The Schinker Family

The thin horizon of a plan is almost clear.
My friends and I have had a tough time
bruising our brains hard up against change.
All the old dogs and the magician.

Now I see we’re in the boat in two by twos,
only the heart that we have
for a tool we could use.
And the very close quarters
are hard to get used to.
Love weighs the hull down with its weight.

But the wood is tired and the wood is old
and we’ll make it fine if the weather holds.
But if the weather holds
we’ll have missed the point
that’s where I need to go.

No way construction of this tricky plan
was built by other than a greater hand
with a love that passes all our understanding
watching closely over the journey.

Yeah, but what it takes to cross the great divide
seems more than all the courage
I can muster up inside.
Although we get to have some answers
when we reach the other side,
the prize is always worth the rocky ride.

But the wood is tired and the wood is old
and we’ll make it fine if the weather holds.
But if the weather holds
we’ll have missed the point
that’s where I need to go.

Sometimes I ask to sneak a closer look,
skip to the final chapter of the book.
And then maybe steer us clear
from some of the pain that it took
to get us where we are this far.

But the question drowns in its futility
and even I have got to laugh at me.
No one gets to miss the storm of what will be
just holding on for the ride.

But the wood is tired and the wood is old
and we’ll make it fine if the weather holds.
But if the weather holds
we’ll have missed the point
that’s where I need to go.

~ Wood Song, Indigo Girls

Filed under: Landscape, Light

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PRINCETON: Why does everything have to be so hard?

GARY: Maybe you’ll never find your purpose.

CHRISTMAS EVE: Lots of people don’t.

PRINCETON: But then- I don’t know why I’m even alive!

KATE MONSTER: Well, who does, really?  Everyone’s a little bit unsatisfied.

BRIAN: Everyone goes ’round a little empty inside.

GARY: Take a breath. Look around.

BRIAN: Swallow your pride

KATE MONSTER: For now…

NICKY: Nothing lasts,

ROD: Life goes on,

NICKY: Full of surprises.

ROD: You’ll be faced with problems of all shapes and sizes.

CHRISTMAS EVE: You’re going to have to make a few compromises…
For now…

ALL: But only for now! (For now)
Only for now! (For now)
Only for now! (For now)
Only for now!

LUCY: For now we’re healthy.

BRIAN: For now we’re employed.

BAD IDEA BEARS: For now we’re happy…

KATE MONSTER: If not overjoyed.

PRINCETON: And we’ll accept the things we cannot avoid, for now…

ALL:
But only for now! (For now)
Only for now! (For now)
Only for now! (For now)
Only for now!

Only for now! (For now there’s life!)
Only for now! (For now there’s love!)
Only for now! (For now there’s work!)
For now there’s happiness!
But only for now! (For now discomfort!)
Only for now! (For now there’s friendship!)
Only for now (For now!)
Only for now!

Only for now! (Sex!)
Is only for now! (Your hair!)
Is only for now! (Glenn Beck!)
Is only for now!

Don’t stress, Relax,
Let life roll off your backs
Except for death and paying taxes,
Everything in life is only for now!

NICKY: Each time you smile…

ALL: …Only for now

KATE MONSTER: It’ll only last a while.

ALL: …Only for now

PRINCETON: Life may be scary…

ALL: …Only for now
But it’s only temporary

PRINCETON: Everything in life is only for now.

~ “For Now” from Avenue Q

Filed under: Flowers, Perspective

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Yesterday, a child came out to wander.
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar.
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder,
And tearful at the falling of a star

And the seasons, they go ’round and ’round
And the painted ponies go up and down.
We’re captive on the carousel of time.
We can’t return we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game.

Then the child moved ten times
’round the seasons.
Skated over ten clear frozen streams.
Words like, “When you’re older”, must appease him
And promises of someday make his dreams.

Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now.
Cartwheels turn to car wheels through the town.
And they tell him, “Take your time.
It won’t be long now
‘Til you drag your feet to slow the circles down.”

And the seasons, they go ’round and ’round
And the painted ponies go up and down.
We’re captive on the carousel of time.
We can’t return we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game.

So the years spin by and now the boy is twenty.
Though his dreams
have lost some grandeur coming true
There’ll be new dreams,
maybe better dreams, and plenty
Before the last revolving year is through.

And the seasons, they go ’round and ’round
And the painted ponies go up and down.
We’re captive on the carousel of time.
We can’t return we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game.

And go ’round and ’round and ’round
in the circle game.

~ Joni Mitchell, Circle Game

Filed under: Kids, People, Perspective

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When I am down and oh, my soul so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up to more than I can be.

There is no life, no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up to more than I can be.

You raise me up to more than I can be.

Filed under: Landscape, Light, Perspective

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A prayer for peace from advent, a time of waiting, of preparation.  I am waiting now as well, in preparation for a change I sense is coming but cannot foresee.  In youthful impatience, I once would have yearned, demanded, pushed.  In mid-life wisdom, I can pause, reflect, assess, and wait. I can wait.

Filed under: Perspective

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