

by Wayne Hinton

12/29/14

“What are you doing Saturday night?”

I ask though I don’t really care.

You may plan to watch some TV show

Or maybe just wash your hair.

That’s the way of teenage boys

When intending to ask for a date.

No matter how much we try

We can’t seem to get it straight.

It’s so hard to ask for a date when you’re young.

Young men are frightened of being turned down.

So we ask questions that are meaningless,

And end up sounding like a clown.

As we get older, things change.

That’s not to say they get better.

But we do get better asking questions

That invite a better answer.

It works both ways, you know.

Women’s statements are unique.

“Fine” doesn't mean it’s really fine,

It’s just the way they speak.

When she talks to you about a problem,

She really doesn't want your help.

You see, if she talks about it long enough,

She’ll solve it by herself.

I know that some women have a sense of direction,

But there are some without it.

When sisters talk about driving in and out

A highway, I have to doubt it.

They laugh at my confusion.

They know exactly what they mean

Just tell me north, south, east or west,

Otherwise, I’ll miss the scene.

With all our differences,

I wouldn't trade a thing.

After all, communications

Add a special zing.

So, whether you are old or young,

Cherish your time together.

True love will help you,

Through all kinds of weather.

The Paradoxical Commandments

By Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

I Love You

I Love You!

by Wayne Hinton

December 26, 2014

I review my life’s events,

As my days move into their December

And my notes, and poems and calendars

Give me much to remember.

I Love You! … What a simple phrase.

I've used it many times before.

When I was young, I thought I knew

What it meant, but there was more.

I never lied when I said the phrase.

There was no doubt in my mind

That I meant it at the time,

Though true love is hard to find.

I know that very well by now

The years have taught me much.

There is much, much more to love

Than just a loving touch.

It really isn’t possible to experience true love

In a short year or two.

You must make sure that it will last,

Regardless of what happens to you.

I wrote poems when I was young

And poured out my feelings strong,

But, as I now know true love,

I know that I was wrong.

Our life has had many ups and downs

And our love survived the call.

That is what true love is about.

Not all smooth, at all.

The highs were being together

Through of each of life’s events.

It started with simply being alone

And enjoying her lingering scents.

Our love grew into a wedding,

Though that doesn’t prove anything.

Many marry for what they think is love,

Only to experience it failing.

The children were the next high point,

When they were born, or not.

Nothing else was important then,

We loved them all a lot.

They grew up much too fast it seems,

But even that has its rewards.

For now we have eight more to love.

Grandchildren and in-laws are awards.

But, even they, are growing too fast.

Every day goes by at the speed of light,

And the time seems all too short.

Yet, still we love them all with all our might.

Our health is failing now in various ways.

Quiet time is a real treasure.

Each moment that we have together

Is truly a marvelous pleasure.

Now I really know the meaning of true love,

It’s not what I used to think

When I was young and used the phrase

Time has gone by in a wink.

And now, I have more understanding

Of God’s love for each of human being.

He made us, created us and loved us

Though we are each a different version.

As time goes by, love grows

And with it comes the joy

Of know true love abounds

It is not a little toy.

I review my life’s events,

As my days move into their December

And my notes, and poems and calendars

Give me much to remember.

I Love You! … What a simple phrase.

I've used it many times before.

When I was young, I thought I knew

What it meant, but there was more.

Each Night Goes By

by Wayne Hinton, May 12, 1964
(written for a class grade in college)

Each night goes by just as before.
Nothing has really changed.
The birds still sing, the wind still blows,
But yet I feel estranged.

I guess it's been now one full year,
Or is it nearing two?
Like time, I have no meaning now,
My life was lived for you.
I know I didn't show it then,
Conceit was in my head.
That head is filled with questions now,
My actions all are dead.
Each question starts with just one word - Why?
No answer is in the air.
Why does love hurt a lover so?
And why do I still care?

There was a time I wouldn't care;
Oh, foolish then was I.
I brushed aside true love before,
And didn't blink an eye.
I know those loves could be renewed
If I but gave the sign,
But they could never match the joy
I had when you were mine.
I  wish that I had known it then,
That I would feel like this.
I miss your dog, your loving eyes,
Your pug nose and your kiss.

Your kiss --- the thought causes a lump
Within my throat to grow.
I cough and try to free my breath,
Oh, heart! Stop beating so!
Your lips were soft lies a rose's leaf.
My heart beat so fast --- I'm sure you heard ---
As our two hearts did meet.
I never knew how much you cared.
You hid your feelings well.
I long to kiss your lips so much
I'd buy if you would sell.

Too many tales have met my ears.
None, I believe, are true
Because the girl with the tales
Is not the girl I knew.
I knew a fair young woman who,
Far older than her years,
Would sit in church of times with me
And shed her clean, soft tears.
She had a heart of gold, it seemed;
She held her morals high.
It seems impossible to me
She'd let those morals die.

Yes, you were young and tender then,
It cannot be denied,
And I was not much older, true,
When I walked by your side.
I love you then, and I still do,
My heart within me wails.
I long to hear your voice call
As sweet as a nightingale's.
No matter what the world may say;
No matter how you change;
No matter how my friends may try;
They'll ne'er my love derange.

