All that Jazz

In Honor of a Physical Therapist

2011-07-22T05:58:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege of knowing a remarkable Physical Therapist thru my work with Hospice. She was near the end of life but was peaceful about eventualities. I composed this piece on the plane headed home from vacation in Florida with friends. At the time I did not know that the person had passed, and this makes it more meaningful, and is intended to honor and celebrate her life.

July 21, 2011

Dorothy - “Physical Therapist”

Titles escape

This talented therapist

Helping weak knees

Walk once more

Forcing frail appendages

To overcome impediments

A life long career of

Bringing back smiles

Down the hall and back

Climbing Mt. Everest

In a Lab coat

and sneakers.

How many knees

Were bent and bowed

Who can count

No one knows

Exuding confidence...

Weak, exhausted limbs

Resurrected to live

A life of gratitude.

This “tall oak”

Strong tower

Built her life

By helping others.

Florida Sunset 2011 Lido Beach

2011-07-21T19:15:00.000-07:00

Christmas Poem 2010

2010-12-15T05:56:00.000-08:00

“A Perfect Christmas Night”

Faces of Cheribs
Excitement, dis-belief
Surprise, laughter, joy
Fear of the Fat Man

Food for a crowd
Fish!, MaMa’s Lasagna!
Dipping pears in Grampa’s wine
More food than I ever thought existed

Fireplace warm
Hot chocolate, movies
Quiet Carols, Quiet night
O Holy Night

Family Fun
Grandpa’s farm
Games: everyone must play
Side splitting laughter

Following the Star….
Heavenly singers among us
Candlelight calls us
“Fall on your knees”

I wish this night would never end

The evening went way too fast

… A perfect Christmas night.

This poem is the compilation of holiday memories of the Life Choice Hospice River Edge, NJ team members composed of: Lori Vollkommer, Jennifer O’Hara, Karen Miles, Maureen Capista, Elaine Dudek, Colleen Swick, Jan Scoville, and written by Richard Harris
Christmas 2010

HOPE IN PENNSYLVANIA

2010-12-14T05:37:00.000-08:00

To my dear friends in PA....

Sermons are inadequate for the current crisis you are in. It is LOVE which will make the difference in your situation. You are loved... and being loved. You are surrounded by prayer and by caring brothers and sisters. You are blessed.

I was thinking that mature Christians find out how dependent they really are when cancer comes or some other crisis. We remember all those "stock answers" we used with other people to bring hope and encouragement to them in their time of pain. We remember shaking our heads in wonder at someone elses' situation, and just pray that they will be comforted in their time of trouble. We look for Bible verses that will somehow speak to the heart of the hurting one, and try our best to present ourselves to them as sympathetic and understanding. .... nothing prepares us for facing our own crisis times.

Where do we find relief in the storm of worry, concern, pain (sometimes), and the whirlwind of confusion that comes from conflicting advice and is sometimes exacerbated by well meaning fellow believers who say "dumb" things. Those "well meaning" words only add to the stress and turmoil that we face. BUT... thank God... we can cover over someone else's attempt at love knowing that the source of that action is the Love of Christ working in their hearts to bring Hope to you. So... our reaction... smile and say "thank you"... knowing that they are feeling as uncomfortable as we are in the exchange. And by saying "thanks"... it brings relief to both of you... the giver and the receiver of words.

Most importantly, in all this discussion about "love" from our fellow sufferers is the Love of God in Christ. If that "love" expressed in faulty humanness brings some measure of comfort (ignoring the "dumb" part)... think how much Love is poured out by our Savior... who is perfect and does not say "dumb" things! Somehow in the background noise of someones words... we hear our Master. HE is speaking through them. Oddly enough we find in Scripture God speaking His message using a donkey!

All this to say, that almost any expression of love and encouragement that we try to give you is tainted by our sinful humanity. But, if you listen close enough... you will find something to give you HOPE IN PENNSYLVANIA !

1956

2010-12-10T15:41:00.000-08:00

1956
23 Mayer Ave
Buffalo, New York

"Ricky", My Dad and Mom -Walter and Dorothy, and Grandma Jenny Harris

I have no idea what the occasion was, if any. I am guessing my brother Walt was behind the camera.

Notice the coverage of the flash - the old blue bulb with the strands of filaments inside that burst into flame when you pressed the shutter button. Judging from the size of the image, I am thinking it was a brownie camera with flash attachment.
The original photo is on deckle edge paper with high gloss finish that crinkles (upper left) when bent. I remember using a silver coated nickle plate. You put the wet finished print on the plate an rolled over the back with a rubber roller to get that shiny surface. We had a drug store on the corner that processed all our film. At that time we did not take a lot of pictures because of the cost.

I did doctor the photo with a scan on our all-in-one and then used Picassa edit tool to add contrast and take out photo blemishes. I deliberately did not take out all of the spots etc. It is, of course, 1956 !

Each new day...

2010-11-28T14:17:00.000-08:00

Every day is a new day. A new day to start fresh with your dreams and goals.

Yes, life gets complicated on occasion. Sometimes those complications are of our own making. We make choices about what we are going to do in the next few minutes, and sometimes those minutes explode into hours. In the process our dreams and goals are left in the dust, and we don't have enough time left in the day to pursue them. Maybe this is a lack of discipline; maybe this is an "unconscious" attempt at avoiding the really important things in life. I'm not sure on occasion.

What about our dreams... those elusive things we wish to see happen, but just never come into view. Is the answer in blocking everything else out except those few things and concentrating on those few items? Unfortunately, that does not work for me. There are too many others areas of my life that need attention to zero in on a few selected goals.

