KAREN HESSLER

There is healing power in the beauty of nature.

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Coat of Arms: A Blessing of the Word

By

On June 28, 2023

In Prayers

A poem, prayer, and blessing.

In the beginning was the Word

and the Word was with God

and the Word was God

John 1:1
Coat of Arms: A Blessing of the Word




And the Word put on
a Coat of Skin
and became flesh
and lived and walked
and talked among us
and we saw the
face of God

And the Shepherd put on
the Coat of a Lamb
and was led to slaughter
in our place
and we saw the
depth of God

And the Son of God
put on a Coat of Death
and went down into the grave
and we saw the mysteries of
the Holy of Holies

And the spotless Lamb
put on a Kingly Robe
and He rose from death
and we saw the
wisdom and power
the glory and salvation
the redemptive majesty
of the Most High God
Who lives and reigns
forever and ever.

A Blessing of the Word:

May we be filled with the hope of the living God. May we walk in the beauty of His promises. May we grow in His love, and be comforted by His words. And may we remain in His Presence all the days of our lives. Amen!

Life is Good

By

On June 26, 2023

In Poems

A poem for anyone who has ever doubted life is good.

Life is Good





life is good 
I feel the truth of it
anointing my bones
permeating my body
like a fragrance
floating like a banner
in the sky:
LIFE IS GOOD
it is only when
the flow of life is
challenged or
obstructed
that it becomes hard
oh that we would keep
within the flow of goodness
all the days of our lives
finding beauty under rocks
strength beneath stones
because
where life goes
wisdom grows
between thorns and thistles
lacing splendor through splinters
until we become
rivers of life
washing over boulders
cutting through mountains
pouring ourselves into
the roots of the
strongest oaks
emptying ourselves into
the great sea of love
only to be filled
again and again
this is how life is good

Transformation

By

On June 24, 2023

In Poems





the whole of it
is too much to bear
the weight of it
crushing the trachea
the stone of it
too large to swallow
the jagged pieces
sharp and undigestible
so the story is ground
into fine powder
the dust of it sprinkled
over every meal
until the knowledge of
its truth takes root
within our being
ready to be measured
wisdom against deception
but instead of answers
a garden grows
a sanctuary of beauty
and color
a place of warmth
and life
a table of joy
and honey
the promise of hope
and a future

Turning Sorrow Into Joy: A Flow of Praises

By

On June 20, 2023

In Posts

May we lift our hearts in an outpouring of joyful praises!

A flow of praises

A new day is here! This is no longer a time of hard things, struggles, and darkness. This is no longer a “sacrifice” of praise in the midst of troubles. God has turned our mourning into joy. Praise now flows through our lips easily, like the promises of God – full and fat, and always answering Yes! Yes! Yes!

This is abundance. This is the work of God. This is the way life is GOOD. Sing to the Lord, bless His name, announce His salvation day after day. His mercies are new every morning. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Oh, what an honor to see the mighty works of the Lord! The undeserved favor and blessings, the marvelous gifts, the righteous deeds, the depth and height, the length and width of His never ending love for us. What a blessing to see God at work, catching a glimpse of what He does within His own creation. He does special things for us because HE CAN! He is God, He is willing, He wants to, and He loves us.

Oh, Lord, we are overwhelmed with Your greatness! Who are we that You would even bother with us? But Your love comes through, it cannot be held back. Your love comes to the most wretched of us, to those in despair. It lifts us out of the pit, cleans us up, and gives us a crown, not of thorns but of glory, the glory we have in Christ! Your love brings us into Your own glory! What a mystery for the books of the ages!

Lift your horn, oh people of God. Tell the world the Spirit is moving again and again! Hallelujah!

Fear

By

On April 28, 2023

In Poems

Fear Not (photo of gauze over hand)

May this haiku inspire you to fear not. 





like a gauze over 
the eyes, fear clouds the vision
unwrap the bandage

clean out the wound, cast
fear into the sea, you shall 
see clearly again

Prayer Is An Act of Courage

By

On April 27, 2023

In Posts

Prayer is an act of courage.

An act of courage?

Throughout my cancer journey, I have been awestruck by the outpouring of love, concern, support, encouragement, and prayers of countless people, many of them strangers. And now that I’ve entered a resting point, away from the harsh chemo, and I am functioning better and thinking more clearly, something profound has occurred to me.

It’s an act of courage to pray for someone else, to breathe hope into words, to send those words out into the heavens, not certain what the outcome will be, never truly sure that you’ve been heard, yet daring to believe the impossible, calling goodness into being, watching and waiting to see what will happen as you go about your daily life.

I want you to know that you’ve given me an amazing gift: your valiant act of faith. I hold this offering close to my heart, wrapped in tissues of hope, and I somehow know with certainty that the divine walks upon this earth through the acts of kindness and love from people like you.

Peace Haiku

By

On April 25, 2023

In Poems

Peace Haiku




what if the peace you
crave already resides deep
within your being

it would only be
a matter of plunging the 
depths of your own soul

to see, to reckon
to unplug and draw up all
that is already

yours

Forget Not

By

On April 14, 2023

In Poems

Forget not the beauty of nature!

Forget not the beauty of nature




forget not the beauty of fog
swirling mysteries among
the dew drenched fields

forget not the joy of spring
lest it pass you by 
without lingering

forget not the open sky
as you walk through today
tethered to the earth

look up
look up
look up!

Love Is Always Young

By

On April 13, 2023

In Poems

A micro story in verse for all who believe in romance – love is always young!

Photo of Karen and Rick Hessler - love is always young




we sat beneath a pine tree
our backs resting against bark
hands sticky with sap
we were full of big ideas
bursting with the vigor of youth
we picked pinecones and
we planted seeds for our future
perennials to renew every spring
we whispered secrets and
we laughed when raindrops fell
watering our dreams
we followed breadcrumbs into the
unknown and called it adventure
we knew that love would light the way

Girls With Swords

By

On April 4, 2023

In Poems, Uncategorized

A poem especially for all who battle breast cancer: may we fight the good fight and win like girls with swords.

Girls With Swords




I once was a girl who
could look fear in the eye
and cut through its power
with the tip of my sword

I once was a lark who
could sing away sadness
the moment the mournful
dove knocked at my door

I once was an eagle
magnificent and wise
who could fly above trouble
who could pick apart lies

will I ever see that girl again
will I ever win this battle
set before me now when
suddenly I don't know how

oh, let the wings of the
eagle lift me up high
let the song of the lark
lift my heart to the sky

let the girl with the sword
fight this battle in me
let me win, let me win!
let me finally be free

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