I attach my heart as I bring My all to the words that I sing A struggle to my way in the season Searching for faith despite my reason
Sometimes, faith is in the name It doesn't matter, but just the same All things happen for good reason It's the truth for life, not just a season
Answering the altar call Of the love, grace, and hope we recall It becomes the message exceeding the walls Asking each of us to grow and stand tall
We are called for God's reason To live our lives for all seasons Always living out our purposes God's love brings us to good service
Living by godly intention in all we do Bringing love and respect in all we do By this, we give our living example Proof by best evidence and provided ample
In the measure of how we walk when forgiven The proof shines in how we are living As we teach by living out our standard of love This is the path we are led to from above
The things of this world do not satisfy But are found in the living God that we ratify Storing treasures will not come to real good Until we find our values in the kingdom as understood
And there, your true riches will be found As your truth of good will readily abound Spreading the message of God's saving love In carrying the weight given from above
Where your love is, is your greatest treasure The values in life are lived by that measure Life is fulfilled by seeking God first Only giving your heart to God can quench your thirst
As we live and shine God's beautiful, loving light Like the needed beacon in the darkest night We are to be the salt that provides good season When we live by this and for God's good reason
Every moment we live is to be lived with good intention As we pray God's word with our best attention The best gift we can give is continually living in prayer And reflecting God's presence everywhere
The dark of this world is as dark will probably always be It's up to us to shine our light and speak to possibility In the every step that we were born to take Let us be that message to the world for God's good sake
(c) February 18, 2024 Michael Doyle All Rights Reserved
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” – Luke 12:27 (NIV)
Indiana is prone to having a second winter appear After it seems the real winter has disappeared This was the circumstance in February 2024 When a snowfall came, inviting my family to explore
My daughters and I loaded up the SUV and hit the road Making our way and allowing ourselves to let the day unfold We agreed to make it an easy day on the wet, slippery rocks It was less a day of distance, than it was filled with talks
As we looked out on Sugar Creek, we guessed at the etymology With the youngest taking an honest estimate of the symbology Of why the creek had been named suggesting that it was sweet It turned out that the resins of sugar pines on the banks secrete
A liquid that could make the water as satisfying as its seeds Bringing pleasure to a sweet tooth, and answering hunger's needs I'm always surprised at the thinking of this daughter of mine And I love watching her develop as she grows and life refines
Like today, as we talked along this Driftwood River tributary With seemingly every other step filled with her commentary If I didn't watch myself, I would learn a remarkable lot Things new and interesting, and reminders of things forgot
Over the suspension bridge, and into the Rocky Hollow Reserve We explored the snow melt on this day that we deserved There were photographs to be had and plenty of beauty I was happily absorbed in the warmth of my fatherly duty
The joy that such a day brings in the good company I've found Doing less talking, and more listening when they're around I wondered, walking, just how many Native American fathers Had walked these runs, enchanted, listening to their daughters
Lost up in the eroded sandstone beauty of the Mansfield formation We felt doubly blessed in this place of splendid preservation The snow's meltwater prevented us from walking far in the cold Tales from the daughters allowed the day to unfold
Just as it was meant to be...
(c) February 17, 2024 Michael Doyle All Rights Reserved
“The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists, who are dedicated to justice, peace, and brotherhood. The trailblazers in human, academic, scientific, and religious freedom have always been nonconformists. In any cause that concerns the progress of mankind, put your faith in the nonconformist!” -Martin Luther King, Jr., civil-rights leader (15 Jan 1929-1968)
A child is born into this world innocent Despite the ways that can make a life diffident There is no wrong this child has done Yet, hatred ends its love before it's begun
However the killers guilt is framed There is no restored value to be named There is only a life that has been ended For no reason and in no way able to be defended
Because there is no sort of adequate defense There is only the monstrosity of man and the pretense That the child's death came with good reason Such are the ways of this age's killing season
There are lies told as if giving immunity As they are spoken as if for the good of the community But every good soul knows the truth of the pain Caused and suffered will wash away with the rain
(c) February 16, 2024 Michael Doyle All Rights Reserved
Somewhere in here In the deep felt inside There is cold fear That has nowhere to hide
Pushed past mountains and woods The darkness comes as it should Fighting against this is no good This is the truth that's understood
Wounded hearts always remember The hope found in cold December There at the year's end Is still hope on which life depends
Somewhere, not here Comes the ghosts of fear Mysteries veiled before our eyes We forget the truth replaced by lies
Ancient wisdom buries the dead Though they'll live on forever in our heads A journey of strife chases around All the moments of life that we've found
The heartbreaks that we face And the soul searching we embrace Are always silently waiting In a world too lost up in hating
Darkness flows into darkness As our lives fill with harshness We can wish light flowed into light But our hearts long for the night
I know that I need you near But I know that I'll meet you there Somewhere beyond the last breath breathed Are my misconceptions that I've truly believed
That goodness could somehow manage to win The coins on your eyes buy you passage again As we cross the River Styx and know as then I'll cry to the heavens, reminded of my sins
The cold wind blows as we say goodbye It should been someone else to die My hope is buried with you under the snow I've yet another ancient road to travel and know
That I'll never know your loving truth again And my words run deep even in error, my friend But not so much as my loss lost in the loss of you Somewhere within is the anguish felt true
Buried though this should not have been your fate You walked your life in love and never in hate I wait for you though you're never coming back It is my soul that's turned to the blackest black
Here you lay, having taken your very last breath Called as you are by the pains of knowing death I beg that you please wait and don't go, my dear Failing at this, I promise that I'll meet you there
...I promise that I'll meet you there...
(c) February 15, 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 
Turkey Run State Park