On the other hand. Maybe the key is to un-complicate things and shed a lot of things that don't serve the major goal. OK, I have read the time-management books like you have. I have been a slave to my day-timer (when it was paper - remember those days?). I am not sure my life was much different than when I was going day to day, solving problems - my own and others; chasing kids; going about daily work. It just seemed at the time that the chaos was a little more organized.... and made me feel better about it. (Not dissing planners etc).

Personally, I have found satisfaction in being able to help someone 'in the moment'. To be an agent of change and hope in someone else's life. How is that measured? Sorry... there's no way to measure the effects of a 'word spoken in season' (as the KJV Bible puts it.) I suppose the accumulation of small acts of kindness and courtesy can add up to 'a life well lived.' Why not?

The Deer

2010-11-28T14:15:00.000-08:00

Deer

Heart beats quicken
Game is on the run
The beauty of the the beast
Draws a longing gaze

I raise my bow
Aim at the heart
Agonizing patience
Ponder the path

I see her eyes
Steeled toward me
Calmly release
The powerful bow

My heart fixes
on easy prey
My goal
To own and consume

I am skilled
In the art
Of taking...
for myself

What stands before me
Catching my eye
My heart envelops
The object of desire

The Triumph...Empty
As I awaken
The Hunt is illusory
Clouding my heart

"The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" Jeremiah 17:9 (New Living Translation)

Friends Facing the Future

2010-11-09T17:57:00.000-08:00

This is a message for my dear friends, John, Jill and Josh, who read my blogs regularly.

You know our God is Mighty, and has Power beyond all knowledge. You trust in our Savior, and testify of His love and mercy in your lives. There are no sermons that can adequately address all that is happening in your lives at the moment. There are no words that can 'fix it' for you.

BUT, there is Love from the "Father of Lights" that surrounds you and, amazingly enough, comes by means of God's people on occasion. That we can be a little help to you in your need gives us joy beyond words. Our church family is hovering over you in prayer as you face the illness (and related issues) that God has allowed you face at this time in your ongoing relationship with Him.

Don't give up. We love you.

2010-11-07T20:09:00.001-08:00

2010-11-07T20:09:00.000-08:00

Norway Fjords

2010-11-07T19:00:00.000-08:00

This is a haunting shot of the Fjord trip we took in Norway. Another example of digital magic. We had an absolutely beautiful day on this trip, and our host, Irene, said the weather is not always as cooperative. Hope you enjoy this shot.

Peter's wedding.

2010-11-01T20:06:00.000-07:00

My oldest son, Peter, and his lovely bride, Kristin, as I officiate at their wedding.
What a joy and privilege for me!
These pictures are from a very talented young lady who gave the photos the sepia treatment. Very well timed photography. Not to take away from the beauty of the occasion of the Wedding of course.
This was a wonderful, magical wedding that was very different than any other wedding I have taken part in. Peter and his bride are very happy together, and they will be a huge blessing and encouragement to those they will reach out to in the future.
What a beautiful couple! What a beautiful wedding.

digital photos

2010-11-01T19:41:00.000-07:00

Sunne, Sweden.

An incredibly beautiful little town.
What amazes me is the quality of photos that you can make with the small point and shoot digital cameras! I can remember the days when you had to wait to see if you got the shot... and in the process snap off about a dozen photos at 40cents each hoping one of them might be a 'keeper' . I deliberately left this one 'raw' with no digital monkey business! My camera for this shot: Fujifilm Finepix Z5... with up to 6 meg. Anyway, I love this picture and it brings back many good and happy memories of our trip to Sweden to visit our friends there.

If you are wondering, the church in the background, tying the composition together is the State Lutheran Church. The Swedes take their "church" seriously. In fact we were told that before a new town is established, the government builds a church first before anything else. (Don't know if that is fokelore or not).

I became interested in photography at the age of 10 or so. I learned darkroom processing when my parents bought me a complete set (second hand). I never really perfected darkroom techniques until in college when I did most of the photography (from camera to yearbook). I could never afford good equipment, but did the best with what I had.

I remember telling myself, when digital cameras first came out, that I would NEVER go digital. Well, my first digi was a Nikon Coolpix, the first generation. After I started seeing the results from that 2Meg camera, I virtually stopped using 35mm cameras. Say, I have a really well-kept Olympus OM system, complete with original Olympus lenses... if you want the set, let me know... make me an offer I can't refuse. (I am so 'sold' on digital, I have no real desire to shoot 35 anymore- something I thought would never happen.)

Exercise

2010-09-28T06:23:00.000-07:00

Exercise is not easy. When you see people exercising you mostly observe the pain on their faces that is caused by exertion, and usually redness in the face from the effort. It doesn't look fun. However just about everyone I speak to who exercises to exhaustion tells me the same thing... it is worth it! And the benefits are both short and long term... so why don't we do it? This is not a forum for excuses, so there is no point giving rationalizations. Diet and exercise are vitally important to being a well-rounded (no pun intended) individual. Without divulging my own lack of discipline in this area (you can guess it exists), I think it's important for us to stick together and get back (if you need to) into that discipline.

Over the years I have come to fully understand that this subject is deeply spiritual, and it affects every part of our lives. Years ago I remember counseling training that addressed 'life dominating habits.' The concept is that we compartmentalize our issues and want to think that one area of our lives has no effect on all the other areas of our lives. Which is false! We think we are getting away with stuff, and we are affecting our entire soul, spirit and body. And that is a sobering thought when we choose to actually think about such things.

OK, let's do something about this and get back into a positive, God-honoring lifestyle that puts us on the path to better health.

That way, we can serve the Master better.... and probably longer.

Music and Spirituality

2010-08-19T04:36:00.000-07:00

A very dear friend of mine mused about my Jazz program I gave at his church and innocently said something like 'I hope we see some spiritual good come out of this secular program'. As if there were some kind of great divide between secular and sacred. I want to address this briefly anecdotally, but not necessarily cursorily.

