nearly invisible

God in your mercy, I believe you will make me whole again one day.


I believe you will heal my pain.

I believe you will provide your strength and peace.

You will see us through.

Amen.

Not your usual Christmas "Present"

light and dark

Recovering from life’s war wounds

I attempt to get up each day and look for the sun.

Recuperating from daily battles

I try to find an attitude of gratitude each day.

Convalescing from worldly combat

I look for significant details in life.

Improving from living conflict

I seek new hope for survival.

Mending from everyday pain

I pursue a joy that can only get stronger.

Thoughts run away with me...

another in the series Psychological Landscapes

leaving the dark for the TRUE LIGHT of the world

despite the Christmas lights

i stay in the dark

despite the holiday greetings

i find none

despite the season's joy

i feel none

but with the Christmas gift

God's only son

i will survive

in rememberance

smile and maybe life will smile with you!

having trouble getting into the holiday spirit due to family situation. send me ideas and i will send you a trio of kid friendly images to play with this season. don't forget your email address. if you care to share your snail mail, i will send you something special.

it's been a trying and enlightening week for psychological landscaping

My mental landscape is breaking down.


The lovely hills are melting into one giant flat land of doubt and insecurity.

Trees fall down, one by one, with thuds of despair and fear.

Skies turn dark and ominous from helplessness.

Flowers wither from the deadly fumes of hate and discontent.

Since this is my nightmare and I walk through it daily I have to accept it and try to wade through some streams of hope and faith.

I have to climb any lasting hills of peace and joy.

I must seek to find one last glimmer of light.

If I can do all this I will rebuild my dying landscape into a thriving environment again.

another day

another day

of elder care,

of fear,

of doubt,

of uncertainty,

of worry,

of anger,

but also

another day

of hope,

of prayers,

of love

seeking present balance

Recovering from life’s war wounds I attempt to get up each day and look for the sun.


Recuperating from daily battles I try to find an attitude of gratitude each day.

Convalescing from worldly combat I look for significant details in life.

Improving from living conflict I seek new hope for survival.

Mending from everyday pain I pursue a joy that can only get stronger.

Walk on the lighter side of life and find your peace.

Pray without ceasing and know your spirit’s contentment.

Keep things simple and find God’s plan for your life.

Trust God’s power for your life and go the distance in every situation.

Find him at the source of every breath and feel comfort and grace.

The Real Season

The only real hope of the season

 is to realize its true meaning.

The only real love of the season

 is to love the reason for it.

The only real joy of the season

is to be thankful all that was and may still be.

The only real beauty of the season

is in the smile of a family member happy to see you.

The only real gift of the season

 is the promise of the Christ child.

The only real peace of the season

 is the quiet of a restful night.

The only real blessing of the season

 is the family together.

choose your psychological landscape

I may not find my psychological landscape very pleasing or calm but on the page I can create any feeling I want.


I can imagine fluffy clouds and still waters. I can visualize pleasing mountains rising out of the mist. I can accept what comes but escape into my favorite venue of any color scheme and vista by choice. My present can be peaceful and calming no matter what the reality. I can pretend all is calm. I can conjure up any scene I want by putting brush to paper or finger to mouse or mind to dreaming.

Christmas countdown

my own countdown to finding CHRISTMAS SPIRIT


1. Be tolerant.

2. Pursue the reason for the season.

3. Accept the peace that passes all understanding.

4. Remember that Christmas is about others.

5. Acknowledge the grace freely given.

6. Give and have mercy for all.

7. Trust the creator for all needs.

8. Follow your heart.

9. Love the unlovable.

10. Bear the unbearable.

11. Seek the light in darkness.

12. Indulge the needs of others.

13. Grant wishes.

14. Pray stronger.

15. Smile when your down (Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. Thich Nhat Hanh)

16. Believe like a child.

17. Dig deep in your soul.

18. Experience true joy.

19. Sing along with Christmas.

20. Deny your self-pity.

21. Stop watching the clocks and calendars.

22. Put aside troubles.

23. Keep it simply “Christmas.”

24. Christmas is more than what you see; it’s what you feel and hear and what you taste and smell and what you give and share.

25. Make Christmas last another 365, 24/7, and always.