Alive & Living
A gentle entry to 2026
There is living And then there is living We climb mountains to leap from their summit We weave tales of grand adventures Unlikely heroes, monstrous villains We escape to quiet corners, sitting, watching the earth live around us without the hustle of commodity A reminder Breathe deeply. We feel the air expand our lungs Molecules of life soaking, providing, sustaining Life and living. To live is a gift One, some seem reluctant to rip open like an early morning Christmas present Desperation to grasp this vapor of existence Excitement. Anticipation. Apathy seeps into bones and marrow, rotting and putrid The lie of 'one day' but not 'this day' And then we miss it This life worth living Reflection is always 20/20 Pixilated distraction Artificial intrusion repackaged as connection A distortion of our God-image to reflect Feel-good lies. Numbing. Formed not by The Potter's Hands But the world's conveyor assembly line Copy. Paste. Awaken! Those who slumber Tremble and rise Catch the pulse of living The fierce miracle of breath, of skin, of soul Look! The Sun drips gold and glory through dappled trees Stirring with the gasp of the wind The cadence of a heartbeat thrumming Hope. Love. Life. Life. Life abundantly.
Psalm 16 AMPC
1 Keep and protect me, O God, for in You I have found refuge, and in You do I put my trust and hide myself.
2 I say to the Lord, You are my Lord; I have no good beside or beyond You.
3 As for the godly (the saints) who are in the land, they are the excellent, the noble, and the glorious, in whom is all my delight.
4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied who choose another god; their drink offerings of blood will I not offer or take their names upon my lips.
5 The Lord is my chosen and assigned portion, my cup; You hold and maintain my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good heritage.
7 I will bless the Lord, Who has given me counsel; yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.
8 I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory [my inner self] rejoices; my body too shall rest and confidently dwell in safety,
10 For You will not abandon me to Sheol (the place of the dead), neither will You suffer Your holy one [Holy One] to see corruption.
11 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.