Nature is Church

On By Al W GalliaIn COVID-19, God, Haibun, Haiga, Haiku, Nature, Peace, Spirituality, Uncategorized1 Comment

Christmas Season 2020. For me, a quiet time of reflection on the trials and tribulations this last year has heaped on the world, on us all. The ‘why?’ is the big question and the possibilities are many, including God’s retribution for the world’s turning away from him to purely random happenings in our complex world according to the ‘Chaos Theory’. Yet, while we humans struggle to understand the why and how of events, only Nature simply lives quietly with acceptance.

Whatever the cause (if any), we have an opportunity to re-evaluate our lives and our priorities for the new year. We should put faith, love, prayer, empathy, understanding, and compromise back into our lives. And for me, the beauty and solitude of nature is the best place for a meditation with God/Jesus about my needed new outlook on life. As survivors of 2020, we still have so much to be thankful for, so let the loneliness of this Christmas season be a time for rekindling faith and trust in our loving God. Blessings and peace.

Faith…the Saving Path

On By Al W GalliaIn COVID-19, Faith, God, Haibun, Haiga, Haiku, Peace, Senryu, Spirituality, Uncategorized6 Comments
have faith in God

Sunday morning, a rainy day, almost nine months on covid lockdown. The old wall clock and I are having our normal conversation; which is pretty much one sided as it never says anything except “tick tock”. Japanese ‘solitude’ music drifts in the background… my glider chair keeping time.

life is walking

a fallen tree in a lake…

your feet get wet

©️Al W Gallia 2020

My precious wife is catching up on some much needed sleep, so I am enjoying my much needed quiet time for reflection. Keep your faith in God and focus on Christ as this year of 2020 is surely in accordance with His will. Stay safe, my family and friends. Blessings and peace.

2020 A Year of Trial

On By Al W GalliaIn COVID-19, God, Haibun, Haiku, Senryu, Spirituality, Uncategorized3 Comments

November marked eight months since we began social distancing, wearing masks and self-isolating precipitated by the COVID-19 world pandemic. These months were filled with sickness, deaths, protests, economic shutdowns, riots, hurricanes, forest fires, floods, and an angry, hateful election. And now we face a Holiday Season of fearful uncertainty, loneliness and depression for many, and isolation from loved ones.

tick tock tick tock…

the old wall clock and I

commiserate

©️Al W Gallia

Still, we know we have been blessed by God with faith and hope over these long months. And we continue praying for our family, friends, and country as we move into this strange and lonely Christmas season, hopeful of God’s forgiveness, intercession, and healing hand. All that really matters to Him is that we love and care for one another, regardless of politics or religion.

quiet voices

in the church darkness

‘Lord have mercy’

©️Al W Gallia

Looking for Serendipity

On By Al W GalliaIn Faith, God, Haibun, Haiga, Haiku, Love, Nature, Peace, Senryu, Serendipity, Spirituality, Trees, Uncategorized


Nymph, angel or spirit? Walking through untouched nature in a autumn wonderland this morning, I feel an exceptional closeness to God… actually I always feel this way in the woods. But since our loving God, ‘I am’, is an indescribable presence to us dust mote humans, I find myself looking for signs of His/Her presence in Mother Nature usually as a mysterious, fleeting nymph called Serendipity.

autumn forest

wafting in swirling leaves

a nymph’s whisper

©️Al W Gallia 2020

As I meander along the trail, I recognize Serendipity (God’s presence!) in the murmuring tree tops, dancing shadows, fluttering leaves, bird songs, and burbling brooks. Through them, I hear Him gently say to me, “Be not afraid…My peace I give to you,” and I smile. A squirrel chatters overhead.

Butterfly Dream: Beach Fire Haiku by Michael Dylan Welch

On By Al W GalliaIn Haiku, Senryu, Uncategorized

I have always been a fan of Michael Dylan Welch, and his haiku always leave me with warm feelings. Welch’s Beach Fire haiku below brought a memory and a smile to my face, as humming has been a fallback for most of my life. Memorizing poems and songs has always been an problem for me, so I have become quite good at it over the years. In fact, I find myself humming almost all the time when I am engrossed or concentrating! Perhaps that is significant?

crackling beach fire —

we hum in place of words

we can’t recall

Butterfly Dream: Beach Fire Haiku by Michael Dylan Welch

When is Enough?

On By Al W GalliaIn Evil, Faith, God, Haiku, Patriotism, Peace, Senryu, Uncategorized4 Comments

So refreshing to find others who understand that violence is the other pandemic disease ravaging our world. This shared post from Aratibanstola in Nepal, on the opposite side of the world from Louisiana USA, shows we all face the same violence by those who hate the values and morals of the civilized world. Pray for God’s intercession. Blessings and peace.

old man watching TV…

violence and coronavirus

ravages our world

©️Al W Gallia

Not only my hands but also my heart is shaking while writing this. People doing such kind of inhumane acts really astounds me. Don’t their hands get …

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Has God Left Us?

On By Al W GalliaIn Evil, Faith, God, Haiku, Peace, Senryu, Spirituality, Uncategorized2 Comments

I love to ramble or follow the bouncing ball through poet and faith blogs, and I am amazed to find so many Christians who think and feel the way I do. This post I share https://beautybeyondbones.com/2020/09/24/where-is-god/ is so refreshing, and the many comments so reinforcing for my spirit. Pray for America and the world.

covid, hurricanes,

fires, and hate destroy our land…

where are you, Lord?

©️Al W Gallia 2020-09-25

Unrest. Violence. Pandemics. Where is God in all of this suffering? Is He withdrawing? Does He hear our prayers? A note about reaping what you sow.

Where is God?

14Now, you must not intercede for this people; do not raise on their behalf a cry or prayer! I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their disaster.

Jeremiah 11:14

if then my people, upon whom my name has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

Eye to Eye

On By Al W GalliaIn Haibun, Haiku, Nature, Patriotism, Senryu, Simplicity, Uncategorized6 Comments

Another day of coronavirus self-quarantine dawns and the TV shows another night and day of riots and shootings. A quiet prayer for peace and law and order forms in my thoughts as I slowly sip my coffee. Then, in my old age, I sadly reflect on the state of my America which I have always loved, respected, and honored. But enough for now! On my iPad Pro, a Facebook memory pops up from four years ago. As nature’s beauty and simplicity are always my escape from the evil and hate rampant in our world, I happily share it again. God’s blessings and peace.

dragonfly and I

stare quietly at each other…

each understands the other

©Al W Gallia 2020

The Stump and Vine

On By Al W GalliaIn Aging, Death, Haiku, Life, Nature, Serendipity, Uncategorized2 Comments

a young vine
stretches toward the sun…
does the stump feel it?

©️Al W Gallia 2020

Along the road at nearby Lake Martin on a warm spring morning, I see a decaying stump spotlighted in a sun beam. Around this old stump, a new creeper vine spirals upward toward the light, grasping tightly to the dead wood where it can for support. I remember my father’s smile. Life rises from death and will not be denied!