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Portland Oregon Temple Reflecting Pool
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Reflecting Pool
I stood there by the Temple,
In contemplative thought,
And stared into the water
On which my thoughts were caught.
The shadows of the ripples
Cast on the stones below.
And movement on the surface
Created quite a show.
And looking even deeper,
I saw the Temple there
Upside-down, it seemed,
But reaching to the air.
And peering deeper still
I saw the clouds above
Reflected from the water
Like we reflect God's love
When we obey, like water,
The things He tells us to,
And we remember Him
In what we say and do.
March 6, 2004
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Help
When the worst happens
It knocks you flat.
When you come to,
Someone is bending over you.
Just lie still, they say,
Don't try to talk,
You're in good hands.
You are lifted,
Carried to safety,
Cared for,
And rehabilitated.
You are better,
Stronger than you were,
Though you had little to do
With the outcome.
March 9, 2004
Saint Patrick
Brought up in Britain, Patrick was,
Until sixteen he lived
Unmindful that he needed to
Receive God's special gift.
Then kidnapped by a foreign band
And carried far away,
He was a slave for six long years
'Til he escaped one day.
Returning home, he gave his life
To God, who'd rescued him.
The things of heav'n took first place;
The lure of earth grew dim.
Then back to Ireland he went,
To where he'd had it rough,
To share the truths that he had learned,
And tell them of God's love
March 17, 2004
Explorers
Five hundred years ago and more,
A Jew from Italy went out
And sought the funds to sail away
(The world was round; he had no doubt).
He felt that God was sending him
To find the wealthy Orient.
Three ships, provisions, and a crew,
All this, and more he spent.
And on the sea, blocked mutiny
When all aboard rebelled.
And finally the coast they spied
Where they thought "Indians" dwelled.
They made it back to tell the Queen
Success had been achieved.
Columbus never knew the place
Was not what he believed.
The indians weren't Indians
Upon that far off beach;
The India that he had sought
Was still beyond his reach.
But those who followed after him
Persisted 'til they knew
That half a world was in their way;
This gave a greater view.
It led to explorations great
(A lot of men would die,
Enduring hardships hard to ken),
New lands and climes to spy.
To these we owe our gratitude.
Without them we would not
Live in this land of Liberty
And have the life we've got.
March 17, 2004
A Seed
I have been dropped into a hole
And covered over, swallowed whole,
And dirt thrown in on top of me.
My future dark; what can it be?
But I will send my roots out so.
In all directions they will go,
Reaching out, and so at length,
Finding nourishment and strength,
To burst the grave that I am in,
To seek the sun, my freedom win.
March 26, 2004
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