Friday, December 14, 2018

Excerpts from "Christmas Always" book by Carl Schuler (Amazon books)

 
CHRISTMAS ISLAND MAN
 
Crystal diamond sun-tipped waves - Perfect Me
Swaying palms shadow pure white sands - Island be
 
In all my youthful glory “Win-the-world” - sky so blue
With every answer to questions wrong - contemplate, I do
 
Seldom in His tracks are mine - footprints on the beach
Alone in wonder of a reasoned mind - learned I, they teach
 
Dark-louds or thunderstorms so insignificant now - live time as host
Sun-warmed isle sweet breeze refresh - love Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
 
Into my life sails white-billowed ship - helpful crew along the way
Each angel I love more dearly now - closer than on previous day
 
Through time and space I’ve been given - quicker than an eye can blink
In His wondrous way I travel - savor life and love, I think
 
Clear blue eyes embrace the sights - seven loves are pure delight
Add His blessings pierce supernatural - heaven real eternal sight
 
From paradise isle to rustic stable - depart the known, become a stranger
All glitter, gold, man’s own placebo - to lay with Him in humble manger
 
Stand straight and strong, say only truth - live holy life he can
Serene in heart in graceful solitude - be I, Christmas Island Man
 
Merry Christmas!
 
 
And...
 
 
Cap’n Eddie’s Christmas Catamaran
 
Sapphire crystal ocean liquid entertaining white-capped waves gently caressing snow-white powdery sand at beach’s edge hardly evoked thoughts of Christmas…at least, not at first blush.
Cap’n Eddie adroitly sailed his tiny twenty “sailor”-member catamaran expertly between swaying palm tree sentinels as the calm breakwater quickly dissolved under two foot hostile Caribbean seas with angry waves lashing the stone dikes of the receding harbor as seeming hurricane-force howling winds tore foam from tortured waves. White teeth flashed in a perpetual smile of genuine warmth as the miniscule craft bobbed like a kid’s fishing cork, climbing impossible crests only to out-of-control careen down slippery mortal troughs. At least, such was the perverted view from the would-be teak floor of the devil-craft to a tried and true land-lubber!
Two miles out, seemingly, a full month, I fully expected to see Normandy, Cap’n Eddie dropped anchor. Half, for sure, of his would-be snorkelers already suffered seasick nausea, hanging over the side of the mini-clone of the infamous “Titanic”, for absolute sure, each “sailor” ex-pertly, freely and copiously feeding the tropical fish population---as long as the food held out! Oh! Boy! Did I hear somebody even think the word: FOOD! Gang way! Gang way!
That sadistic “Captain Bligh” laughed as he gleefully handed out goggles, breathing tubes and fins and deftly issued diving instructions to a wretched mass of humanity too sick to any longer reason up from down. What did he say? Mate! That guy talked fast, and, with a voodoo accent.
Finally, somehow, at long last, slipping through the silvery surface on the lee side of the vessel into neck-deep coolness offered a hoped for, though short-lived, slight relief from the queasiness brought on by life aboard ship, as it were. Face plate clean, after three tries, success! Flippers treading water, breathing tube in place, and, clear, for now, both eyes keenly searching the choppy water for any unfriendly, hungry, lurking sharks, praying fervently not to spy a dorsal fin, all seemed finally ready for that first view of the obfuscated underwater waiting world.
Brilliant! Spectacular! Awesome! Beautiful! Amazing!
Perfect silence enveloped reality and swept away any remnant of the outer world as the diver was abundantly rewarded for his courage with a delightful greeting from Neptune as a plethora of infinitely-colored rainbow hues visually exploded in the undersea panorama. Unending arrays of incongruous coral designs decorated the sea’s sand-bottom landscape in an eerily quiet world as countless tropical fish species effortlessly negotiated the unseen forceful ebb and flow of the undulating sea. Rhythmic reflections and shadows of surface waves traversed the soft sand bottom, offering a touch of comforting solace to the unexpected surreal experience.
Viewed from above, tethered to the earth, preferably to terra firma, denied ascension into the cerulean heavens and normally barred from the ocean depths, only a reflective veil could be discerned while just beneath the masked surface, a bit of heaven, itself, existed on its very own--- just awaiting adventurous souls with spirit enough and boundless courage to take the plunge.
At Christmas, Christians celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Through constant and practiced faith, our sacred beliefs focus until the veil that shields heaven from our view is penetrated. When spiritual eyes are clear, souls become pure as the curtain parts and before us stretches eternal happiness. Take hold of the sacred tools offered and discover heaven.
Jesus’ holy word challenges: Fear not! Follow me!
Miss not any adventure which is life---go forth and seek! Amen!
 
Merry Christmas!
 
 
And---
 
 
 
Christmas Snow Premonition
 
 
“Bapa, tell us true, will it snow tonight?
Queried trio-girls, loving angel-faced sight
 
Anticipation shared by adorable uninhibited three
“Pray to Jesus, believe it will, then we all shall see”
 
Then, on he prattled reminiscing Christmas past
Forever savored, each one better than the last
 
Gazed he softly upon innocent faces gathered ’round the tree
Blessed by God, he adored this spiritual Christian family
 
Eyes intent upon him now, attention total, unabated
A life fulfilled, his delivered soul completely satiated
 
Words did soar on white wings bringing love
From a tender heart inspired by heaven above
 
“Sweet children, babies and my perfect wife
He allowed me time to enjoy a most blissful life
 
“When I am called, someone will come to take my place”
Blue eyes fell upon his handsome young man’s face
 
“For this celebration stems from Babe in yonder manger
Emulate Jesus! No one to Him shall ever be a stranger.”
 
Gleeful joy erupted when they sighted snow
God’s truth falls soft upon creation earth below
 
“Find Him there within thyself, sweet children
Share His word exemplar with your worthy friends.”
Amen!
 
Merry Christmas!


No comments:

Post a Comment