January 2 2017   A NEW YEAR BEGINS

This past week has been a wonderful break from my usual schedule.  I think I learned more than I expected by taking the days off from writing. 

The first unexpected benefit came when I realized that after an entire year of being “retired” that this was the very first week I actually experienced the “feeling” of being retired.  And what exactly is that “feeling”?  I suppose it has different meanings for each one who retires.  For me it was permission to not have a schedule, a deadline, or the necessity of purposely setting time aside to come up with something coherent to write.  I experienced a bit of euphoria over this past week of retirement that I had not yet experienced over the course of the past year.  It was exhilarating to actually have a few extra hours in my day to pursue other adventures.

And these new escapades brought to light another interesting fact about the week.  Regardless how much or how little time I have to fill, it all gets used up.  And that led me to the third insight of my week “off”.

My third “lesson” was that it caused me to take a look at the overall picture of my day.  I pondered what  I had or had not accomplished with the extra hours.  Did I have anything to show for those extra hours?  I also asked myself the question, was I more satisfied with the extra hours off, or more satisfied using my hours to write?  I also wondered if my life is better off when I take the time to write and compose poetry, or better off using those hours elsewhere?

All of the above thoughts gave me pause to then wonder, does my writing make a difference in anyone’s life?  Do I write for myself, for others, or for God?  If I am doing it for myself is that enough?  If I am doing it for others, is it in some way touching lives that I otherwise could not reach in a positive way?  Is that enough reason to write?  Or am I doing it for God?  And, if I am doing it for God do I continue to write a blog or just a poem?  That is the question that I ultimately ask myself.  My purpose is to reach out to others with God’s message of love and eternal salvation using the gift that God has given me.

Poetry is the gift God bestowed on my life.  Without His gifting me in this area I could not write.  Are the poems spectacular; perhaps not in the eyes of the world.  But, if even one poem touches one life in a positive way and turns another’s heart toward God, to me it would be worth all the hours I spend on the computer.  Even during this past week my poems were recorded daily in my journal as my gift back to God.  Perhaps no one will ever see them written, or hear me read them, but they were written as my commitment, to give back to God on a daily basis the talent He bestowed upon me.  I can’t take credit for this gift but I do desire to use the talent he has placed in my care.  If you have a talent that is tucked away and unused, take time to get it out in the open and offer it back to God.  You may be surprised at where it will take you, who you bless, and the doors that God will open before you.

So, overall, I know that I will continue to write poetry, and have decided to also continue my blog on a schedule that will work for me.  I find that the things I need in my life are purpose, direction, and a bit of a routine.  These keep me me persevering as well as focused.  The result keeps my mind alert and my body active.  And this causes me to use the rest of my hours more profitably, knowing that I expect certain accomplishments of myself.  Also, writing gives me pause to know myself a bit better.  So, as I have said in the past, even if no one reads my blog, I will write it anyway.  I do not plan to write as extensively or perhaps even three days a week.  But I will write it.  My poetry will be written daily but some days may not allow for me to publish due to my schedule.  I have some desires that I must fulfill and it will take hours for me to accomplish them.  And then perhaps you can hold my finished book in your hand.

 

A NEW YEAR BEGINS (2017)

Kathleen Martens

January 2, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

 

EIGHT THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY HOURS

Is what this year holds.

And if you count a leap year

Add 24 more to the fold.

 

So many hours, yet so few,

Every day given, twenty four new.

How you chose to live, is your decision,

What you accomplish, done by precision.

 

Do not waste your hours available.

Hours some day, no longer accessible.

Take time to live, laugh and dance,

Joy does not come just by chance.

 

Where you are going, plan ahead.

You are now alive, someday you’ll be dead.

Hours are precious, take not one for granted,

Be a strong tree where you are planted.

 

Weather the storms which are bound to come.

Enjoy with gusto your hours of fun.

 Be good to your body, such a personal friend,

That it not betray you, at your end.

 

Love your family with all your heart,

They are the ones who will not depart.

Make room for God, for His creative hands

Molded you, to walk this land.

 

Your Heavenly Father, take time to know.

Either heaven or hell, you’ll eventually go.

You have a choice while here on earth,

Choose salvation for eternal worth.

 

You never know throughout this year,

If you will see 2018 come near.

So use every hour to fully live.

Your hours are numbered, which God gives.

 

Thank You God for this New Year!

Thank You God that You are omnipotent.

Thank You God that You are omnipresent.

Thank You God that You are omniscient.

Thank You for this day!

 

Praying God will bless you in 2017