Writers Corner for September 16, 2011

THE PORCH

By John C. Alden, Hayden

In the young days of our marriage we were as yet unaware of our heart's long range view toward a bright future. John, Irvina and our emerging family were just starting our pursuit of happiness.

It was a bright, sunlit morning in Duxbury, Mass., when Irvina lifted the phone to hear her dear brother invite her and her family for the weekend with his family in Winchester, N.H.

"Of course, we'd love to," Irvina replied. "We can leave just after John's work on Friday. And thank you for thinking of us, my dear brother!"

And thus started what became a very meaningful development in our lives.

We arrived in Winchester after the four hour drive and pulled into Wadsworth's driveway.

"Hi Bud! Hi Alberta!" cried Irvina as she, Jackie, Brad and baby Gerry got out of the car. "John got off work early, so we're not as late as we thought we'd be, and we're so glad to be here, and you've painted the house, and it's beautiful, and..."

"OK, OK little squeedunk," replied Wadsworth. "You're here, safe and sound, and we're glad to see you! Now, come in and let's get the children to bed. We have your rooms made up, ready for a good night's sleep."

The warmth of greeting was making its way into our hearts. Families are like that.

Wadsworth's house sat next to a wide street leading to downtown Winchester where one could find white-fenced houses, green lawns, flowers and stores filled with the necessaries and un-necessaries of life. This was a typical New England town of 2,000, each with his own, individual strength carved into his life, like granite in the hills of New Hampshire.

Brother Wadsworth's place was a homey, well-lived-in structure with areas strategically arranged, such as good "play-places" for the children and a convenient dining room and kitchen. One other important area was the large, screened in front porch into which one could pour oneself! It was 8-feet wide and 20-feet long, stretching clear across the front of the house. Praise to the person who conceives and builds such a beautiful porch! How quickly an area of comfort becomes a focal point of life.

Ah, the blessings of a porch! There, one can: Be comfortable; eat a snack; read a book; have a nap; play a game; have a good laugh; have fellowship; drink iced tea; write a poem; reminisce; watch the world go by; think, perhaps through a problem; have a deep conversation with a friend; relax and rest; have a time of introspection; let the porch teach its meaningful message.

To say we enjoyed those many pleasures at that time would be untrue, but there were times of deep appreciation for Wadsworth's porch. Perhaps it was then we learned that a porch was more than a house add-on and that expected wisdom sometimes arrives when on a porch. I think Irvina's niece, Nadine, slept there when nights were sultry hot. At any rate, it was after that weekend we determined that when we owned a home of our own it was going to have a porch! But, alas, we could not have one until 60 years later! We raised our family, lived in 13 homes, gave our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, but never had a large porch until we moved to Wellsprings Meadows in Hayden.

So, when my beloved and I finally "retired from retirement," we moved to Wellspring, an exceptionally good home where more care was available.

At this moment, Irvina and I are sitting in very comfortable deck chairs on a 30-foot porch with an open front - the absolute pinnacle of porch life!

The sky is blue with puffy-white clouds; the temperature is 70 degrees; the flowers are in abundance; there is a pool with a fountain and poplar trees within sight; a mild breeze is cooling our faces; and soft music floats easily from inside. What a sublime setting in which to experience a loving, thoughtful caress of the Spirit or the glory of righteous comfort!

Happiness is God's blessing! On a porch? Of course!

•••

BAD BRAINS

My little sparrow friends

have become a nuisance

I given them a place to eat

and sleep. Yet all they do

is consume and mess up my

home. Then they have the

gall to expect more.

Kind of reminds me

of my distant relatives.

- Keith Sargent, Mullan

•••

FOR THE NEXT TIME

If you are looking

down upon man in his

suffering and sorrow,

You should be lending

a hand to help him up;

For the next time he

may be looking down

upon you.

- Keith Sargent, Mullan

•••

DECISION IMMINENT

Escape, thou, who hast known such heights for time so short.

How unfair to deny yet chain thee.

No longer can I give thee shelter - hiding thee one day

And courting thee the next.

Closely, I have pruned and clipped sprouts, not wanting

To become embroiled in the inevitable web of words,

Lest there be such thorns I could not stay.

O, how I love to soar with thee, but, if I have not the courage

To claim thee, then I must pluck thee out, and thou shalt find

Another place to bloom, and thou shalt be free from me; and

I shall be free from thee.

- Roberta L.T. Davison