#Sky Watch Friday: July 10

the sky and the fields seen from a bridge

in the morning

Skywatch Friday

The Cloudless Sky

Brushing her black unruly hair, Vera replayed the exasperating scenes over and over again in her mind. 

Every time she thought of what Fred had said to her, and what he had said to their friends about her reactions, her anger and disillusionment seemed to be reinforced, though she couldn't tell for sure if he was merely innocently careless and insensitive.

Vera put the brush on the dressing table and put on the navy blue cap, making up her mind that she would no longer have anything to do with him, however childish it might appear.

She went out for a walk as usual, trying not to waste any more time in thinking about the irritating man.

As far as she could see, there was not a cloud in the blue sky, and the sky looked like a lustrous fabric without a flaw.

After walking along the river for about an hour, she found herself totally oblivious to her wounded feelings.

Six Sentence Stories

this week's prompt: fabric

The Healing of a Paralyzed Man

Summary of the sermon by the Rev. F.

Matthew 9:1-8

Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? (verse 5)

• To have your sins forgiven, and to be healed physically-- If you had to choose only one between the two, which would you choose?
• Only God has the authority to forgive sins, because our sins are against God. When we sin against other people, it eventually means that we sin against God.
• Jesus can heal people and calm storms by His words, but He had to give up His own life on the cross to forgive our sins. -- It was NOT easy to say, 'Your sins are forgiven.'

the fig tree I saw  near the river the other day

Ten Things of Thankful: July 4, 2020

1. the feel of a clean, soft towel
2. the refreshing aroma of hot green tea that we have for breakfast
3. ordinary, healthy meals three times a day
4. a brief conversation with Toshiko last Sunday
5. hymns I 'sing' silently while taking a walk, such as He leadeth me, All the way my Saviour leads me, and How great Thou art, in Japanese translation.
6. the time I spend playing the electronic organ in my room
7. my never-ending to-do list; I seldom get bored.
8. my interest in poetry rekindled after rereading Ode on Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood by William Wordsworth
9. a sense of accomplishment after deep cleaning the bathroom
10. the shoji screens we have recently re-papered ourselves; we use them instead of curtains in Japanese-style rooms.

#Sky Watch Friday: July 3, 2020

I took this picture while I was taking a walk on the overpass the other day.

5:23 a.m.

Skywatch Friday

A Memory of Splendour in the Grass

There was a line of tulip trees on either side of the street leading to the library, 

and Vera and Victor, both of them in their early twenties, were walking side by side under the trees.

Suddenly, Victor quoted a few lines from a poem:

Though nothing can bring back the hour

Of splendour in the grass, 

of glory in the flower;

We will grieve not, rather find

Strength in what remains behind;

Vera, having never heard the poem before, stopped, and looked at Victor, wondering what he meant by that.

Victor said that it was from a poem written by William Wordsworth, which was quoted in the drama, "Splendor in the Grass,"  and told her about the story.

About a year later, they broke up.

More than thirty years have passed since then, but Vera still thinks of the poem, the drama, and Victor from time to time.

Six Sentence Stories

this week's prompt: line

Lilies