
Copyright
©Jane H. Johann
Bellingham, WA. 2017

Copyright
©Jane H. Johann
Bellingham, WA. 2017
21 June 2017 Ted was sitting in the rain. A blue tarp covered his lower half, an umbrella hat deflected the water from his face. The look on his face was one of resigned discouragement. “Good morning, Ted. Are you managing to keep dry?” “Hi, Dennis. The water is running under my tarp. I’m…

Copyright
©Jane H. Johann
Bellingham, WA. 2017

Copyright
©Jane H. Johann
Bellingham, WA. 2017

Copyright
©Jane H. Johann
Bellingham, WA. 2017

Copyright
©Jane H. Johann, February, 2016
“Tracks of Progress?”
the howl of the wind
punctuated by the shrill sound of the whistling trains that pass by every hour
warning the multiples of homeless people congregating near the track–
the number is growing…
their human condition seems worse than two years ago…
GET OUT OF THE WAY or BE CRUSHED BY PROGRESS!
a barefooted woman, with disheveled hair,
wearing layers of clothing, weaving in and out of traffic
screaming obscenities at the passing cars
CRAZY PEOPLE–WHAT A NUISANCE!
another shirtless man lays sprawled in the green space surrounding the apartment
groaning and then dropping off to another place–
then groaning…
again…
HOW DARE HE REMIND US OF HIS HUMANITY?
a man with a blackened white shirt
filth-looking slacks, a loose tie hanging around his neck
pacing back and forth without hesitation
clearly distraught
MAYBE THAT TIE SHOULD BE TIGHTER!
Another with his several backpacks
shouldered by his bent body
pushing the bicycle back and forth
up and down the hill
with no place to stop and call home
THEY SHOULD ALL BE LOCKED UP
Several homeless, congregating together
speaking their own language,
sharing where they might get a cup of coffee
as long as they sit quiet and listen to the sermon first
WHAT THEY NEED IS MORALS!
the wind continues to howl, the number of displaced HUMANS are increasing among us
while we parade into our Churches on Sunday mornings, saying,
“There but for the Grace of God goes I…”
REALLY?
I didn’t know God’s grace was limited or that only the lucky ones are chosen
Maybe the HOMELESS are here to nudge us out of our coma of superiority
and wake us to compassion?

Copyright
©Jane H. Johann, 2016
“Shelter for the Homeless”
__________________________________________________________________________
Allegedly from a mid-sixteenth-century statement by John Bradford, “There but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford”, in reference to a group of prisoners being led to execution.
A paraphrase from the Bible, 1 Corinthians 15:8-10, which states, “Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me. For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am…”.
Reference: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Report-Bias-Hate-Crimes-Against-Muslims-Spike-421793493.html
Dietrich Bonhoeffer – POLITICALLY INCORRECT HEROES
https://www.awesomestories.com/…/POLITICALLY-INCORRECT-HEROES-Dietrich-..

Copyright
©Jane H. Johann
Lake Michigan No.1
October, 2016
Kenosha, WI

Copyright
©Jane H. Johann
Lake Michigan No.2
October, 2016
Kenosha, WI

Copyright
©Jane H. Johann
Lake Michigan No.3
October, 2016
Kenosha, WI

Copyright
©Jane H. Johann
“Sunday Morning Daffodil Smiles” No.4
bumblebee yellow
graced the green
as the Tuscan sun
lit the cobblestone stream
daffodil upon daffodil
brought the inner dream
hope laced the heart
of all that was unseen

Copyright
©Jane H. Johann
“Sunday Morning Daffodil Smiles” No.3

Photo Credit
©Jane H. Johann, March, 2017
“First of the March Green”
the gentle green of Spring
peeping through the earth
elicits profound joy within
hope and promise giving birth

Photo Credit
©Jane H. Johann, April, 16,, 2017
“Daffodil Delight”
tiny blades of grass
slender and so tall
profoundly delight the senses
announcing life to all

Photo Credit
©Jane H. Johann, April, 2017
“Eye-catching Mourning Dove”
Interesting Story regarding the DAFFODIL shared with me from my friend, n.h.bourne.
The sight of pale yellow-tinged daffodil buds pushing up through the cold soil is an encouraging signal that winter is retreating. In ecclesiastical circles especially, the daffodil is sometimes known as the Lent Lily, and tradition says that the flower will open on Ash Wednesday and die on Easter Day – a tradition immortalized in A.E. Housman’s poem “The Lent Lily”:
‘Tis spring; come out to ramble
The hilly brakes around,
For under thorn and bramble
About the hollow ground
The primroses are found.
And there’s the windflower chilly
With all the winds at play,
And there’s the Lenten lily
That has not long to stay
And dies on Easter day.
And since till girls go maying
You find the primrose still,
And find the windflower playing
With every wind at will,
But not the daffodil,
Bring baskets now, and sally
Upon the spring’s array,
And bear from hill and valley
The daffodil away
That dies on Easter day.
Please direct your likes and comments to:
https://aponderingmind.org/2017/03/05/quick-fiction-32l
Thank you!

Photo Credit
©Jane H. Johann
“First of the March Snows” March 1, 2016 Palmyra, WI, USA
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