This is what happens when you give a little kid (me) a virtual pack of crayons. Rembrandt, I ain’t. But I needed something cheery on my wall, and I ain’t apologizing.
The promise will be fulfilled –
joy, peace, love, hope – all of
creation living in rainbow light.
-Karen Molenaar Terrell
Dear young friend,
I remember thinking my life was over
at your age
when he no longer loved me
I couldn’t imagine how I’d go on
how it would be
what the future would hold for me
I thought I’d never find anyone else
who would love me like he had
I imagined going through life alone
without love, without connection,
without a family or home
of my own
I wanted to die
And now here I am forty years later
and so grateful that relationship
didn’t last
because I wouldn’t have what I have now –
my family, my home, my career –
if that first relationship hadn’t crashed
and all the time between then and today
all the distance traveled
all the lessons learned
has made me see
what a laughably small part
that relationship held in my life
or my heart
dare to live
dare to move on and see
all the magic life holds yet for thee
as long as YOU can love
you have a reason to be
-Karen Molenaar Terrell
This moment you’re living and breathing,
loving and wondering and being.
Take note of this.
Mark it on your calendar with a grateful kiss.
“This moment I lived and breathed and loved and was.”
Because.
I could.
-Karen Molenaar Terrell
not what’s now, nor what’s ahead –
not what’s past, nor what I may dread –
not what I’ve gained or what I’ve shed;
nor what’s living or what’s dead;
neither the foot, nor the head;
neither what follows, nor what led;
neither what’s read, or said –
alpha or zed –
separates me
from the All that is Good
and mine to claim
-Karen Molenaar Terrell
(This is a piece of another poem that I re-worked to turn into something new.)
feel
the almighty presence of Love
enveloping you in strong Father-arms
in a gentle Mother-embrace
protecting, holding you close
and dear
hear
the voice of Life in your ear –
laughing with joy,
singing in sweet harmony
conducting all of infinity
in a symphony of never-ending
celebration
see
all of infinite creation
within the murmuration
of Mind – moving at His will
never outside the One –
Source of all movement
and animation
smell and taste
the fragrance of Soul’s creation
pure and clean and kind,
healthy and whole –
the Word of Truth sustaining,
nourishing, maintaining
all that is good and true
for you
and all.
-Karen Molenaar Terrell
“O taste and see that the Lord is good!”
(Psalms 34:8)
Really, Karen? Did you really think
everyone who knew you would like you?
And did you really think there was
something wrong with you if they didn’t?
P’shaw. Get over yourself.
People’s lives don’t revolve around you
and what you said
and what you did
and what you thought.
For God’s sake, move on, woman!
-Karen Molenaar Terrell
form matches its Essence
Beholder conceives beheld
we can only be what God sees –
we’re expressions of Love
-Karen Molenaar Terrell
What is this choice I’m making?
Why this stubborn resistance
when I know I can reach out to Love
and find her right now, right here?
What keeps me from doing that?
What keeps me from drawing near
to my Mother-Father – to what’s dear
to me?
Nothing.
Nothing can separate me from Love –
not stubborn resistance
or mortal mind’s push and shove
or incessant insistence
of its own power and ego.
Love is here, I know –
tenderly enfolding me in Her arms
even as I type and no foe –
neither a mortal life, nor death;
nor what’s now, nor what’s ahead –
not what’s past, nor what I dread –
nor what’s high or in the deepest bed;
neither the foot, nor the head;
nor feeling a lack of food, or overfed;
neither what follows, nor what led;
neither what’s read, or said –
alpha or zed –
separates me
from the All that is Good
and mine to claim right now.
-Karen Molenaar Terrell
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
-Romans 8:38-39
Grateful for the courage of those in the armed services.
Grateful for the courage of those in the foreign service.
Grateful for the courage of those who serve on the front line –
for those who choose to spend their life’s time
as law enforcement officers on the beat;
as teachers in classrooms; and social workers on the streets.
as grocery store workers; librarians; pilots; musicians and artists;
caregivers; journalists; EMT, firefighters, nurses and doctors.
Grateful for all people who work their hardest
to bring kindness to a world that sometimes seems lost in darkness.
Thank you for your service. Thank you for being brave.
Just leaving the house these days seems an act of faith.
.-Karen Molenaar Terrell
the instinct is to fold in on myself
hide away in a dark corner somewhere
away from the cacophony and the bells
and whistles – in a quiet padded lair
away from worry, stress, and care
just close the door to my closet
and pray a silent prayer
hoping to feel hope again
hoping to find stillness in the din
to find a place where we can all win
and find peace
-Karen Molenaar Terrell
Adventures of the Madcap Christian Scientist 