Dan Schwerin

In Ps.23:4 today: 'I fear no evil; for you are with me.' When the dignity of human life is not respected, whether in Mpls or Iran, we live God's relentless solidarity with the powerless. We are best shepherded by Love, not fear or rage. Not fearing evil is my work today.

Yes! Love this. Thanks. Be well.

The nyrb selection of Mehrotra is amazing. Haven't seen this. Thanks.

Tillis: You decided to kill that dog because you had not invested the appropriate time in training it, and then you have the audacity to say it’s a leadership lesson. You killed a goat and said it was behaving badly. You’re a farmer — you don’t castrate a goat, they behave badly.

In Ps. 24:7 today: '...be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the king of glory may come in.' The day is full of doors to God. Sunrise. Spoken truth. Prayer. Injustice. A neighbor in need. Even authoritarians cannot control doors to the divine. These doors will be my work today.

The glibness. The indifference. The carelessness. The utter lack of planning for a war against a country of 90M. The sickness of a man who acts on whim that will kill thousands not hundreds. The horror of a regime that enables this sickness. The broken body politic that votes in such malignancy.

In Ps.25:5: 'I put my hope in you all day long.' The psalms would not have us place our trust in princes, but the nearness of God. God's presence is a catalyst throughout the day. So we are present, open, & awake to the unitive & generous mystery of love. Hope is my work today.

Today should be your 38th birthday.. When you lose your son you lose more than a child you lose a piece of your heart and your joy. Life is forever altered, and nothing can ever fill that space. Yet in my soul, he remains, my precious boy, forever loved. His laughter, his smile, and his love are woven into who I am. My love for him will never fade. Yor are my pride and my joy - you've made a change that cannot be broken..

Alex's mom on his 38th birthday.

ICE operates unlawfully. They are outside the law, therefore they are not considered law enforcement. You can simply ignore their orders and defy their agenda. Their legitimacy isn't recognized anymore.

#smallpoemsunday @tomsnarsky.bsky.social

*
only the light
about us

to sugar
little apples

*

#smallpoemsunday @tomsnarsky.bsky.social

*
it's been such
a long life

I get lost
in my house
*
John Martone's The Last Box, p.25.

In Ps.26:1 today: 'Establish justice for me, Lord, because I have walked with integrity.' Once bombs fall, where is integrity to be found? We pray for war to cease and flourishing, not dividing. Protect the innocents. Love your enemies. Integrity is my work today.

The words ‘tree’ and ‘truth’ spring from the same Indo-European root, <deru>, which means ‘to be firm, to be solid.’ A tree is truth. Truth is a tree.

-Janet Lembke,
from Tuscan Trees

In October 2024, the Georgia secretary of state’s office launched an investigation after receiving numerous reports from residents across several counties saying they’d received partially prefilled absentee ballot applications from Musk’s America PAC. trib.al/jzxMUxz

In Ps.27:11: 'Lord, teach me your way; because of my opponents, lead me on a good path.' News of bombing reveals one more cycle in a world of increasing violence. Teach us the way of compassion, O God. Flourishing. Authoritarian power does not bless. To teach is my work today.

In Ps.28:8 today: 'The Lord is the strength of his people.' In a time of discord and collapse, we have strength for vision. Tend the inner life. God sustains Exodus people. Manna finds wilderness hunger. Be still and know. Strength is my work today.

Day 8. 2/25

to trust in God—
a single snowflake
rests on the pane

#senryu #Lent #poetry

In Ps.29:11: 'Let the Lord give strength to his people! Let the Lord bless his people with peace!' For peace/strength: 'God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.' Peace is my work today.

In Ps.30:10 today: 'Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper!' We receive content in fragments, but are we hearing the narrative of our time? Are we discerning? Do we turn aside when hearing is difficult? The Spirit is speaking. Hear is my work today.

In Ps. 31:24 today: 'be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.' These days require courage to seek the truth, live by facts, and act responsibly. Cultivate a strong inner life. Make the peace bigger than the chaos. Courage is my work today.

In Ps.32:9 today: 'Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding.' It is easy to lose perspective in distress or pain. From King: 'Attack forces of evil, not persons doing evil. Beloved Community is the framework of the future.' Understanding is my work today.

‼️‼️

#smallpoemsunday @tomsnarsky.bsky.social

*
a love tap
dirt

to seedling
encouragement
*

#smallpoemsunday @tomsnarsky.bsky.social

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flooding again
God grant us

some condensery
for ignorance

*

#smallpoemsunday @tomsnarsky.bsky.social

*
a navy-blue
antenna mast

in my back yard
and no sail boat
*

John Martone
in Alll My Kind, p. 90.

#smallpoemsunday @tomsnarsky.bsky.social

Ching An (1851-1912) in
The Clouds Should Know Me By Now: Buddhist Poet Monks of China, p.186.

Sunset in Malibu. Large rocks jug the shoreline meeting the Pacific Ocean. Purple and pink skies usher in the evening

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.—Nelson Mandela

Pic of the day

#photography

In Ps.33:4 today: '...all his work is done in faithfulness.' We live surrounded by false media, voices that create division, build detention centers, & detain citizens to intimidate. Hold on to the faithfulness of God, our hope. Love your neighbor. Faithfulness is my work today.

In Ps.34:14 today: 'Turn away from evil! Do good! Seek peace & go after it!' These days hold evil & harm for many that is allowed by a few. Racism hides in churches. Do the work that has been avoided. Hold up mirrors to harm. Do the good you can. Seeking peace is my work today.