Over the past number of years I have come to understand my Jazz programs to be intensely spiritual, and moving. I suppose most serious performers realize this in some way, but it has taken on a new reality for me since I have been providing music programs for various churches. I see the way people react (in all settings) -not to me -but to the music itself. I use music backgrounds and play Trumpet, and add my own phrasing and musical comments along the score. I glance at the audience and I see smiles that come from deep within. You musicologists out there can tell me that studies have been done that show that music is processed on both sides of the brain... giving an indication that somehow the music experience affects us in ways we cannot understand, and probably reaches deep within our souls.

Having said that, it is interesting that when people hear music they like, they stop everything and 'groove' to the music. Take a look at audiences and watch what happens when they are connecting to the music. They put down the fork or coffee and start clapping in time or dancing in their seats - or jumping up and dancing. I suggest there is something mysterious (and spiritual) going on.

Ok, let's work with this for a moment. I am at a church event (usually in a hall) and people are listening to "secular" music (classic Jazz and Pop), and they are suddenly happy, and connected to the music. They are disappointed when the music stops, (and also when I don't move fast enough between pieces.) Sometimes this produces comments... like 'aww... don't stop now' at the end of my program.

Getting back to the spiritual discussion, I too had similar thoughts as my friend that you can't mix "secular" and "sacred". However my theology (Reformed) had led me to believe that everything in our lives is "sacred" - but somehow this one aspect of "securlar music" somehow escaped me and I never thought very deeply about it until I started providing Jazz for churches - my own and several others.

Here is the 'long and short' of it for me:

Since God in His sovereign wisdom created us in His image, creativity is clearly a reflection of God in us. By "common grace" God has gifted people musically and the world sees (hears) the voice of God in the deepest part of their souls. Think about this when you see someone crying (or yourself crying) at a concert where music is played that has somehow affected you in the past or in the present). It is not uncommon to see people shed tears at my Jazz programs, especially the ballads like "Misty" or "Someone To Watch Over Me"... not with superficial tears, but the kind that come out of nowhere unexpectedly. Why does this happen? I suggest it comes naturally because God has placed in all of us humans with a very sensitive "move me" button. Emotion, long denied to Evangelical "mainstream" Christians. You cannot deny the emotion. It simply flows up from somewhere inside. Your spirit.

I said in my poem about music:

The privilege is mine
To be the chauffer
Of such persuasive rhythms
That move the heart.
Then… I smile.

See the poem in full here

That poem will give you a clue about what is on my heart about this subject. Yes, I believe that music, in general, has a deeply spiritual quality. (I did not address here the negative impact that some music has on people when that music distorts the image of God and causes spiritual harm. But the starting place is the same... a heart that is somehow moved to create! I suppose another way to state my thesis is that music is inherently spiritual.

Most of my life, I have stumbled into things. I was not raised in a privileged home where music lessons were a stepping stone to wealth and fame. Nothing against that, if God has placed you there. However, in my life it seems that my musical career has been a stepping into the unknown, unguided, unplanned. And I have experienced an outlet for my natural abilities to play the trumpet (guitar, mandolin and other instruments). And in that sharing of my full soul for music, other souls are moved. That to me is the point. Making a connection spiritually, not just to the music, but the one performing. Let me illustrate. You are sitting in an audience listening to some really grooving music, and you suddenly find yourself all alone in the crowd, the musician is playing for YOU and that connection carries you beyond the moment, your surroundings, your self-awareness... and you are transported, if but for a few moments, into a place of soul soothing rest. I had one lady give me one of the greatest compliments I have ever received in my life. It was at an Assisted Living, and this dear woman was perfectly aware of her surroundings and situation in life. I played my usual playlist, knowing that people will 'like' it. But she came to me afterward and said... "you know, I was sitting there listening to you play those familiar tunes and it just enveloped my soul." This was not a church setting! Those words burn in my heart even now. By the grace of God I was able to convey to another human being something that moved her spirit. How cool is that!

I play now with a deep awareness that whatever the tune may be (e.g. "It don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing") it is "spiritual" and in some mysterious way is penetrating a cold heart and "enveloping" a soul.

test post

2010-08-07T08:06:00.000-07:00

Logos Bible Software gave us this "Tag" to put Bible verses on the blog, and when you hover over them the Bible verse appears. This is a test entry to see if I can get it working.

Romans 6:1

"by golly" it works!! Now when I have a Bible verse to point to, all you do is hover your mouse over the verse! Cool beans!

Norway... cool shot

2010-07-26T20:16:00.000-07:00

I just can't get away from looking at my Norway pics! This shot is on the top of a mountain looking down into the valley below from an observer's viewing area. I have several other shots like this and it seems that all you have to do is point your camera in the right direction and you get a beautiful picture. I did crop this a little, and it came out even more interesting. I did not "adjust" colors etc. The bus ride to the top was quite scary. Hair-pin turns in a rather large bus, with cars coming down the mountain. and passengers looking out the bus window almost straight down, remarking in numerous indistinguishable languages... expressions of fright! My favorite English phrase was "oh boy!" But we made it to the top, and the riders gave the bus driver a spontaneous round of applause. Truly, it was a memorable trip!

Harold...

2010-07-08T20:13:00.000-07:00

Harold...

Harold came of age
during the depression.

Never idle.
No bread lines...

Finally...
Foundry work.

Never groused...
Kept shoveling.

Wry wit,
Winking eye...

Self made,
Slept well.

Short on words,
Tall in humor,

Story teller...
Over and over.

Loved life,
Loved his wife

Lonely in time,
Longing for Heaven.

Once happy...
Happy once more.

....

Harold was a remarkable and simple man. He was humorous, lovable and always joking. This quiet man made a huge impression on my heart.

You need new strings on your guitar...

