Wonder Thermostat

Do we flee silence and/total solitude? In silence is where our hearing becomes acute. The idea for this came when attending a Christmas musical performance with my mother at a local High school.

Wonder Thermostat

Wonder thermostat, is it set? Awe regulator, is it activated? Do we still dream? Children know how to do all these things effortlessly.

Twinkling stars send their message. Deep blue expanse above calls our name, matched in the green and azure fathoms of seas spread below. 

 Are we listening? Are we paying attention?

 Sitting in a musical auditorium listening to high school students sing from their young strength and passion. Do we allow our imagination and emotion to become one with them? Eyes closed; do our souls fly in twirling dance above our heads in joy?

Over the years has our passion melted away like steam from a tea kettle, our wonder and awe been replaced by proper behavior and rigid performance?

When did this happen?

Gradually it can come creeping with age, every meter of a sun dial’s shadow: from warm belief and hopeful reality to muddy stagnation.

We must guard our precious hearts.

Healing and wholeness comes within reality of silence. Within total silence of a quiet place of introspection,

 do we run in fear?

 Yet, here is where our hearing becomes acute and truth within our souls is faced. Vague stagnation can come on so gradually. Shadow grayness can blur our vision

- Our precious heart’s vision.

Look to the silence, alone with our souls-alone with God; just to be,

 listening to the living Spirit.

His still small voice will teach if we listen.

Scripture from New King James bible;  1 kings 19: 11- 12.

“11. Go and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord who is about to pass by. Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12. After the earthquake, a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper."

Oh, Holy God you speak in the inner silence; the living reality of our being. We are not unknown or a mystery to you, for you long to love us openly.

  We can lay bare, our precious souls before you and find rest from the chaos which pulls and prods our lives.and know you simply want us for your own.

 This is true peace.

  Oh Lord Jesus, Savior and Messiah, of the world.

Author's Note

I suppose this is more like an essay then what I'd thought of then a prose style poem. Pointed out by a reviewer and thank you for doing so. The settings for some reason this time had me a little befuddled. Thanks much

Reviews

[Shep]

Al writing some ways or another is poetry itself if you truly want to break down to its nuts and bolts. either way, it still an impress write. as you discuss the youth life youth and music of the young and the fear the face as they grow older. Time moves on for all of us as explained very well in this essay. Nicely done

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Shep,
I appreciate your thoughtful insight above. What I really think is refreshing is how differently every person sees things-interprets. We all have a voice somehow. It is wonderful that you came back to this one as well.
Blessings this cold day, (at least here)
Kathy

[M.E.Lyle]

In the beginning you seem to be comparing what it was like being young and full of life to getting older and gray. All that youthful spirit was lifted away long ago.
I thought of my step-son's old great dane. As a pup he played and ran with youthful exuberance, but as time passed he turned gray. All he wanted was to be fed and sleep. Then one day he was gone.
This was a very sad piece for me, but then the uplifting ending to it brought back hope and joy.
You've done a wonderful job here.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

M.E.Lyle,
You know we are all complex and unique within our beings. I enjoyed your take on this poem of mine. Your own heart and life is going to take and interpret from your own experience and reality. I truly appreciated your honest words and personal insights. It was wonderful. thanks much.
blessings to you.
Kathy

[barleygirl]

One of the best uplifting messages I've read lately! The title drew me in & your poem doesn't disappoint! I felt like I knew exactly what you meant at each line. Given your inspiration was childlike singing, I can see this as a guide to staying in touch with "wonder" as we can be inspired to do watching children (& in my case, pets). I always try to stay in touch with that yearning curiosity of my sniffing dogs. Your message is equally beckoning, with regards to watching kids that haven't lost that yearning! Here's wishing you & your loved ones a delicious Christmas season (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Oh Margie! your kind words are just what I needed today, a reminder that there is someone out there that is also in the day to day worthwhile learning experience called life. Thankyou for your positive and unplifting message. It has meant a great deal. I also appreciate how you are such a good reviewer sharing such intelligent view points, very helpful.
I'm sending Christmas hugs your way too!
Blessings,
Kathy

[alanwgraham]

It's true that we can lose our sense of wonder as we grow older. I think that I regained mine when I had a manic episode a few years ago and I started to see the world 'with the shutters off'.
I can see how a faith can help make sense of things but it gets tricky when groups of people have different gods.
Perhaps 'Be still and know that I am God' could also be interpreted as 'Be still and know that 'I' am god.'
Well done for taking the time to share your thoughts.
regards,
Alan

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Hey there Alan, It is good when a person comes out the other side of pain. You are in a position to understand much more of other's circumstances similar to your own. Now that is wonderful.
See you again.
Kathy

[Duncan Brown]

France France France........................................................................................................zone

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Hi Duncan,
It is so nice to hear from you! As always. Well blessings to you!
Kathy

[Stan Lee]

This is a beautiful deep-thinking piece. I enjoyed how the thoughts wandered so serenely from start to finish. Thanks for sharing. :)

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Andronicus,
Sometimes, I think nothing will do but to just examine cause and effect from an internal stance. It is rewarding too. I appreciate your review and the time spent to read this poem.
Blessings,
Kathy

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Second submission of same writing-essay. Deleted the first one by mistake when fooling around with the different settings and even lost the first two really nice reviews and comments back and forth which were really fun and interesting. Long sentence, heh?
Well I am just thankful for how nice people are and how I love the differences we all share. Can we share differences....fun thought ...Blessings to all...............Kathy

[Shabeeh Haider]

A deep and pensive write. People of every faith can associate with the call to the Lord.
Deep inside we are still children. But the winds of time has blown dust that has covered our innermost dream and desires.
Some times those dreams are unearthed and we wish to return to the days of our childhood but we realize that time has moved on.
Beautifully written.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Shabeeh Haider,
Your take on thermostat was another interesting and new look at something shared.Thanks for that. Isn't it nice to have our minds-emotions challenged as we communicate with one another. It is such a gift as is your comment as well.
You know people do all believe in something. We draw strength from many things in many ways.
I think these things are connected to what brings hope and dreams in our hearts.
People are complex and amazing that way.
Anyway i have gone on and on here, thinking out loud and probably wrong. Bless you for your thoughtful, and insightful comments.............Kathy

[Shabeeh Haider]

We try to find a little bit of our life in whatever we read and view.
That is why we all have slightly different perceptions than others to what we have read

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Yes you are so right and I do appreciate the time you take to express. It does not go unnoticed! Thanks again my good writer friend!

[Shabeeh Haider]

Most welcome.
Keep writing

[Poetic License]

I am floored by the strength of your spiritual stand in this piece.

"Over the years has our passion melted away like steam from a tea kettle, our wonder and awe been replaced by proper behavior and rigid performance?"

This absolutely strikes me. I go back to it over and over, drinking it down again and asking the same over and over again.

The wisdom you offer in this piece is a comfort. Your attention to detail, to expression, to color and imagery only serve to truly commit your reader to take your words to heart, to listen closely, to trust you are about to impart something they need to know.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Oh thankyou Poetic License!! Why do we write? I know for me it is just from what I have experienced or have learned. I want to share. It is a vulnerable thing to I think. When people are kind and just try to get something good out of anything that I say it is always so very nice. Can I say affirming? For it is that. Bless your for your in depth and thoughtful insights. It helps to think and see the positive input of others............Bless you much...........Kathy
and thanks for reading a new writer!