I loved growing up in my nutty family. I love the fact that we actually did sing together in front of audiences to raise support as missionaries. Was thinking about this today so I decided to create a quick poster to commemorate my memories. Retro is the new black. Thanks for all the memories Mom, Dad, Lisa, and Duane.
I stand on the rocky shore stripped to the waist The sun hot on my nakedness A boy again Hair disheveled skin sun-kissed The sea rumbles below my feet Forgotten or distant voices chime above the deep tones of the ocean My eyes squint through mingled sun and mist The expanse tumult with energy A great wave building Its headwind breathes an expectant pulse against my chest Dazzling power now before me The sun flashes Eyes close Arms open wide to accept the wave’s authority A long youth-filled holler erupts from my opened mouth It’s upon me Abandon Laughter Fear Shortcoming interweave in a single moment of awe I am gladly overtaken
Overtaken Poem & Design - © 2013 Douglas Montague
Timely reminder from one of my favorite indie artists.
Farther Along, by Josh Garrels
Farther along we’ll know all about it
Farther along we’ll understand why
Cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine
We’ll understand this, all by and by
Tempted and tried, I wondered why
The good man died, the bad man thrives
And Jesus cries because he loves em’ both
We’re all cast-aways in need of ropes
Hangin’ on by the last threads of our hope
In a house of mirrors full of smoke
Confusing illusions I’ve seen
Where did I go wrong, I sang along
To every chorus of the song
That the devil wrote like a piper at the gates
Leading mice and men down to their fates
But some will courageously escape
The seductive voice with a heart of faith
While walkin’ that line back home
So much more to life than we’ve been told
It’s full of beauty that will unfold
And shine like you struck gold my wayward son
That deadweight burden weighs a ton
Go down into the river and let it run
And wash away all the things you’ve done
Forgiveness alright
Chorus
Still I get hard pressed on every side
Between the rock and a compromise
Like the truth and pack of lies fightin’ for my soul
And I’ve got no place left go
Cause I got changed by what I’ve been shown
More glory than the world has known
Keeps me ramblin’ on
Skipping like a calf loosed from its stall
I’m free to love once and for all
And even when I fall I’ll get back up
For the joy that overflows my cup
Heaven filled me with more than enough
Broke down my levee and my bluff
Let the flood wash me
And one day when the sky rolls back on us
Some rejoice and the others fuss
Cause every knee must bow and tongue confess
That the son of god is forever blessed
His is the kingdom, we’re the guests
So put your voice up to the test
Sing Lord, come soon
Looking for sunshine.
My design interpretation of a 1984 book cover.
Why should one feel it to be intolerable unless one had some kind of ancestral memory that things had once been different?
Remind yourself what the past was really like. I remember the days when I could ride into town on my Huffy bike by myself. I was not even ten years old. This “new normal” I’ve heard so much about really sucks. Things aren’t better.
“The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a persons conscience.” – Atticus speaking to Scout (To Kill a Mockingbird)
I just love this.
Is fire the most important thing?
“His voice rose under the black smoke before the burning wreckage of the island; and infected by that emotion, the other little boys began to shake and sob too. And in the middle of them, with filthy body, matted hair, and unwiped nose, Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of mans heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.”
Kara, I love you. Thank you for sticking with my often failed attempts at loving you well. The good has outweighed the hard. Indeed we are better together than we are apart. I wanted to capture words of truth on the celebration of the most blessed day of my existence. First a quote from Madeleine L’Engle about long-term marriage. Then, a passage from the Bible that contains a powerful truth about partnership. I am thankful that the best years of life have been lived with you. Here’s to 19 more…
“No long-term marriage is made easily, and there have been times when I’ve been so angry or so hurt that I thought my love would never recover. And then, in the midst of near despair, something has happened beneath the surface. A bright little flashing fish of hope has flicked silver fins and the water is bright and suddenly I am returned to a state of love again — till next time. I’ve learned that there will always be a next time, and that I will submerge in darkness and misery, but that I won’t stay submerged. And each time something has been learned under the waters; something has been gained; and a new kind of love has grown. The best I can ask for is that this love, which has been built on countless failures, will continue to grow. I can say no more than that this is mystery, and gift, and that somehow or other, through grace, our failures can be redeemed and blessed.” ― Madeleine L’Engle
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“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him…” ― The Bible (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