2010-06-16T17:02:00.000-07:00

"New Strings"

Little adjustments
Force the instrument
To Sing a different song

Strings argue
With me
Fighting back

Sound rings
Notes rise
In tune

Harmony comes hard
With newly born strings
Crying out in pain

Music flows
Over my heart
Past my soul

R D Harris

The Oil Spill.... and your Heart

2010-06-15T18:34:00.000-07:00

The oil spill is beyond comprehension now.

People in the gulf area are suffering, and will suffer in job losses, and in may other ways. We add our prayers to those already engaged in the 'great prayer' for the Gulf. Pictures of the sludge and the dead wildlife are truly heartbreaking.

I don't want to be overly dramatic in using this as an illustration.... but...

Isn't sin a lot like the oil spill? It runs deep underwater and surfaces eventually to create a gooey slime that is dangerous to clean up and continues to stink even after the visible goop is in plastic bags. It also damages the sea floor so that once fertile seafood production areas are now going to be dead for a long time. Sin is gooey stuff!

We don't like to think about it. For the people in the gulf, many can smell the strong, sickening odor every time they go outside... it follows them around- sticks to their clothes. Sin does that too. It follows us around and wants to stick to our clothes! Multiple washings don't do the trick. Hamlet couldn't wash his hands enough either!

OK, so what do we do now.

It is not as easy as 'wishing' the oil to go away. The reaction of some in the government is to want to kick something! But that 'ain't' going to work. It will take something far larger than good intentions and crocodile tears. It will take something BIG to contain this sinful sludge in our hearts. Only the GRACE of God will clean you up and get rid of the odor of sin in your life! It is only reliance upon the Sovereign God to take away my sin that will finally set me free from it's gooeyness. For believing Christians this is a daily exercise in faith and repentance. It is the only way to be clean and whole. By coming to Christ in sorrow for your sin, and faith working in your heart, by his Sovereign grace, we have "peace with God." And our oil spill is contained!

About the Poem "Lord I Am Thankful"

2010-05-13T07:25:00.000-07:00

Addendum to the poem "Lord I Am Thankful" (two post's below)...

This poem was written by Janet Chapman, a dear Saint of God who was a member of my church. I had the privilege of officiating at her funeral, and read this poem that she wrote some years ago. Janet was 80 something and had dementia. She did not speak during the last year of her life, but she sang the old Hymns... every word, every verse... and her voice was sweet and clear. She was very helpful to me and my wife when one of our children had chosen to go his own way a number of years ago. She said at that time "I understand what you are going through... I was a rebellious child, and broke my parent's hearts too". This very deeply spiritual Scottish Presbyterian lady was a person who prayed for not only us, but for everyone in the fellowship.

Upon her death, her dear husband gave me this poem written in her own hand-writing. And I made copies for everyone at church. I am a poet of sorts and can recognize good poetry when I see it, and this is a gem. Allow me to give you some background for this piece.

Janet grew up in a strict Scottish Presbyterian home, where she thought her father was being severe in his desire to raise his children in the way of that communion. (e.g. - no play on the Sabbath; multiple services etc). She rebelled as a teen, and walked far from God. Later she came to realize the truth of the Gospel and became thankful for the training she had as a child.

Later on in life she married an incredible man who loved her as Christ loved the church! Jim treated her like the queen... and although they had no children they adopted and took in numerous Chinese immigrants who needed a sponsor and a place to stay. They had a large extended family of wonderful Chinese who all called them "mother" and "father". What an incredible legacy!

Some time ago Jim was teaching her how to drive, and was in the garage directing her into it. Janet hit the gas instead of the brake and crushed both his legs, which he lost and even now is using prosthetic legs. Jim never blamed her. He was never angry with her, and accepted his disability as "from the hand of God." He never once, ever brought it up again to Janet, or to anyone else. He kept on serving God, legs or no. Janet was covered with the GRACE of God through Jim. For that she was thankful!

How many of us could deal with this situation in a similar way. Even those of us who have a mature faith, it would be difficult. Janet was the recipient of extraordinary Love and Mercy.

Last of all, Jim and Janet had a hobby of tending roses outside their garage. It was a testimony of amazing grace, as those roses bloomed and died, and came back to life each year... a testimony of God's forgivness in Janet's life especially, and she commemorated this in her poem.

I asked for permission to publish the poem, and Jim was glad for this. I hope and pray this explanation of the poem's origin will give you a sense of God's Amazing grace freely offered to you.

2010-04-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my last post, so I am back now.

Life is good. We face all sorts of circumstances in life that create multi-faceted situations that either depress us, or send us 'thru-the-roof' with unexplained joy. Not every day can be a happy day. Things go wrong, things happen... and just 'things.' There are so many variables for whether we have a good day or bad day. Jerry Bridges, a Christian writer talks about this in his books. Whether you are having a "good day" or "bad day" God is still in charge, and He will use you to glorify His Holy Name even though you 'feel' like you will never be able serve him. It's on a "day-to-day" basis for most Christians. And my opinion is that is the way it should be... "daily walking close to thee..." (Just a Closer Walk). We worry too much about how we "feel"... and don't worry enough about living moment to moment. OK, I had a few bad days this month. I felt disconnected and maybe even a little bit 'on my own'. But that 'feeling' is just that - a 'feeling' - a momentary splash of emotion, physical symptoms, and mental attitude. That's what 'feelings' are. They are temporary. It is only God who who is not affected by these fleeting human characteristics. (Except, of course, Jesus in His humanity). So, we accept our human-ness and realize that one day may have more emotional/spiritual/physical challenges than another. But at the same time, we have a supernatural God to intervene and bring us back to reality.

OK, feelings are important - mainly because they are such a large part of our lives. But we need to check our feelings against the backdrop of God's love and mercy. We look at 'yesterday' and rest in God that He will lead us through the crazy forest of life.... and we WILL come into a "wide space".

