Beneath the glittering sun, the water sparkles
diamonds of polished perfection.
Upon the pond, green leaves float and dance
castaways from their tree-top houses.
These summertime leaves shimmer, and then fade
like our summertime days.
Come autumn, there is only a golden mirage
a remembrance of what was.
The pond is too deep
to touch your toes upon the bottom.
And yet, it is tempting to try and try again
to find some footing, a place to stand.
You consider the wonder of it all
the gentle summer breeze, the effortless grace
of birds that fly overhead.
The pond of wonder demands all that you have to give.
Sometimes, when you are weary, it is as if the angels serenade you
and implore you to swim, to simply glide
as if a swan, floating.
At first, you feel clumsy, splashing around, feeling a fool.
In time, you learn the secrets of the pond
hidden within your very heart.
With arms wide open, you create ripples of love
that seemingly have no end…
Beneath the glittering sun, the water sparkles
diamonds of polished perfection.
These gems are chiseled in heaven above.
A pond of wonder gives way to grace;
It is a Holy place, a place of peace.
It is hard in these recent days to find a sense of peace. Listening to the news can be heartbreaking. Apart from God and clinging to His promises for our lives, there is no peace. Jesus has promised to give us His peace: “The peace of God which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)
Peace is a gift from God to us. In the Old Testament, ‘shalom’ is the Hebrew word for peace. We do not create this peace; God creates this peace.
The ‘pond of life’ is full of many things. There are lovely fishes that jump. There are beautiful water lilies to gaze upon. There are also muddy places where we sink down deep. It is hard to avoid these places. Sometimes, it feels like wherever we step, there is some rough patch to navigate.
And yet, through it all, God endlessly calls to us. He reaches out His hand across the pond and we feel the stillness, the beauty of the water, the wonder of His unending love.
It is good to know that God always keeps His promises to be with us, to guide us, and to bring us His peace. Our Heavenly Father knows when the waters are stirred up and the clouds hang heavy upon our hearts.
God is faithful. In those tree-top houses, God makes shelter for His winged creatures. Here upon the earth, the Lord makes a shelter for us, and He covers us with His everlasting peace. In Isaiah 26:3-4, we read: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the rock eternal.”
We do have a rock. It is the rock of our faith. God longs for us to know His peace, regardless of whatever may be happening in the great pond around us. We cannot always control what is happening at any given time. This does not mean we must surrender our peace.
In John 14:27. we read: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Let not your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
The ‘pond of life’ is a beautiful thing. We do not want to miss the ripples of love that spread out before our eyes. We do not want to miss the dawn of a new day as the sun heralds the brilliance of morning. We must be alert and awake, watching not only our footing, but the magic of all that is around us.
The pond is full of mystery and grace. God has created a spectacular creation. He invites us to take off our shoes and step into the water. May we know and trust His guidance. May we know that with Him, we can glide into the deep places and not be afraid. May we feel the warm sun upon our faces, and swim with effortless grace all the days of our lives.
My poem, ‘Pond of Wonder’, was inspired by two of my blogger friends who both wrote amazing posts on ‘wonder’ in our lives. Gary Fultz wrote a blog post on ‘Ponder the Wonder’. It was not about a pond, but it was about pondering the wonder of all that God has done in our lives. I encourage you to check out his blog: ‘God’s Ways are…Different.’ He is an incredible photographer, as well as an inspiring writer. Also, ‘Lisa at Micro of the Macro’ wrote an excellent piece on the power of ‘wonder’ in our lives to transform our life experience. Her blog is full of wonderful information to improve our health and well-being. I always learn something new when I read her blog, and I look forward to each post.
And I look forward to yours. Thank you for this interlude (among “final edits”).
Wishing you a good weekend! 🙂 Summer is moving along!
Pondering the wonders of God’s creation is a great remedy for the daily news. Thanks for a well-worded perspective.
The world is so very different from the world I knew as a child. And yet, there have always been problems. Perhaps, with age, we tend to remember things in a different light. I believe that if we focus continuously on God’s active and ongoing presence in our lives, we fare better, no matter the times. Today, I watched a dragonfly in the late afternoon when I went out to water my flowers. It was so exquisite! I have no words for that lovely creature! And so, it is. God’s hand is everywhere!
Hi, Linda, thanks so much for mentioning my blog! That is really kind of you! I love the beauty & wisdom in your poem. Made me think of the small pond my grandmother & I used to walk to with little cane poles when I was a small girl. Thoughts of that pond are part of so many of my memories, good and bad. I remember staring out at the ripples from my cast, noticing how far they could go before smoothing out into the surface. A lot like life, I now realize. Thanks again for bringing my blog to the attention of your readers! 🌞
You have a most wonderful blog and I have learned so much from you! I always forget to stay hydrated and drink more water. Now, after following your blog, I try to remember that coffee should not be my main beverage! It is not that I did not know this before. It is simply that you invite people to try just a bit harder for their own good to be healthy. You make all the little goals seem possible! It is hard to get over bad habits, but you manage to make the good habits seem attainable. Thank you! (I believe that your enthusiasm and passion for good health is really the key.)
