carlfmaulbeck

Carefulness

My Lady and My God, May we see with your eyes and hear with your ears, the needs and wants of our neighbor, Grant that we have the patience, courage, and strength, to love as you love. Engender in us the tenderness, kindness, and gentleness to promote communion with all things. Prevent us from hurtingContinue reading “Carefulness”

Cover

Cooperation can be difficult, to have each other’s back… I told her that she is protected, I will provide her cover. Assurance is idyllic and wonderful, what happens stays between us… She will never be canceled, regardless what nay-sayers uncover. There are no guarantees, but there are always possibilities… I am with her always, openContinue reading “Cover”

Calculus

Ironically my pockets were too deep and needed to be emptied of calculus. The tartar’s algorithm suggested geometric damage plus tooth loss. After a few “pinches”, I lay back in the chair. Now numb, I let him do the math. With pictures in hand, he calculates what has to be rendered and sorts the variables.Continue reading “Calculus”

Faithful

Blessed are you when people insult you, lie about you because of me, for you will be rewarded.[1] It is truly hard to be calm amid gross misunderstanding… peaceful about malicious slurs. It is tough when slander becomes accepted as orthodoxy… false prophets become truth-bearers. Unconditional love affords a life of real relationship – standardContinue reading “Faithful”

Skinned Alive

Like Mother Earth, our skin is multilayered and it is essential to our existence. Skin promotes touch sensation, maintains body temperature regulation, provides harmful elements protection… Like Mother Earth, our skin is both precious and frail. Parts of us are thick-skinned and like mountains not much bothers us – difficult to get under the skin.Continue reading “Skinned Alive”

Countless Blessings (Psalm 104)

My God, You are awesome, You are absolutely adorable. You wrap Yourself in the sunlight’s splendor, You cloak Yourself in the stars’ wonder. When You bring darkness, it becomes night, when You bring light, it becomes day. With the moon, we mark the seasons, with the sun, we rise and rest.Continue reading “Countless Blessings (Psalm 104)”

At a Loss

Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted[1] Weeping the loss of a loved one professes the acute aching mitigating the grave anguish. Yes, grief can be overwhelming but our shadow must be embraced to find lasting comfort and joy. Sadness is inevitable… shedding true tears is both healing and necessary for wholeness.Continue reading “At a Loss”

More Beatitudes

Some contemporary practices I believed condoned by God: Blessed are those who listen, for they will find accord Blessed are the marginalized, for they will be sustained Blessed are the builders of bridges, for they will be welcomed. Blessed are the truth-tellers, for they will have peace of mind. Blessed are the contrite for theyContinue reading “More Beatitudes”

Sense-less

How you see… is what you see[1] observe with eyes wide shut and look through the window of the soul How you listen… is what you hear be attentive to the sounds of silence and receive the noise in between the notes How you speak… is what you say entreat with your lips pursed andContinue reading “Sense-less”

Baptism

John calls, Change our ways and make straight the Way. Jesus wants to join the narrow Way… He answers the call. He asks the brazen John to baptize him – a rite of passage – to begin his ministry But John is humbly hesitant – the pain of change… the path would not simply straighten.Continue reading “Baptism”