"Lord I Am Thankful...

2010-01-26T18:40:00.000-08:00

Lord I am thankful

For Your love that meant the Cross.
For the Plan you had for me before my birth.
For the Parents who taught my infant feet The Holy Way.
Lord I am thankful.

For the love, the forgiveness, the peace
You gave on my return to Thee
For I had rebelled and gone My Way
Lord I am thankful.

For the Husband You had planned for me
For his love, humor and patience
And especially for his zeal for Thee
Lord I am thankful.

For the beauty that is there for eyes that see.
For natures promise of eternity
Seen in the rose that dies only to bud
and bloom another day
Lord I am thankful

Janet Chapman

Christmas Story

2009-12-22T18:32:00.000-08:00

I have always had a place in my heart for the Christmas memories my parents created for us. One of my favorite stories I like to share with people is the time my father pretended to be Santa Claus.

When I was about 3 and my brother 5, my dad decided to play Santa. We really believed Santa existed and we always put cookies and beer on the mantle near the tree, and we hoped he would come this year... my brother was always under the threat of getting coal in his his stocking.

Anyway, my dad put up an extension ladder against the house near our window and jingled a string of real "jingle bells" bellowing out "ho, ho, ho". My brother and I heard that and we whispered to each other to get under the covers before Santa finds out we were were really awake! We then heard this very loud scraping and imagined Santa's sleigh landing on the roof! Then we heard fairly loud crash, which we "knew" was the heavy sleigh landing (not to mention all those reindeer!). Then we heard Santa calling our mother's name "Dorothy.... Dorothy....."

- His ladder had slid across the side of the house and crashed onto the veranda (enclosed porch) and since the ladder was on the ground "Santa" had no way of getting off the roof of the porch!

The cookies and beer were always gone in the morning!

Poetry: "She Is Silent Now"

2009-10-24T12:38:00.000-07:00

Here is another one of my poems that I have been writing to memorialize some of the remarkable people I have the privilege of meeting through my work as a Hospice Chaplain. In that work, we often meet people who at one time in their lives were vivacious and very engaged with everyone around them. Sometimes, as time and disease overtake these precious ones, they are no longer the person they used to be. This is sad, but by recounting their lives, it can become a point of celebration of their lives as we once knew them.

She Is Silent Now…

She was a talker…
Almost non-stop
When she spoke
She laughed

A social gadfly
Everyone’s friend
Kind words
Given freely

She talked about life
She talked about dreams
She talked about the future
She talked about weddings

Looking at pictures
Of social events
Where she talked a lot
She is silent now

But her echo
Is heard in the
Things she touched
She is silent now

A smile
Catches a lone tear
She talked once
She is silent now

Richard D Harris
10/24/2009

We run into people who we knew years ago, remembered by a single defining character trait. Now things are different, and we choose to remember the best in this soul now changed forever by time and human frailty. We celebrate them in the sadness of remembrance.

2009-08-17T19:07:00.000-07:00

Norway, from the train!

THE BEACH...

2009-08-11T18:46:00.000-07:00

The Beach

The sun was hot... the sand was hotter than the sun,
We went from sun-soaked sand to cool refreshing water.
You were our own personal life-guard,
Seriously studying the surging water...counting heads.

Ocean breezes caress our brows,
Memories flash and form in this love filled room,
Thinking back to that magical moment,
Every time I smell the Ocean.

You held my hand tight as we raced down the beach
So we would be the first to cross the imaginary finish line.
We slept on the way home...
Too tired to traumatize our siblings.

Those moments on the beach... frozen in my memory...
Like a picture-postcard! Precious...Inviting.
You made those moments possible,
And I am grateful.

The beach... not just a place...
But an encounter with time and tender thoughts....
An accumulation of memories of good times with you.
You wanted us to be happy... and we were...

And I am happy at this moment
as I see you smiling on the beach.

By Richard D Harris

This piece is a tribute to my mother... and to all mothers who did all they could to make summer memories for their children. Those memories live on... and fill our lives with joy.

Friends

2009-08-04T06:13:00.000-07:00

Mary Jayne, Ingrid, Rick

We have a wonderful friend from Sweden who came to visit this weekend. Ingrid and her parents were a part of our church for many years before moving to Sweden. Ingrid is a talented lady who teaches in a local school in Sweden and has 4 handsome and intelligent boys, and a husband who is the typical quiet Swede with that dry humor. We don't see each other much, but keep in touch now and then. Two years ago my wife and I went on vacation with Ingrid and her mother, Irene, to Norway (where Irene's family is from), and saw the Fjords and all the other wonderful sights and sounds (and foods!) of Scandinavia. We had an absolutely wonderful vacation with our friends, and hope to repeat it someday.

I remember hearing that 'true friends can be counted on one hand'... and over the years, I believe that is very true. I believe it was C.S. Lewis who said that these type of friends are the kind that when you don't see them for a long time, and you begin to talk, it is as if you pick up the conversation where you left off. And that is what true friends are... they are people that you always have in your heart. You may not converse every day, you may not see each other for years at a time, but when you do meet up again, it's like you just saw them 'yesterday'!

Be glad you have a handful of friends!

(p.s., I think the C.S. Lewis quote is from "The Four Loves"... a literary scholars 'exposition' of the various Greek words for 'love.')

Poetic Insiration

2009-07-25T18:49:00.000-07:00

Thoughts About Poetic Inspiration

The misty fog of sleep
Yields waking moments of inspiration.
In the darkness I wrote as best as I could between
The shadows on the paper on my desk.

A bit of poetry creeping through my mind...
A stray cat floats through my yard,
It sticks there, like the image in your eye
After a bright object scores your retina.

Stumbling around in half-sleep
Grasping for a pen to write down
Nobel winning words…
I must capture it before it floats away.

