“To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us – and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.” – Thomas Merton
In the midst of all this festivity Some reflect on the Nativity How somewhere beyond the meaning God came to dwell among us human beings
Most of us have heard the Christmas story And how God shined on us with His glory The birth of the Messiah preserved in memory As we were given the manger as symbolic imagery
There was so much the angels had to say As a holy night gave way to Christmas Day There in a manger, the babe Christ was born To smile on us all that first radiant morn
There is no language barrier to love Especially, the love from God above It shines down on all us from that holy star That led three kings who traveled far
People around the world are brought together In hope and prayer that we can make it better And learn to live in love as we know we should This is the path of the wise and the good
All of the words that pass by type and pen None measure up the Word born in Bethlehem It is through this birth peace comes to men Who otherwise are born to pride and to sin
Every artistic depiction of our Lord's Nativity Rests itself squarely on God's gentle humility Coming down to live among us as something ample To live by and up to in His Holy example
And now just past our celebration it's almost here That time we mark symbolically as the new year Peering around the corner into the future's meaning We try again with meaning to become better human beings
(c) December 28, 2024 Michael Doyle All Rights Reserved
“Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler. A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be. We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. A question that sometimes drives me hazy: am I or are the others crazy? Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex… It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction. All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree. It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” – Albert Einstein
Our love is like the love of swans My love, you are always in my heart We may now swim separate ponds But in our hearts, we are never apart
It hurts when I can’t look into your eyes Our forever love isn’t hard to recognize Every day it fills each other’s heart Yes, there’s distance, but we’re not apart
Complications can feel like they shatter But in the long run, they really don’t matter Not in in the long run, when we are done The world will know your love is the one
When you aren’t in my arms , I feel the pain Running through me like a savage pain Even then , we come together in our dreams Dancing across this world’s moonbeams
Ours is the love of swans, meant forever To break apart, is something that will never Happen to us we are as invincible as stone Without you, I am no good on my own
I have eyes enough to see and am not blind This love of ours will never be left behind So long as you are the heartbeat of my heart You have been my soul from our very start
Please, take another look deep into my eyes As we awake looking into the morning’s rise We are forever and will always hold to our love As sure as there is a God and His stars are above
(c) December 27, 2024 Michael Doyle All Rights Reserved
It's a three lock box It is ours to remove these locks There in the holy three-in-one Are the Father, Spirit, and the Son
I cry as I think of the things they've done Now I am redeemed and the victory won The day that I prayed to the Son My salvation was already begun
Laying in a hospital waiting for death I prayed to an unknown God with my last breath Finding a glimmer of hope within my heart If only I might have fully known my part
I sit here now looking back Having found what I once lacked Faith and hope led to that great love It's given to us freely from Heaven above
Church is starting and still I pray That the Lord guide the words that I say As I strum on my old guitar Hoping these love notes will travel far
(c) December 27, 2024 Michael Doyle All Rights Reserved
“The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed at the work of the Creator. Science brings men nearer to God.” – Louis Pasteur, , chemist and bacteriologist (27 Dec 1822-1895)
Even Christmas Island has its rules Though they're not type you learn in schools But the types that build useful tools The type needed by wise men, common folk, and fools
One of these is to drop the guessing Accepting each moment as its own blessing Knowing that life is filled with lessons to learn And recognizing each lesson at every turn
Life isn't about changing our days But settling into life's patient ways Finding that push and pull have their ends That's where each of the other truly begins
Every day has its own special way To turn life to what we need to say Mot of all it is to find time enough to play This brings the crush of joy to each day
Joy it seems is what we all need to know So that smaller hearts know how to sufficiently grow We steal our kisses by moonlight and mistletoe Until the smiles on our faces brighten and glow
If we want our time to turn out best Christmas Island will treat you as its guest Put your mistrust to its suspicious rest And trust God and Santa to pass this test
Perpetual motion puts life on a tread mill It's the quiet moments that allow us to be still The rumor is we have to make life right If only we keep the Christmas miracles in our sight
A good Christmas is shaped by our hearts It is the smiles that find their part To spread the joy as we sing Christmas finds its way through the three kings
Happiness isn't so hard for us to understand As wishes come true and we find life kind There it is for all of us to see As we live our Christmas Island memory
(c) December 26, 2024 Michael Doyle All Rights Reserved
Heading out of Australia to escape this Aussie winter. First stop Japan, then UK/Ireland and if work doesn't call me back, onto Chicago. I will make it up as I go along
ALOHA PROMISES FOREVER 