Tag: Presence

Reality

Illusions fall and shatter
Thorny shards scatter

Look carefully
Step carefully

Soul-silence sweeping
Reality’s unveiling


It is  rambling, infant chatter
undermined self-importance
It is  unending, unseen chores
doorways to humility
It is traveling to teasing chants of “Betrayal!”
bear-hug forgiveness upon return
It is  satisfaction overflowing
ambitions quietly simmering
It is  quietness and trust
strengths drawn from repentance


Crystal slivers bagged and gone
Deeper truth glitters on

Surpassing value of You
Surpassing value of Them

Precious stones strewn
These fundamentally true

©2025 Jacqueline Tisthammer. All rights reserved.

Continue reading “Reality”

Slowing

An eternity is like a day to You
Merely a watch in a long night

Each day seems an eternity to me
This watch being all I know

Meet me in the middle?
Eternity can stretch as it likes in all directions

Present; I meet You the only place I can
Presence; You are the only place I am

Here in eternity we still live day by day
Watching together for the dawn Continue reading “Slowing”

The Journey of Advent

On December 1st, the season of Advent quietly ushered in a new church year with its uniquely poignant mix of anticipation and longing.

My three-year-old, to whom minutes feel like years, jumped right to the end of the month and began asking if it was Christmas every single day. My oldest, on the other hand, has been around the Christmas block before and loves to point out everything that’s great along the road to December 25th.

After a couple of days, the youngest stopped asking about his future presents and started asking about the gifts of that day – Who’s turn is it to add a magi to the nativity scene? What shape will my chocolate be today? How many candles do we light tonight?

They are learning through candles and chocolate and calendars that Advent is about more than just the destination, it is a journey worth paying attention to. Continue reading “The Journey of Advent”