Finally my eyes focus on the paper
And I write in large hand
Hoping the words will be recognized
By a sane and fully awakened bard.

The next day, this dreamer wonders
If the dream is real… did I write it down?
Yes! It's there… barely legible
Waiting for a strong hand to bend the words.

The very event inspires me.
That a moment in time… takes on reality
And the words that came to me in the dark
Make a difference to the somnolent reader.

(somnolent= tired, weary)

by Richard D Harris

Another Jazz Event

2009-07-25T18:05:00.000-07:00

It was a perfect summer evening in upstate NY and the church had a large tent they use for Vacation Bible School. They left it up for my event, and took down the dividers and put card tables up for an evening of music and entertainment. The church worked hard at advertising and 'word of mouth'. The tables were decorated beautifully by the Pastor's wife and crew. Although there were not as many as they wished, it was a wonderful evening, and everyone who came expressed appreciation for effort of providing the music and evening.

Some lessons learned:
1. Try to keep abreast of local events and things that might be a conflict with the church event.
2. Encourage people to be asking and reminding people about the event, and then make one last call to help them remember that they said they were coming to the event.
3. Don't worry about who is there or who is not there. Leave those things in the Lord's hands.... he is much better at it than we are!

On the whole the program I presented gave the church some ideas on how to do it 'next time', and tweek things to have things ready for the next event.

I love doing this, and I am gratified that the church family were so very enthusiastic.

Doing a "Spiritual Assessment"

2009-05-11T21:04:00.000-07:00

Assessing a Soul

I pick up a tool…

An ethereal can opener

A holy pry-bar

To pop the lid off this Soul

I am allowed to see

…if only for a moment…

The shadows and faded pictures

Of a deeply guarded spirituality

What gives meaning to this Soul?

What thoughts are laid bare

In this Sacred Space

Afforded to me

Did I hear that cry…

Between the lines of Cascading words

Powerful emotions are covered

By multiple facades

Love, Hate, Joy, Sorrow

Jealousy, Pride, Anger

The spigot is pouring now

Splashing down on virgin ground

Do you pray?

Do you long to touch the face of your God?

Do you “lift up your eyes to the hills?”

Do you wait to hear a “still, small voice?”

I Assess a Soul

And that Soul Assesses me.

Anatomy of a poem

2009-05-11T20:03:00.000-07:00

OK, Let's say you're sleeping soundly and then slide into that REM sleep thing, and you go down that sometimes bizarre road of disconnected ideas and images. Then you start to wake, and your thoughts get more rational as you enter the atmosphere.... That's how I describe some of my inspiration for writing my poetry. For example this last evening/morning, I came out of one of those "foggy rooms" and a phrase of poetry stuck with me. I woke up in the darkness and had this urge to write it down, so I grabbed a pen and wrote as best as I could between the shadows on the paper on my desk.

The phrase that just 'came' to me has to do with what we do as Chaplains (in my case Hospice). We must "assess" a person spiritually, to see how to help that person the best possible way as things deteriorate in that person's life. We call this a "Spiritual Assessment". So, I woke up thinking about my work, I suppose, and all the ways we have to get the person to talk about their spiritual interest (or not). We find things that are meaningful to that individual. Sometimes it may be a spouse or family member. It might be a church experience, or better yet a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. (Note: from the Chaplain's perspective, he/she allows the individual to tell the story of their own faith journey, and then we do whatever possible to encourage them to follow their own path, which may include true Christian faith experience.) (Note on this Note: Being a chaplain is somewhat more complicated than being a Pastor. I make no apology for being both.)

Back to POETRY.... Ok, I rub my waking eyes, and this powerful little phrase sticks with me:

I Assess a Soul,
and that Soul Asesses me.

I spent some time working my poem around that thought and will share it in my next post. But I thought you might be interested in knowing how those creative juices work... then again, if you are not interested, no harm done.... (it's my blog.....! )

Adventures in Sitting

2009-05-02T07:57:00.000-07:00

Probably most of us have gone to meetings of one sort or another, where the object is to see if you can survive 12 hours of sitting still and listening or reading (or both). Denominational meetings are like that. A certain weariness sets in after the first 9 hours... it seems that all the pages start looking the same, and the discussion sounds like your mother singing to you, putting you to sleep for the night after tucking you in. You doze, and open your eyes and more papers have grown in the empty space on the table. There are important things discussed, and welcomed 'breaks', but it still does not take away from the problem of the human body not being built for sitting for that long of a time for several days...

OK, I know there are some who enjoy the banter and 'eat up' the procedural stuff, and Robert's Rules of Order sits right next to their Bibles. That's OK... 'more power to them.' For me, it's an exercise in endurance.

2009-04-21T07:57:00.000-07:00

.... more of my poetry.

The Rain

The rain passes, eventually
But in the meantime
It clouds our vision
It makes us wet
And we slosh through oceans.

It's a fascinating sound
Sometimes pounding the house
Sometimes caressing the flowers
It makes us tired
And we sleep

It makes us anxious at times
It invades our plans
It comes uninvited
It disturbs our sensibilities
And we observe the dark clouds.

It sustains the land
It fills our wells
It renews the earth
It cleanses the air
And everything is new.

It is a picture of our hearts
It washes away the dust -
The shadows in my spirit
That make me want to cry
And I am refreshed!

By Richard D. Harris
April 2009

Harassing Alligators!

2009-04-04T17:56:00.000-07:00

TELL ME... Who in their right mind would HARASS an Alligator!!! ..... I guess there are people who do such foolish things! It just makes no sense at all!

