Ready

 

I am eager to discover,

in the heavenly realm,

the mysteries experienced in this world

during our human existence. 

Will we understand then

what we cannot comprehend now?

The miracles of creation on earth?

Our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit?

When all is finally revealed,

the joy will be overwhelming.

I am ready.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Grand River - Grand Rapids, Michigan

2. Santa Catalina Mountains - Oro Valley, Arizona

3. Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan

The Steeple of St. Patrick's

The congregation of devoted Christians 

filled this historic church.

They sang with exuberant voices,

exalting His name with praise.

Their passionate faith was unmistakeable

by any visitors who sat in the pews.

The majestic steeple of St. Patrick's

transported our praise and our prayers

through the blue vault of the sky

toward their heavenly destination.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: St. Patrick's Catholic Church ~ Parnell, Michigan

You may also enjoy:

"The Bells of St. Patrick's" - May 14, 2015

"The Steps of St. Patrick's" - November 6, 2017

"The Windows of St. Patrick's" - September 17, 2018

 

Heaven Between the Trees

 

Now that the sun has

migrated back to the north,

I don't have to wait as long for

first light to turn into first color,

for morning to open the day.

The birds wake earlier

and stay later in April.

American Goldfinches

are beginning to show color;

slight hints of yellow feathers.

In about four to six weeks,

all of our colorful warblers

will be migrating and singing

their parts in the sweet choir

in the temple of our woods.

Heaven between the trees.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 2. Lowell Township - Kent County - Michigan

3. Wabasis Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

Boundaries of Heaven

 

Some clouds shout out.

They're boisterous and bold.

Rounded mounds of cumulus.

Voluminous domes reflecting light.

Growing, gathering, surging

into masses of stark white.

Spacious and capacious,

filling the summer sky.

Billowing, bulging bundles

ascending the atmosphere.

A powerful performance;

an exceptional spectacle.

Approaching the 

boundaries of Heaven.

© 2023 Richard Havenga

You may also enjoy: "Still 3" ~ December 16, 2021

Photo Locations:

1. Fort Myers, Florida

2. Pickerel Lake Park - Fred Meijer Nature Preserve - Kent County - Michigan

Fingers Dancing

 for Quyen:

Are we hearing music

streaming from Heaven

when you play the piano?

The silky smoothness

of song played

with color and light.

We watch the graceful movement

of your fingers dancing,

sliding across ebony and ivory.

I listen to your pure voice

with my eyes closed,

imagining the gates of Heaven.

© 2023 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: St. Patrick ~ Parnell

Climbing the Clouds

 

I am:

Saying a prayer on the porch.

Reading a devotion on the deck.

Meditating in the mountains.

Worshiping the Creator in the woods.

My mind is:

Astonished by golden aspens.

Contented by a river's current.

Climbing into the clouds.

Hoping to achieve Heaven.

© 2022 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Grand Lake, Colorado

2. Pickerel Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

Glimpse of Heaven

 

Heading for the trailhead

to explore the eastern foothills,

I look back westward

at a glimpse of Heaven.

Rays of sunlight

slash through tattered cumulus,

warming the broad valley

this summer afternoon.

All is well out here near

Pray, Montana.

© 2022 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Pray, Montana

Shades of Blue

 

From this wooden platform

high above Lake Michigan,

my eyes are scanning through

magnificent shades of blue.

Along this discernable

curvature of the earth,

the horizon's sharp, silver edge

is the threshold of heaven.

© 2022 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. 2. 3. Arcadia, Michigan

A Higher Place

 

A fresh morning breeze strokes

the slender fingers of willows.

They undulate vertically

above the small pond.

They return old memories

of my twelve-year-old self,

when I expertly climbed

their thick, spreading limbs;

seeking refuge and solitude

in a secret, higher place

to think about important matters:

like the death of my grandpa,

and how high above the blue sky

heaven might be,

and if he can hear me

from up here.

© 2022 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Cascade, Michigan

2. Thornapple River - Ada Dam - Kent County - Michigan

3. Blythefield Memory Gardens - Kent County - Michigan

Lillian

 

Her soul longs to go home,

but her frail body lingers,

with only 77 pounds

to sustain her weakness.

