These Days

A crowd of Dutch Iris burst into bloom this week.

Their brilliant purple

and striking silhouette

 are impossible to ignore.

In the late afternoon

 they are radiant and dreamy.

My soul is grateful

for these days of transient beauty.

Advent Morning

Through the heartfelt mercies of our God,

God's Sunrise will break upon us,

shining on those in the darkness,

those sitting in the shadow of death,

then showing us the way,

one foot at a time,

down the path of peace.

Luke 1:78-79

* Photos are from the crown of thorns on my back porch. They are resplendent in the morning light.