I love you! ... What a simple phrase!
I said it once to you.
But then it had a pleading ring,
And I was losing you.
Remember how it was that day
You walked along the street?
I stopped to see a pretty girl
And she an ass did meet.
I begged and pleaded with you then,
A full-fledged fool was I,
For knowing you were leaving me
What could I do but cry?

I love you! ... It sounds silly now.
What did it mean to you?
Did you laugh inside too hard?
Oh, God! I wish I knew!
My thoughts were all a mingled then,
And not much better now;
My courage has all left me since;
I dare not breathe a vow;
My confidence has also gone;
Nothing have I left.
I live but yet I live not life,
For life itself has left.

There have been words by many men
More capable than I
Of telling stories of their loves
And how their loves did die.
But still I feel, as I lie here,
A hope I cannot hide.
I hope beyond all hope. But still ...
Has our love truly died?
Do you still hold some love for me?
Will we yet love again?
Just now that hope burned strong in me;
But now, it, too, must end.

Each night goes by just as before,
Nothing has really changed.
The birds still sing, the wind still blows,
And still I feel estranged.

God's Flight

by Heather Flood

On the ground sits a bird
that's too afraid to fly.
Beautiful wings could make it soar,
but the pain of past failure is it's lonesome cry.

God has said unto this bird,
"Trust and have faith in me,
for I will carry you in your flight.
The miracle of life is waiting for you to see."

The bird said to God, "But I can't fly.
I am weak. I will fall and feel pain
It's happened before when I tried to fly.
I'm afraid of being hurt again."

His voice soft and reassuring, God said to the bird,
I created you, and I will protect you.
Your lonesome cry I have heard.
Have faith in me. That's all you need to do.

So, stand up, bird, and spread your wings.
The wings I lovingly created to let you fly.
If you fall I'll pick you up,
and lift you back into the sky."

With trembling legs and unsure wings
the bird finally looked to the sky.
It took a deep breath, and took the chance.
The bird began to fly.

"Thank you, God, for believing in me.
Thank you for giving me wings.
Thank you for your protecting hands.
Your glory I will now sing."

God smiled unto the bird
in its majestic flight.
"Little bird, I'll always be with you,
and will protect you with all my might.

You may stumble. You may fall.
That doesn't mean that I don't care.
I will watch over you, in case you need help,
and then I'll be right there."

The little bird, once so scared,
learned to soar to new heights.
The occasional fall no longer scared the bird,
choosing to have faith in Gods flight.

A Word to Husbands

by Ogden Nash

To keep your marriage brimming
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you’re wrong, admit it;
Whenever you’re right, shut up.

A Cancer Survivor's Testimony

© Patricia Persons

A poem written by Pat Persons on September 29, 2011, in honor of those who are fighting cancer of any kind. You are an inspiration to us all and we pray that soon a cure will be found. Remember that God is a Promise Keeper who cannot lie...He promised to never leave you or forsake you.

If you believe in the Word of God
You'll know trials only make us strong
And in Christ anywhere you are in life
Is just where you belong

Take time to read the Book of Job
And you will plainly see
That God will never leave you alone
He's always been there for me

It's not what you are going through friend
It's how you stand the test
Just put your hands in the hands of God
And let Him do the rest

I go through life with a made up mind
I know God has my back
I'm not the one for a pity party now
I pray and get on the right track

I am a living testimony
For all the world to see
And I want the whole wide world to know
I have cancer.....cancer doesn't have me

No Time to Pray

© Angela Harvey Pitcher 

So many times
I hear people say
"We are so busy,
And have no time to pray."

Yet there we are sitting
In front of the screen,
Texting or playing,
- You know what I mean.

Why is it so hard
To set aside time,
To find solitude
And pray for a sign?

Why do we struggle
With boredom each day?
Yet, not bother taking
Ten minutes to pray?

So many hours
Are wasted each week,
When we could be praying
For the answers we seek.

So let's make a plan
At the start of each day,
To make time for God
And in that time -Pray.

Hope Is The Thing With Feathers

By Emily Dickinson

"Hope" is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -

I've heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.

If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking

by Emily Dickinson

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

The Invitation

(This poem is an excerpt from the book, "The Invitation (1999)", by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. ... This poem offers an invitation to every single one of us to "show up" in the universe.)

It doesn't interest me
what you do for a living.
I want to know
what you ache for
and if you dare to dream
of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me
how old you are.
I want to know 
if you will risk 
looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesnt interest me
what planets are 
squaring your moon...
I want to know
if you have touched
the centre of your own sorrow
if have been opened
by life's betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know
if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know
if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you 
to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations
of being human.

It doesn't interest me
if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear
the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know
if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
"Yes."


It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live
or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.


It doesn’t interest me
who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.


It doesn’t interest me
where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know 
what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.


I want to know
if you can be alone 
with yourself
and if you truly like
the company you keep
in the empty moments.

Silent Strong Dad

(I don't know the author, but this reminds me of our dad.)

He never looks for praises
He's never one to boast
He just goes on quietly working
For those he loves the most
His dreams are seldom spoken
His wants are very few
And most of the time his worries
Will go unspoken too
He's there.... A firm foundation
Through all our storms of life
A sturdy hand to hold to
In times of stress and strife
A true friend we can turn to
When times are good or bad
One of our greatest blessings,
The man that we call Dad.

The Road Less Traveled

by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth; 

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day! 
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference