QUEEN'S VIEW



On my recent trip to Britain, we were treated to a hike up a wooded hill (gasping and panting) in Scotland, at whose top we were exposed to this beautiful view. It is named Queen's View because it was a favorite spot of Queen Victoria's. Considering how a 50-inch-waist pair of her bloomers were just auctioned off, you've got to wonder how she could have hoofed it up to that vista in the first place, ample skirts and all. Queens have their tricks, I'm sure, and plenty of people to serve them.

A couple of verses I wrote about Queen's View:

Valley serene, never touristed by tumult
of smoke, smog and city street
What meaning does your name imply?
Better graced because a queen passed by?

Your secret is that you exalt
poor creatures who upon your vista gaze
We give you a name, you feed our spirit
Nature makes her lovers better for it

We reflect on you, so you on Him who made you.
His workmanship you are, His evidence
of Love that sang the world into being
enobling those whose humbled eyes are seing

the fleeting glimpse of heaven in created order.
Our next task, to see His work and beauty in each other.
Reflected glory, not that a monarch named the thing;
gazing at Love's beauty makes of us a queen or king.

By Gail Aggen, copyright 2008

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord." II Corinthians 3:18 KJV

FROZEN POET

Frozen poet stream dammed up
turgid stricken broken cup

Logjam on a frozen river
Spring alas, has been detained
waiting for the proper moment
joy and sorrow yet contained

Prisoned thoughts that vainly wait
lost in shadow turn to dust
fears attack the heart's desire
strike my golden words to rust

Let me speak the fragrant roses
blowing beauty through the mist
taste the salt air I have tasted
may my words your senses kiss

Time to break free, time to offer
Grace that overwhelms me yet
for the sake of Love attempt it
quit my fears without regret

Frozen poet, winter's passing
Warmth returns to pallored cheek
Wakes the muse from hibernation
Bids her world of words to speak

Shout the colors, greet the harvest
play my hand as I might best

By Gail Aggen
Copyright 2008

My baby, Maria. And now, for the older, well-seasoned model......................................................................






JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO GO ON THE INTERNET.......................................................................I'M BACK!!

So, here I am, back at my writing upon finding out that one or two people actually read my blog!!!!!!!!!!

I just think that its time I wrote something, anything, that might cheer someone (me?) up. Maria sure is beautiful, God bless her, but she has her own MySpace and can spout off on it if she wants, so we'll leave her to it. I had asked son Michael to create a MySpace page for me, in order that I might plumb the cyber-universe of my children and all young people, and therefore, ruin their MySpace experience forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! At least that is what they say will happen. So he's moving kinda slow on that request.

Actually, I am trying to distract myself from the upcoming election. The choice we have, as I see it, is between lending your brand new car to your sixteen year old or to your grandpa, (the one who really should have turned in his license a couple of years ago). My analogy extends beyond the age thing, I hope you realize. I don't think either of them can be trusted to find the right road for this country and to keep her on it, steady and sure. They continually seem to be looking at the map named "Political Expediency". Their campaign promises are nebulous roads to nowhere. There is a large, red X on this map, just a hair right of the center, which reads "where most of America lives", and so they each seem to be driving toward it in their rhetoric, heading for a collision, I think. Whoever thought car wrecks could be so boring? Most distressingly, we'll all be along for the ride, tied up in the trunk and hoping for the best, as it were, for the next four years.

Personally, I think the answer for America, both corporately and as individuals, is pretty simple. Here is my list:

Rise up early.
Pray without ceasing.
Practice the Presence.
Nourish yourself and others.
Live in forgiveness.
MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.
Work like a peasant.
Spend time outdoors every day.
Drink lots of good water.
Stay in the Word.
Pay your bills and live within your means.
Go to bed early.

That's my solution, but of course I can't force it on anybody because, "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS" applies to me, first and foremost. But I just thought I'd suggest a little food for thought, you know, to take with us as we set off on our next road trip.