Hi, Linda, I very much appreciate your supportive comment! Writing about health helps keep me healthy, too, because I don’t like to suggest anything that I don’t do for myself. I am happy that you are more conscious of hydration now. It’s possibly the most important fundamental for human functioning, in my opinion. Keep up the good work! 🌞
I am trying! 🙂
“In time, you learn the secrets of the pond hidden within your very heart.” How very well said, Linda. I just had to add the verse that comes after Philippians 4:7, which is the thought that I keep close by to keep focused on what is important.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (4:8)
That is one of my favorite verses and I contemplate it often. When I went off to college, my roommate’s mother had that quote in the kitchen. She was a remarkable woman and she became like a second mother to me. When I think of that quote, I often think of her. At the age of seventeen, it made a deep impression on me, placed there in the kitchen! We had to see it! 🙂 Each and every day, these are the things we should think about. Thank you so much for sharing this verse and your thoughts! It has brought back so many happy memories!
Sending hugs back your way!
🙂 🙂 🙂
I greatly enjoyed this meditation inspired by a pond, as well as the photos. I, too, feel that a pond is a reverential place.
Perhaps, it is the stillness of a pond, the quietude. We remember that God’s creation is so infinitely incredible. I always have a sense of peace by any body of water, be it a lake, or a pond, or an ocean. When I was young, we traveled by boat to Block Island, Rhode Island. We rode bikes around the island and saw all the freshwater ponds. It was simply amazing to me. Sometimes, I think about those places from my childhood, and it brings me peace.
It’s definitely the stillness and quietude of a pond for me. My brother was able to take his family to Block Island when he lived in Rhode Island. They really enjoyed it.
We brought our children to see Block Island. I wanted them to see some of my favorite childhood places. Everything is a little bit different when we return as an adult. Still, so much of what I remembered was the same.
My brother took his grandchildren. He was born in Rhode Island, but we moved when he was still a toddler.
Rhode Island is beautiful! So many special places. We are blessed! 🙂
Your meditations are always spot on, and I especially liked this one. In troubling times, we need reminders that God is in charge, and the beauty of the world is still there, if only we’ll see it. Thank you!!
I often try to focus on the line of scripture, “Be still and know that I am God.”(Psalm 46:10). Also, Malachi 3:6: (God does not change.) Things in the world constantly change. God’s love and provision for His children never changes. You are right…God is in charge at all times!
Beautiful, Linda. I’ve been reading Job of late. Talk about that beautiful two-way faithfulness!
Oh, and thank you for recommending Gary Fultz’s blog!
I look forward to his posts. He is a gifted photographer, but he is quite modest about it! He has captured so many wonderful nature scenes. I am often in awe!
So much of scripture teaches us to be patient and to trust. Only when we take hold of God’s hand, can we let go of a burden. It is often hard to let go. We stubbornly refuse to go it on our own. In so doing, we miss the peace we might have known.
Linda, this is so beautiful, in all its entirety. You are a gifted writer.
Thank you! You are very kind! 🙂 People have been through so much in these recent times. We need to remember that God wants us to enjoy His beautiful creation. The days pass by quickly! (There is always something to celebrate and be thankful for.) There are the thunderclouds; so too, the sun comes out again!
You did take “Wonder” to a whole new level Linda…Wonderful poem. I have related to the falling leaves too many times in my life
It is odd, is it not, how much we learn from trees? God knew we would need the beauty of something that reaches heavenward. The trees tell us of all the seasons of our lives. It is okay to keep reaching higher and higher, no matter the storms. The seasons change, but a tree is endlessly beautiful. In winter, when a tree is most barren, it stands stoic against a gray sky. It endures. Spring will come again!
Your poem is absolutely beautiful, Linda. Thank you for sharing x
Thank you! I hope the coming week is a very good one for you! 🙂
Linda, this is absolutely saturated in peace both in scriptures and in the word picture you painted. I feel as if I’ve taken a refreshing dip in a cool pond on a hot humid summer day. Thank you!
God wants us to have His peace. We get caught up in so many things. He is always reaching out to us, helping us to see that there is a better way. Only His way leads us to any refreshment. It is the only way!
A beautiful poem and photos, Linda. The pond is a place of wonder and joy.
Thank you! Yes! You are so right…’The pond is a place of wonder and joy.”
You’re very welcome!
Linda, I can always find a sense of wonder when I read your posts. Thank you so much.
That is so sweet! Thank you! 🙂
Such a beautiful poem and a post full of peace. Thank you for sharing your wonder with us.
Thank you! 🙂 Wishing you blessings!
One of the parsonages we lived in was built near a pond. I loved coming home to the peaceful scene of rippling water, shady trees, and waterfowl. Oh–and turtles sunning themselves on the bank! In my mind’s eye I can see it still, reflecting the imagery you insightfully present here!
I love to see the turtles! I always look for them! 🙂