Two months shy of 99,

her bony hands try to guide

the straw to her mouth

in slow, uncertain motion.

Hearing weak. Sight poor.

No appetite.

Her voice

a faint murmur.

Helplessness hangs heavy upon her.

Dependency drags her down daily.

She bears invisible pain,

yet never complains.

Long sleep is her escape

and salvation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This September morning 

Lillian passed

through Heaven's gate

and will now see with new eyes

the Glory of God. 

© 2021 Richard Havenga

In loving memory of

Lillian Marie Havenga 

October 22, 1922 ~ September 2, 2021

Sound of the Gift

Listen

to the long, curling
banner of song
streaming 
from the meadowlark
above these rolling hills,
and rising up,
as far as I know,
into the open gates
of Heaven.

The sound of the gift
giving gratitude
to the giver.

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 2. (Eastern Meadowlark) Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

3. (Western Meadowlark) Marvel, Colorado

Mystery

Contemplate the mystery
of this temporary existence.

The vast blue dome of day
mottled with marvelous clouds .

The black curtain of night
spangled with innumerable stars.

The incomprehensible feeling
of going home again
from whence we came.

 

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Rock Point, Arizona

2. Catalina, Arizona

One More Glimpse

                         In Memory of:

Aaron Richard Havenga (April 2, 1975 ~ November 20, 1994) 

Spears of sunlight
penetrate holes in the clouds.

Your signal (to me)
that all is well
in the radiance
of your new home.

Memories of you return
in waves of autumn light
recalling your exceptional performance
in running Cross Country (at FHC).

Memories of you return
on a soft summer breeze
that cooled you as you hiked
the Appalachian Trail (with Ross).

Memories of you return
watching your big smile
as you "spray" a large plume
while water-skiing at Payne Lake.


Memories of you return
in the depths of winter cold
as you rode our local slopes
at Cannonsburg Ski Lodge.

I want to ride up
those shafts of sunlight
to get just one more glimpse of you,
to help me through a few more years,
until I can join you in the heavenly realm.

© 2019 Richard Havenga

Tabernash

With gratitude to John D'Amico

How many hundreds
of thousands
of dark green spires 
of Lodgepole Pines
needle the sky
in this broad basin?

Highlighted by November snows,
they clothe the rising foothills,
stand perfectly vertical
on steepening slopes,
climb to the timberline
on North Arapaho Peak,
withstand winter winds,
remain ever
green.

Serve as models of perseverance
as we bend under life's strains,
lean into biting winds,
fade from once colorful selves. 

Yielding to the years,
weathering with grace,
faithful to the end.

Tapering, arrow straight
pointing to heaven
everlasting.

A thousand thousand
points of praise.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. 2. 3. - Tabernash, Colorado

Silent as Clouds

When the Holy Spirit
calls from within
my soul,

-- and asks me to speak
a few words:
gratitude, admiration --

praise enters my mind,
exits through words
unspoken.

Silent as these clouds
carried through the blue space
between earth and heaven;

between admiration and gratitude.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Yosemite National Park - California

2. McCarthy Lake - Grattan Township - Kent County, Michigan  

Silent Towers

Rooted in the solid earth,
nourished by mineralized soil,
stretching for the sun's light,

prayers of gratitude
rise from arms
raised toward Heaven.

Such satisfying work.

God, please grant me
the perseverance 
of these trees;
these silent towers
of praise.

Until 
after that final,
wonder-filled journey,

I shall be 
in the light.

And understand
the mystery.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan 

2. Snake River - Grand Teton National Park - Wyoming

Practicing Goodbye

Memories rise and fall
with the undulating waves.

Remembering washes over my mind,
then retreats down the wet slope of sand.

Like creation in front of me,
like creation repeating the past.

Like a flock of gulls rising together,
then landing together.

Like sensing the amenities of heaven,
or the sense of heaven.

Like practicing how to say goodbye
when it's time to leave or time to die.

Like the tide coming in and going out,
coming in and going out...

© 2017 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Sunset Beach, North Carolina

2. Cape Perpetua - Yachats, Oregon

3. Holland State Park Beach - Holland, Michigan

4. Neptune State Scenic Viewpoint - Oregon