half-caf haibun

Meditations and other unwitticisms

[halfcafhaibun]

Knowing Mom

Watching a crime documentary recently made me wonder a few things about my mother, who was not a criminal, but I guess could have been.

[halfcafhaibun]

Post by @bluemonkwrites · 1 link

💬 0  🔁 0  ❤️ 0 · Are there any plans today? · Even the most sainted caregivers have moments of impatience and unkindness, usually after keep

[halfcafhaibun]

In the Backyard with Oliver

There is at least one chicken in the yard next door making his presence known with loud squawks, the others murmuring low.

New post.

[bluemonkwrites]

Freckles

All things counter, original, spare, strange; Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?) With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim; He

[bluemonkwrites]

New post. Please share if it helps or encourages you.

[halfcafhaibun]

The Leash

Learning to Not Interpret the Beating

[halfcafhaibun]

The Elf in the Tree

And Other Christmas Lies

[halfcafhaibun]

An Advent Tradition

One of the (usually) light-hearted arguments in the American world (and my family) is when it is acceptable to start playing Christmas music

[bluemonkwrites]

Our (Once) Terrible Team

Remembering the Texas Rangers and Dad

[halfcafhaibun]

My essay about my relationship with my grandfather has been published.

[halfcafhaibun]

I was with my friend Brad, working with him at his father’s sawmill. Brad’s mother came out and called to him. “Michael’s needs to call his

[halfcafhaibun]

Pictures of me as a small boy show very short hair, cut in a burr, often jet black in contrast to my brother John’s blond. My mother, a harr

[halfcafhaibun]

I do not know what other people listen to ambient or other instrumental music for. To be honest, I am not sure why I do. But I am pretty sure that whatever your reason, this wonderful project of long form pieces fits.

There are times the music is almost too quiet, and I find myself turning it up and then being knocked down by a sudden increase in volume. But that, I feel, is more about how I should take more care than about a flaw in the recording.

Moving in parts, and relaxing in others, I think Music for Animals is a delightful addition to the soundscape.

[halfcafhaibun]

The Way of Weakness - Kindle edition by Morris, Michael Neal. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use

New book of meditations coming Christmas Eve. Pre-order now.

[halfcafhaibun]

When

I want, sometimes -- at moments like this --, to give up this throwing after words, even reading them, and go to a beach to be swallowed by the sound of the sea. Movement is hard when so many competing responsibilities and anxieties shout over my senses.

And in these times it is hard to move and hard to pray. But I must.

I have to make the attempt to walk into God’s presence, though my feet are cold and seem -- when the moments like this come -- frozen in place. I have to hope Christ, who knows all suffering, has not left me in the steam stifling, beast filled woods.

[halfcafhaibun]

Unattended

Like an untreated bronchial infection can turn into pneumonia, frustration ignored can lead to bitterness, then to anger. To many, frustration looks like anger, and not knowing or caring about the cause, the problem gets ignored or the sufferer is at best belittled, vilified at worst. Left unattended (not unchecked), the likely conclusion is some form of avoidable death.

[halfcafhaibun]

For the Suffering

Most people have advice for the suffering. Few have an empathetic ear. Fewer still have godly love.