It reminds me of Christians who "play" with sinful activities that can "bite"! You are asking for trouble! What we at first think is fun... turns out the be what the KJV Bible says is the "pleasures of sin for a season". In other words, it might be fun to mess with an Alligator... but if you don't pay attention... it WILL bite you! There is no logical explanation "why" we do dumb stuff... but we are all prone to it. I am sure there are occasions when even the "safest" among us steps out on a limb an does something "wild"... it is just in those weak moments when the Alligator will snap! On the other hand, there are some among us who somehow think that the Alligator will never be interested in us... and we mess with it anyway! Then it snaps!

There is a good reason the sign is there! It is a reminder that there are consequences for poor choices... and the size of the bite is dependant on the size of the Alligator you are playing with!

SERVING AT THE MISSION

2009-03-24T05:47:00.000-07:00

Our church has a unique ministry to the men of the Market Street Mission in Morristown NJ. We have a service and dessert night once or twice a year, mostly at our church, but this time at the Mission.

Our church family makes the desserts and provides the venue for a great evening of music and fellowship with people we would probably never have a chance to rub shoulders with. I see this as a great opportunity to have our church folks get to interact with the homeless and addicted, and build bridges with the "outcasts" of our society and show them that there are people in the church that do care, and want to serve them. The service is composed of music that we sing, and some that the men of the mission sing every day in their chapel. It is such a delight to hear and participate with them as they sing their hearts out with music we are not familiar with. It is truly a 'cross-cultural' experience. I am so proud to be part of this church that has opened it's doors and hearts to the 'weakest' among us.

As you can see in the photo there is a lot of literal 'shoulder rubbing' going on.

More from Norway

2009-03-09T17:31:00.001-07:00

Norway Fjords... one of my most favorite places on earth. I am so privileged to have been able to see this part of God's creation... I am also so very grateful to God for giving us such a sweet and wonderful friend in Irene, a long time member in our church who now lives in Sweden. She graciously took us to see the Fjords and other parts of Norway when we were on vacation the summer before last. I have so many fantastic photos that it is taking me a long time to go through each one and run them through my photo enhancers.

What was so very encouraging was the vibrant Evangelical Christian movement in that region of the world. We attended a "tent meeting" in the town we stayed in with our host. There is a genuine moving of the Holy Spirit in the Scandinavian countries. There is a huge traditional "state church" movement, and it seems to be more cultural than anything, but there are real, genuine believers who want to make a difference in their communities for Christ. It was really neat to meet other believers who were excited about the Lord!

Any comments on the photo?

Worried?

2009-03-04T20:38:00.000-08:00

It is always a good thing when people look to helping others, especially when times are tough. We are all worried about the economy, but then again, maybe the bright side of the cloud is found in the fact that we are oftentimes more generous... and probably more gracious... since we are all hurting in some fashion.

Our church is making a special project of preparing for those people who might need a "lift" during this economic "down-turn". We in the church are vulnerable to the same weakness of the human condition as everyone else. We worry about all kinds of things (right now, it seems, it is the financial crisis our country and world are facing.

My church sign message is that we need to look out for each other, we need to look at what we have in our pared-down barns and see what we can offer to our neighbors.

Recession might not be a bad thing.

What about Music...

2009-03-04T06:04:00.000-08:00

I wanted to say something about my poem that I posted recently - "My Music."

On the last line of this stanza I said: "Then comes a blush..."

Majestic…lyrical…circling
Sounds invade my soul
Images sparkle before me
As the music swells and dies.
Then comes a blush.

(Poem found here)

When I was writing the poem I had an instant 'flashback' to the first time I heard live music in a restaurant. There was an older gentleman playing an accordion (Italian restaurant, of course), and a young lady was with him walking about the place singing for the patrons. When they got to the area where my wife and I were sitting, I remember the incredible power of the music as it was performed (a classical Italian piece)... and I was so struck by the majesty of the moment that it made me blush... and I clapped along with everyone else... all were moved in that moment. My blush was from an excitement of being presented with truly fine music that someone put many hours (years) in perfecting, and they were giving it as a gift to us.

I thought about changing that line, thinking that some people might misunderstand or think it a misplaced word... but it is not a misplaced word.

My Music...

2009-02-25T04:44:00.000-08:00

Today I want to share with you what my music is all about. Whether it's playing trumpet in church or Jazz solo before an audience of seniors, the "soulish" quality of music never ceases to amaze me. In the last 5 years since I have been doing public performances, I have come to appreciate the power of music to move the soul... no matter what genre. I have come to the place where music played well, is an offering to God... the creative Master who infuses us with His creativity.

My latest poem expresses these feelings and I hope you enjoy this.

My Music…

A hallowed sound in a hallowed place
Raises spirits and lowers anxiety
The sound envelops the soul
Of a tired, often sad seeker.
Then comes a smile.

The music, like a silky breeze
Floats over and past the ears
Caressing the wrinkled heart
Causing a flood of memories.
Then comes a sigh.

The notes rise and fall
Waiting for resolution
Major key turns to minor
Melody always coming home.
Then comes a nod.

Majestic…lyrical…circling
Sounds invade my soul
Images sparkle before me
As the music swells and dies.
Then comes a blush.

The privilege is mine
To be the chauffer
Of such persuasive rhythms
That move the heart.
Then… I smile.

Earthquakes in New Joisy... again!

2009-02-21T18:43:00.000-08:00

Here is my church sign I put up after our third unusual earthquake in the the Dover NJ area.

This is meant as a humorous commentary on our local tremors.... I really don't know if the building is e-quake proof, but it probably is since it is cinderblock covered with brick. Who knows.... anyway, I will keep the sign up until someone tells me how trite it is... or worse - false advertising! (Lighten up people !)

One thing is for sure, the child of God may be shaken, but the Lord will carry him through the rough times of life. It is so great to know that no matter how difficult things can be at times, our Heavenly Father wants us to rest in him, knowing that He holds us in His hands. end......

OK... I'll take the sign down.

