Here are my offerings today, culled from my newly-published book of poetry, A Smile from the Cosmos.
We have just a tiny scrap of existence here
– a miniscule piece of eternity –
to love and learn and live
and leave something good behind.
Let’s not waste it on nothings.
– Karen Molenaar Terrell
His words angered the bigots,
the bullies, the hateful, and greedy.
When he forced them to look
at themselves and see their own flaws,
he triggered their hate.
When he told them to love
their neighbors, feed the hungry,
welcome the stranger, and heal
the sick, they accused him
of all the evil they saw in themselves.
He agitated their egos,
stirred the stagnant waters,
brought cleansing sunlight
to the mold of their thoughts.
And their little egos were not happy
about this.
“What have we to do with thee?
Leave us alone!” they cried.
But he loved them too much
to be silent and let them be.
His unyielding love for all God’s
children exposed their own hate
and incensed them.
He was spat on, struck, ridiculed,
and crucified for his love.
But he rose on the third day
and made breakfast
for those who loved him.
Because Love always wins.
– Karen Molenaar Terrell
“If you venture upon the quiet surface of error and are in sympathy with error, what is there to disturb the waters? What is there to strip off error’s disguise?
“If you launch your bark upon the ever-agitated but healthful waters of truth, you will encounter storms. Your good will be evil spoken of. This is the cross. Take it up and bear it, for through it you win and wear the crown.”
– Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 254
“The “still, small voice” of scientific thought reaches over continent and ocean to the globe’s remotest bound. The inaudible voice of Truth is, to the human mind, “as when a lion roareth.” It is heard in the desert and in dark places of fear. It arouses the “seven thunders” of evil, and stirs their latent forces to utter the full diapason of secret tones. Then is the power of Truth demonstrated, – made manifest in the destruction of error.”
Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 559
While we wait for the world to improve,
we might as well hope.
While we wait for wars to end,
we might as well love.
While we wait to die,
we might as well live.
– Karen Molenaar Terrell
Photo of the Indian Memorial at Little Bighorn by Karen Molenaar Terrell.
I’m living in a soggy Christmas
just like the ones I’ve known before
where toddlers jump in puddles
and puppies give wet cuddles
and muddy boots are lined up by the door.
Oh, I’m living in a sloshy Christmas
with a fire burning in the stove
and my tea is steaming
and Christmas movies are streaming
and family’s here for a good coze.
I’m living in a soggy Christmas
with every Christmas card I write,
“May the raindrops pitter-patter
and our dreams for peace matter,
and may all our Christmases be bright.”
Karen Molenaar Terrell
Quiet and still,
before the family is up,
I turn the lights on
the Christmas tree
and sit in its cheery glow.
I wrap myself all up
in the soft blanket of Love
and feel Her enveloping
the world in peace and hope.
I sip my lemon ginger tea
with honey, and contemplate
Christmases past when the sons
were youngsters, and my parents
were still with us.
Yesterday I was feeling sad
about the absence of parents
and friends who’ve gone on –
but in this moment I feel them
still with me and I hug them all
in my thoughts and smile
at their still-nearness.
Love is never lost.
All the good of then
is still with me here.
Karen Molenaar Terrell
We are words in the same poem.
We are notes in the same song.
We are cells of the same body.
We are rays of the same sun.
We are brushstrokes in the same painting.
We’re all a part of the One.
-Karen Molenaar Terrell
We sit at a table outside the restaurant
and chat and watch people pass by
and there is magic out there!
A young man with a bright smile
walks by, holding a small bouquet.
I smile at him and point to the flowers,
and he grins and says, “A first date.”
“That’s so sweet!” I say, and his smile
gets even brighter.
A little chap of three or four walks by
with his mom and he turns and looks
at me and I wave. He waves back,
serious about our exchange – a little man.
My heart melts.
A woman passes by with her grandbaby –
she sees our grandma faces light up
and brings her little one to our circle
so we can share in her grandmother-joy.
She is not called “Grandma” she tells us –
she is “Nanna” and she is enjoying
her last days with her grandbaby
before he moves to the east coast
with his parents. All of our grandbabies
live out of state and we understand
what she’s feeling right now.
“Enjoy these precious moments,” I say,
and she nods and smiles and hugs
her grandbaby close before moving on.
At the table next to us there is a baby
in a stroller and she smiles at me and gives
me high fives with both her feet and hands
all at once. A high twenty!
Such joy!
And now the man who’d had the bouquet
walks by on the other side of the street.
He is with his date and they are laughing
and chatting and getting to know each other.
He sees me watching and waves and grins
and I wave back.
Magic everywhere!
-Karen Molenaar Terrell
Do you feel it, too?
There’s something of import
in the wind. Something
bigger than we’ve known.
A reckoning. A waking.
A transformation.
-Karen Molenaar Terrell
I woke up in the dark,
thinking my thoughts,
finishing conversations
in my head and presenting
my bullet points to prove
I’m right, then – snap! –
in an instant all of the talking
in my head stopped
and Love said, “I am here.”
I am humbled by Love.
– Karen Molenaar Terrell
I feel the shadow of depression
moving in and I’m filled
with dread and fear –
my instinct to turn and flee.
But instead I pause, take a breath,
and face the shadow – see
it for what it is – just a cloud
floating by. It will pass.
It won’t last.
But I will.
– Karen Molenaar Terrell
Adventures of the Madcap Christian Scientist 