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The Race of Life
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In times of plenty
do we grab at more to gain
and run in frantic pursuit
of more to attain?
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In times of abundance
do we share with those around
or is our greed awakened
while we hoard all that we’ve found?
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In times of poverty
do we give to those with less
and will our table still welcome
an unexpected guest?
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In times of plenty
or in seasons of our need
our true selves are unveiled
for others sure to see.
~
Wendy/2013
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Ian and I walked along the Puntledge River earlier this month.
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We were amazed at the abundance of salmon and seagulls.
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The Pink Salmon were finished ‘the race of life.’
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It was loud with raucous gulls; it was ripe with rotting fish.
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My heart was moved by the determination of the salmon.
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My heart was repulsed by the greed of the birds.
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How could they squawk so incessantly
and squabble in the midst of such ample provision?
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My mind quickly spotted the similarities between them and me…
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Race of Life Blessings ~ Wendy
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A beautiful poem Wendy! And your photos,, as ever, are favulous.
I love the reflection in your poem, how you were watching the behaviour of the birds and comparing that to how we humans can behave. There is always a lesson to be leaned from nature. I wrote a poem not long ago comparing myself to an angry tree! I dont think its quite there yet so I havent shared it, but I will work on it and see if I can make it share-worthy! 😊
Blessings sent your way
Christine
Thank you, Christine! Please let me know when you post the ‘angry tree’ post so I can read it. 🙂 I love tree inspired art.<3
I will do Wendy 😊 Xx
WHAT a lesson!
It made me ponder…
Really beautiful! I love the poem, too! Thank you!
Thank you!
Wonderful photographs.
🙂
A perfect poem for THanksgiving season… Sue
womenlivinglifeafter50.com
Thank you, Sue! We, Canadians, have had our Thanksgiving Day already; however, we’d be wise to be thankful daily.
I wrote a poem based on this post. I don’t know how to show you but it’s on my blog. I put your blog site on the poem so that others may find you.
Nicely done poem! Thank you for the link. 🙂 Many of my short poem ideas are inspired by other posts I have read.
just awesome Wendy!!! I really love the moss on the large tree, so beautiful!
Thank you, Heather! I am a moss lover too.
It’s true that what we have, and what we do with it, shows what we’re about inside. A hungry heart is loathe to share riches, but a heart of plenty will give the last of what little it has. God bless you BIG–love, sis Caddo
Caddo, I can just picture you sharing your awesome baking with others, as I suspect you do…, from your ‘heart of plenty.’ <3
Wow, does this have me thinking today! May I have a more giving attitude in an out of season. Amen! ~ Blessings ~
I need to heed the first nudge to share rather than procrastinating…
The sheer beauty of nature never fails to move me. Your images Wendy always depict that beauty in such a marvellous way; and when they are coupled with your words they make their own lovely music. Thank you.
Don, your comment has blessed me deeply. Both nature and music are two things I don’t want to live without. Interestingly I wrote this while my daughter was in piano lesson and as I pictured the salmon run.
Beautiful, Wendy – the photos and your poem/message.
Thank you, Bill! I’m glad that the photos don’t include the fragrance of the salmon run… 😉
The rat race of life is what Intey to avoid. Nice photos. I love the mossy tree
Thank you, SueI like to avoid the ‘rat race’ as much as possible by staying away from most magazines, catalogues, and tv.
Boundaries. We all have those things that we tend to get caught up in. Mine is busyness, sometimes even in doing good things. This is especially true for me at the holidays. God helps me prioritize and set limits.
🙂 You couldn’t ask for better help.
😃
Good questions all three. We know the ‘right’ answers – and quite often for most people, it stops there!
Yes, Eric, how sad when we rob both others and ourselves by hanging on too tightly to what we cannot take with us…
Very nice poem, Wendy, and very appropriate as we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving. Blessings, Natalie
Thank you, Natalie! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
I love this poem. What a great lesson from the birds–our hearts indeed clamor for more. Contentment is something to *learn*, for sure. V and I have seen a wide range of material wealth, and my prayer is that our hearts always acknowledge God as our provider, and that we are good stewards of what we have! Being thankful daily keeps the heart in check.
I am slipping more and more away from my blog, and I miss it–but I know that my attention is needed more elsewhere in this season of life! We are seeing God’s hand growing exciting things around us, and I hope that someday soon I will get to write about some of it!
I am thankful for a bit of time this evening to read and write and think! Blessings to you–Alison
Alison, it is so refreshing to hear of one as young as you finding contentment in being just where you are at this present time. We, too, have experienced a variety of stages. In each it is the still and quiet times before God that stand out as moments of true richness.
As beautiful as ever!!!
Thank you and bless you, Skye!
Amazing shot of the salmon…it is something to capture the essence of nature and you do it so beautifully! What a great poem…delightful! Bless you ~Zoey
Thank you, Zoey! The dear old salmon had found a spot away from all the birds. It did not seem to mind me being close to the water’s edge.
Your poem goes straight to my heart … reflecting on the gracious gifts we have been given and how important it is not only to implement gratitude daily but to continually find ways to give … “giving thanks” and “thankfully giving” … You blessed me today
Heidi, your comment blesses me. You are so right that giving can be done in different ways… not just financial.
Always a joy to walk with you through the wonderful world of your photos of nature. Beautiful poem.
Thank you, Irina! I love the flower you have posted today!
I absolutely enjoyed this! Thank you!
🙂 Thank you!
What a sight to see in real life. The smell of it all is not something I have thought about it when I have seen such scenes on the small screen.
We thought that we might not be able to eat seafood or fish for a long while after that… 😉 A week later we were back to normal.
Phew, that’s a relief!
Your blog us such a feast for me, Wendy. Happy Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving, Rita! Thank you.
As always, I am fascinated by the pictures you capture of nature’s beauty!
Thank you, Evangeline! Creation is fascinating to me – daily.
Enjoyed the beauty of the river and its denizens and your observations.
Thank you! 🙂
This is wonderful Wendy, I love all the pictures! Thanks for sharing.
Much love. 🙂
Thank you, Seyi!
Nice photos. Gulls will peck each other to death over something. Sadly, humanity seems to be heading the same direction.
We had free range chickens at our former acreage, and I was amazed at how mean they could be to each other. Yes, Patti, our planet is not a place of peace.
Nature in her abundance shares so lovingly. How wonderful life would be if we too could imitate her.
Mary, this week I’m appreciating the ‘abundance’ of leaves my trees have provided for an ideal garden blanket. Yes, we need to learn to work with and more like much of what nature does…
What a lovely thought-provoking poem!
Thank you so much, Sheryl!
You ARE the season! May the angels attend to you & yours at every time & season of your life dear friend ~ HAPPY Thanksgiving Day~ Faithfully Debbie
Thank you so much, dear Debbie, and blessings to you this holiday weekend. You are an angel. 🙂
interesting photo’s , Wendy, and beautiful in words .
Happy Thanksgiving!
Francina
Thank you, Francina! I am honored by your comment.
Your perspective is beautiful and clean. It is special to me because these are the some images I see each day where I live, but Today, I saw them through your eyes. Very special indeed!!!! Thank you….
Thank you! I find that photographing nature helps me to see it more closely with my heart.
EXCELLENT!!! You live in an area so different from mine!
Another excellent! 🙂 Thanks and have a meaningful Christmas season!