Hope in the Lord

2009-02-17T15:37:00.000-08:00

OK... we know we cannot trust in the stock market.... as we see the volitile market going 'bonkers' today.

Our Lord can be trusted to care for us and watch over us during these difficult times. Our focus must be on Him and His love for us. It is so easy to get caught up in the fear and anxiety that just floods our conversations and minds. Just today I heard a gentleman talk about the sharp decline in the market today... while he was purchasing a used book! It's on everyone's minds right now.

I know it is "easy" to say 'trust the Lord', but for Christians that is our hope... and ultimately our JOY. Through-out Scripture we are told over and over to stop looking at the wind and waves and look at the Savior! This is NOT a cop-out, or a closing of our eyes to the problem at hand. It is a way of life... an attitude of the heart that says I am not going to be controlled today by these foreboding thoughts. I am going to turn my attention to my Savior, and let Him whisper His love in my ear, so I can rest in Him, knowing that He knows what is happening and has a watchful eye on us, His children. So stop, already, with the worrying and fretting! Get on with the business of trusting in our Lord!

Jazz Trumpet

2009-02-08T16:04:00.000-08:00

I have been playing Jazz trumpet for the last 4 or 5 years now and enjoy presenting the music in various venues. I have played in nursing homes, assisted living places, dinner meetings, and weddings. What started out as a casual interest has become a large part of my life and time. This past year or so I have added a new twist and started playing at churches as an "outreach" to the community. I started with my own church and had terrific success in drawing people from our community and provided a venue for good music that non-church, as well as church people can enjoy in positive environment.

How we do this is to set up the basement (fellowship hall) as a "jazz club" without the typical things you might find in such establishments such as booze and tobacco. Most church people don't go to places like that and have missed out on a tremendous experience of hearing good live music - in this case Jazz. I do this purely for the love of it and don't ask for money. I am targeting small churches in my denomination (at first) to help them provide an venue for people from the area to come to a place where there is excellent live music, friendly people, and FREE everything. My thinking is that the "church" is associated with wanting money all the time. So to counter that we serve coffee and light refreshments for free, as well as no charge for the music.

One observation is that when people come into this type of environment, there is a tendency to talk and enjoy the company of other during the musical performance. At first this bothered my, however, that's what you do at a Jazz club! The music is sort of a backdrop to the social gathering that takes place.

Last evening I presented a Jazz program at a local church that had never done anything like this...ever. It was a truly exciting event and of the 60 or so people that attended, more than half were NOT from that church! The idea is that the pastor and church people have an opportunity to sit down and just get to know people and develop relationships that will open the the door for further contact. It is not meant to be an "evangelistic meeting"... it is prequel to possible further contact. The idea is to open doors of familiarity, so that the non-church people who come to an event like this might just be more inclined to make further contact when they are in need, or are just curious about the fine people who provide a fine music event and don't ask for money!

Last night's event was particularly gratifying, not just for the good reception, but for the fact that all our objectives were met, and people left having a good opinion about this church and people.

Really cool Bell Choir

2009-01-24T16:58:00.000-08:00

Take a look at this

POETRY IS COOL

2009-01-24T16:06:00.000-08:00

I have composed a number of poems this past year, and I have found it very rewarding. I would like to share a few of my pieces now and then. Most of my work has been related to the work that I do as a Pastor and Chaplain for Hospice. I meet remarkable people, and have an opportunity to get to know them in a way that causes me to want to write about them!

This piece talks about the role of our five senses in remembering those we love.

On another occasion I want to talk about my favorite poet: Ted Kooser. I stumbled on his work at Barnes and Noble one day. What struck me most about him is that he writes they way I do... not bragging here, but his work touched my heart with the subject matter and method of expression. He tries to keep things minimal, and always has a powerful ending. I will share some of his stuff in the days ahead. For now, here is one of my pieces:

MEMORIES

Memories are funny things
They shape our thinking
And make us laugh… most of the time.

A simple sound or voice
Reminds us of someone
And our spirits melt

A certain aroma transports us
To a place of shared happiness
And with closed eyes… we remember

Music… that magical memory maker
Moves us to hear
Echoes of love and hope

A touch… gentle and strong
Jogs my forgetfulness
And I see my love

A beautiful scene
Passes our eyes
And we are once again …there

All these things are
Weaving the threadbare fabric of the past
And we smile.

By Richard D Harris, Chaplain 1/14/2009

Waiting for the bell...

2009-01-24T15:44:00.000-08:00

Musings at the local shop...

OK... you are sitting alone, yet all around you are people communicating electronically with everyone and everything. There are computers blinking, ipods flashing, phone conversations galore. (I was just in Panera's behind a lady having a very loud discussion with her cell phone - and I found myself being very irritated. We come into this place filled with people - and we want to be alone!

Think about that for a moment... Our lives are so filled with electronic stuff, that it seems that we are not human unless we have bluetooth growing out of our ear!

In the old days we just waited for the bell to ring... change classes!

The sound of the bell still rings in my head. Grammar school... middle school drama... pavlov's dogs - moving from room to room at the sound of the bell.

It doesn't seem much different today... except today we do it all alone... waiting for the bell to ring.

.......

PHOTO OF THE DAY:

North of Sarasota, Fl.

My Norway Pics

2007-09-01T21:06:00.000-07:00

Below are some of my Norway photos. The Fjords are spectacular... This was a 'trip of a life-time" for us. (July 2007) It was some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen.

The last photo is probably one of my most favorite ones from Mt. Evans in Colorado taken a while back. It goes to show that we have a most incredibly beautiful world that our Creator made for us to enjoy.

2007-09-01T21:05:00.000-07:00

2007-09-01T21:02:00.001-07:00

2007-09-01T20:50:00.001-07:00

2007-09-01T20:48:00.001-07:00