Sunday, April 13, 2014

Star of Hope Quilt Block and a Palm Sunday Parade

Star of Hope Quilt Block Pattern Information

Enjoy this poem written by my cousin, a pastor in Alaska:

Poem for Palm Sunday
 
Spring surrounds me, some days at least
Yet I am consumed by winter tasks-
Paying bills,
Running in the dark,
Filing taxes,
Writing reports,
Worrying about tomorrow,
Envying those gone
On tropical vacations-
My winter coats mock me,
Hanging from their hooks.

Yet here comes a parade-
No marching bands,
No twirling of batons,
No convertibles or clowns-
But a man riding on a donkey,
Feet nearly dragging at the ground,
And a throng- pressing in,
Abounding ahead and behind
Shouting the sort of hope
That mocks cynic, skeptic, and scoffer.

For I see clearly, standing here-
Death still reigns,
Rain still falls hard and cold upon our spirit,
Our mortality still coerces
The way we mold and shape our days-
And this parade of those who dare to hope-
It leads to a cross and suffering
And a tomb sealed hard
With all the traps of death.

Yet, yet, the shout ‘Hosanna’ that mocks all that-
It has the ring of invitation,
It tickles at a soul still frozen to the ground,
It sings a love song that dismisses rude
My every fear, and casts off as rubbish
The shroud about my being:
Let free your hope,
Set loose your faith,
Live now with joy- even midst the tasks of night.

Yes, begin this very moment-
Begin RIGHT NOW, with Praise!

George R. Pasley
April 12, 2014
Ketchikan, Alaska

You might also enjoy my previous blog post Comforts of Home Quilt Block and Trust-Building Tea Time.

6 comments:

  1. How well said. How many of those crowds waving palms and shouting "Hosanna" on Sunday were shouting "Give us Barabbas!" a few days later? It takes determination to walk the narrow streets of discipleship and faith.

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  2. That is a beautiful poem. Thank you for sharing.

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  3. The book I won this past month in this contest arrived in the mail today! Looking forward to reading Barbara Cameron's A TIME FOR PEACE. Thank you very much for the book!

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    1. Terry, so very happy that your book arrived. Enjoy!

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  4. What a beautiful block, the colors and the pattern do, indeed, inspire a smile and Hope. Just like George's poem. Thank you for sharing, Susan.

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  5. "Live now with joy- even midst the tasks of night…" Yes! And the quilt block is beautiful.

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