Benediction Prayer

as we leave this hall today
do not leave the message here
make it clear, take it home
shine the light, keep it bright
the message of Jesus is dear
to our hearts, bless those who
were recognized today, those
absent, those of us who will
take on the struggle, the fight.
Lord, show us the light; amen



blognote: This is the Benediction I will use as Master of Ceremonies at the conclusion of the Membership Recognition Dinner today at Central Baptist Church.

Central Baptist Church

Another presentation today at Central Baptist Church in Hartford where I worship. This will be the same talk I gave at CVOC the other week but will emphasize the religious motivation of my volunteer mission. 

CVOC Presentation

My presentation this afternoon during the '3rd Friday at 3' series here at Covenant Village went very well. There were between 50 and 60 in the audience.

I started with three disclaimers: not a missionary, not a poet, not a photographer. So I interspersed my report with 'word pictures,' [actually my attempt at blogged poetry]. There was a suggestion at the end of the talk that I put my notes and poems into a folder and leave in the library. This way, people can reread it at their leisure and those unable to attend can visit it also.

bloginfo: The title of the presentation was 'Mission Travels and Poetry: JAMI 2007-2009'
blognote: I am giving the same presentation the first Sunday of May at church, Central Baptist, in Hartford.

'morning on campus'

guineau hen strolling up a gravel path;
sounds of breakfast preparation,
a morning chill blankets the ground
while a soft morning sun rises slowly
melting early fog at mountain's base

the vista: lush plantings fronting
a far cityscape nestling in foothills
[the sun rises as I write]
the chill diminishes, sounds increase
while a rooster announces that
a new day has started once again

blognote: I had hoped to write 'a poem a day' like last year but this is only the second. The first will appear on the poetry blog @www.tjjfpoems.blogspot.com when I get better computer access.

an answer to Dora...

‘Thomas, a fantastic figure who served as an example to each one of us through his energy, love, dedication and joy’.


energy
That energy wherewith you speak
came loaded with the vagaries of age,
each night a welcome gift of sleep
as exhaustion, well hidden during the day,
set in and cradled me in love and pain

love
The love sprang forth as a reflection
of the tender caring of the youth I served;
love so undeserved yet welcomed with joy
in the time of my still mourning a lost love

dedication
Years of striving to succeed professionally
caught up with me anew as I came to know
minds so open to embrace a foreign idiom
making it easy for me to do this needed work

joy
The joy was mine, believe me, and the tears
you shed will always be reflected in my soul,
a reservoir of memories that make each day
a reason to continue; this was your gift to me

bloginfo: This poem was written in response to the quote in the good-bye letter from a student at the end of my second summer there.
blognote: This poem is also found in my poetry website.

farewell poem 2007

Looking back over previous posts in my Turning70 blog, I found an entry that will give insight to what is coming.

3/3/07

serenity, solitude
the sounds of nature, the sounds of songs of praise
this my first afternoon at JAMI, Belo Horizonte, Brasil

I sat outside, alone where the heat had subsided
clouds scudding across the sky

fulfillment, satisfaction
the words of poems, the words of songs of praise
this my first true poem at JAMI, Belo Horizonte, Brasil

I sit inside, alone where heat still fills the room
words scudding across the page

3/16/07

apprehension, sorrow
the sounds of nature, the sounds of kitchen preparation
this my last full day at JAMI, Belo Horizonte, Brasil

I rest inside, alone where morning chill invades
thoughts scudding across my mind
and
I prepare to say farewell!