donkey – Skelton Sketches

A Winter’s Day Walk…

Posted on January 15, 2014April 29, 2017 by lindaskelton

Broom and bramble compete to obscure the way, but twin firs mark it still…

The Lake gleams far below where sun has shot through clouds’ billowing defenses…

Young trees rise to conquer the once-cleared slope…

Boats and their houses lie safely snugged in quiet harbor lolling below…

While a gut-wrenchingly forlorn bray rends the air as if speaking for the whole of creation: “How long, Lord, how long?”

“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now…Even so, come Lord Jesus.” (Rom.8:22; Rev.22:20)

–LS

“At twenty, you want to save the world. At forty, you want to be saved from it.”—Robert Bruce

Taking in some hills…

Posted on December 5, 2013April 29, 2017 by lindaskelton

I was quite taken with Texas’ hill country…

It’s especially delightful by bike with camera in hand. Care to come along?

Exotic wild antelope grace the grassland, unhindered by the fences over which they effortlessly bound.

The Black Buck Antelope is native to Nepal and India and was introduced to Texas in 1932.

This old burro trotted up to say ‘hello’—like a good native Texan.

But road kill has never been so exotic!

…an armadillo, of course.

I think I could live here!

But for now, we’re limited to a visit…

And one last sunset…

in God’s Hill Country…

–LS

From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the LORD is to be praised!
Ps.113:3

When the Sun Shines…

Posted on February 8, 2013April 28, 2017 by lindaskelton

One somber day this week I went out just for the quiet stroll of it—not looking for exercise—but just to stretch my legs and chew on memory verses…”You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.” Hmm…dying on the outside, but very much alive within…

Kinda like a day mid-winter when the cheeriest sights are sad little ponies in raincoats.

…and the brightest things around are the roadside grasses, long dead, but still stalwart and bright…

But when the sun shines, as it did today, I remember what SKY BLUE is!

And even a common laurel hedge glows chartreuse!

Donkeys will always find something to be glum about I suppose…

I know. I can be a bit of an Eeyore myself, but not today! It’s just too wonderful to see the sun so unexpectedly ( :

Speaking of unexpected, what’s this! A mini magenta ‘poof’ out the end of an otherwise humdrum bud…

Delightful the unexpected things one sees, when the sun shines…

–LS

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Mt.5:16

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. Is.60:1

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Oh, and having mentioned donkeys, can I make an addendum?! Recently I received this G.K. Chesterton poem from a friend, written from a donkey’s point of view… As only G.K. could say it:

The Donkey

BY G. K. CHESTERTON

When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born.

With monstrous head and sickening cry
And ears like errant wings,
The devil’s walking parody
On all four-footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,
Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet.