Category: jesus

Darkening Sky?

On By Al W GalliaIn Evil, Faith, fear, God, Haibun, Haiku, jesus, Nostalgia, Patriotism, Politics, Spirituality, survival, Uncategorized, WarLeave a comment

A dystopian feeling seems to be creeping through America’s freedom-loving, hard-working, family-oriented, and self-responsible citizens: They realize all is not right with our country, sort of like…

sadness…
watching a virgin forest
being clearcut

The graffiti is all over the wall everywhere! And I wonder if it can ever be erased now? Can we still refocus our eyes on the shining star? Rekindle our faith and values? I hope so.

border crossing
a crying girl’s hand squeezed
by a tattooed man

spring sunshine…
smile-less faces drift
along the sidewalk

(And Jesus said,) “…do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body…”

Matthew 10:28

Blessings and peace, my friends.

Do Not Be Afraid

On By Al W GalliaIn Faith, fear, God, Haiku, jesus, Peace, Senryu, Spirituality, Tanka, UncategorizedLeave a comment 
breaking news…
he taps his smart phone 
for his Bible app

the tears in his heart disappear
as Jesus touches his shoulder
Al W Gallia

Note: This app is one of many authentic, trusted Catholic and Protestant Hebrew/Greek Bible translations. How wonderful to have it at my fingertips! Blessings and peace, friends.

At once [Jesus] spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Matthew 14:27

Rejoice He is Risen

On By Al W GalliaIn Faith, God, Haiga, Haiku, jesus, Senryu, Uncategorized7 Comments 
the earth quakes as
the sanctuary veil rips in half…
truly the Son of God
Al W Gallia

Easter Sunday and Christ is risen! Hallelujah resounds in my heart! Remember the reason, dear friends and family. Love, blessings and peace.

in the empty tomb
an angel greets the women
‘Jesus Christ is risen’
Al W Gallia

Jesus Enters Jerusalem

On By Al W GalliaIn Faith, God, Haibun, Haiku, jesus, Uncategorized

Jesus’ enters Jerusalem along the road amid throngs of people crying out to him! He knows what awaits him there, but still goes forth in accordance with his Father’s will.

Palm Sunday
the crowd waving palm fronds shouting
Hosanna in the highest
Al W Gallia
They have pierced my hands and my feet
I can count all my bones.
They stare at me and gloat;
they divide my garments among them;
for my clothing they cast lots.
But you, LORD, do not stay far off;
my strength, come quickly to help me.
(Psalm 22; 17-20)

Blessings and peace, friends.

Wet-Headed Woodpecker

On By Al W GalliaIn Aging, God, Haibun, Haiga, Haiku, jesus, Nature, Nostalgia, Rustic, Spirituality, Trees, Uncategorized

My friends…many of the haiku I am prompted to write arise from visual experiences as my wife, Bobbie, and I travel in our motorhome RV. If we see something special and meaningful while I drive, she takes photos! Posts like this are collaborative, with a bit of embellishment on my part, and works well for us! Her capture of this old tree along the roadside was my prompt in this haiku/haiga/haibun. Thanks, sweetheart..

Thunder slowly rolls into the distance after the cold rain storm. The old tree never wavered but held its ground as it has for over a hundred years. Water dribbles down its remaining bark, winding through old ridges and crevices and onto the anthill below. A crow circles the tree once and flies on. Somewhere across the field, a cow moos.

storm clouds pass…

a woodpecker’s head

in a dripping hole

©Al W Gallia

I pull back my rain hood, breathe the fresh, crisp air, and walk out from the dilapidated cow shed toward my grandparent’s house across the field. From their chimney, the north wind carries the aroma of woodsmoke and bacon! Picking up my pace, I have a happy “thank you, Lord” in my heart.

the old limbless tree

warms in bright winter sun…

woodsmoke on the breeze

©Al W Gallia

Surviving the Storms

On By Al W GalliaIn Aging, COVID-19, Faith, Haibun, Haiga, Haiku, jesus, Nature, Serendipity, Spirituality, Uncategorized8 Comments
Ominous!

Six years ago, while we were spending a stormy day at an Alabama coastal campground, I simply watched the rain and listened to the continuous thunder. Nature photography was my love at the time and I had no inkling then that, over the next year, I would also fall in love with haiku, a Japanese short form poetry which would greatly enhance my aging life.

thunder and lightning…

cuddled around the fireplace

an old man and his wife

Al W Gallia 08/07/21

The world has changed so much since then with social and political unrest, ongoing Covid pandemic, mask wearing, social isolation, and loss of family and friends. At our age, it is hard for my wife and me to adjust to this new stormy reality. But we are survivors and we have a strong faith and hope in our loving God and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. So we face the storm head-on without fear, staying focused on the Truth and Light. Blessings and peace, my friends.

Morning Offering

On By Al W GalliaIn Aging, COVID-19, Faith, God, Haibun, Haiga, Haiku, jesus, Peace, Spirituality, Uncategorized

It is the 2nd Lenten season during this worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, in which we are struggling to survive. Do we actually think that we can succeed, as ‘one nation under God’, without Him, by continuing to turn away from Him in our lives? I think not, as faith and prayer are the true way and God is the source of all love, goodness and hope.

morning fog lifts…

the scent of coffee rises

with his prayers

©Al W Gallia 2021
Morning Peace

Consider these verses from Jeremiah 17: 5-10:

Thus says the LORD:
Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings,
who makes flesh his strength,
whose heart turns away from the LORD.
He is like a barren bush in the wasteland
that enjoys no change of season,
But stands in lava beds in the wilderness,
a land, salty and uninhabited.
Blessed are those who trust in the LORD;
the LORD will be their trust.
They are like a tree planted beside the waters
that stretches out its roots to the stream:
It does not fear heat when it comes,
its leaves stay green;
In the year of drought it shows no distress,
but still produces fruit.
More tortuous than anything is the human heart,
beyond remedy; who can understand it?
I, the LORD, explore the mind
and test the heart,
Giving to all according to their ways,
according to the fruit of their deeds.