CHRIST IN WINTER: Reflections on Faith from a Place of Winter for the Years of Winter… ©

If you know me, or have read this blog before, you have reason to expect a story. That’s what I do. That is what has appeared in this blog before. Some days, though, I do not have a story. I apologize for inflicting upon you rough-draft “poetry,” but some days, that’s what I have.

Some saint proclaimed

that when my name is called

upon that day of final reckoning,

“Settlement Day” come ‘round at last,

I shall be called to task

for every thing of beauty I did not enjoy.

Saints are always right,

but it is not just beauty missed

that is a blot upon the record and the soul.

I shall be called to account for

every chance for love that I did not embrace,

every moment for giving thanks when I was silent,

every step when someone faltered

and I did not extend an arm to steady,

every opportunity for praise

that I squandered in self-pity.

Why lose even one precious second

mired in mud

when my soul

has wings?

John Robert McFarland

johnrobertmcfarland@gmail.com

The “place of winter” mentioned in the title line is Iron Mountain, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where life is defined by winter even in the summer! [This phrase is explained in the post for March 20, 2014.]

I have also started an author blog, about writing, in preparation for the publication, by Black Opal Books, of my novel, VETS, in 2015. http://johnrobertmcfarland-author.blogspot.com/

I tweet as yooper1721.