Full Release

 

In September,

especially if it's been dry,

trees lose their leaves

singly, and casually.

But by mid-October

it becomes full release.

A massive display,

an elegant ballet

of twists and turns.

Colored leaves

sifting through branches.

Falling gracefully

through cool autumn air.

I imagine each leaf

a moving prayer.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Tiffany Avenue - Kent County - Michigan

2. Wabasis Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

3. Home Trees - Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

 

Canyon Prayer

 

When the Canyon Wren

hurls its song into the air,

in the echoing space

between sandstone walls,

it sounds like a prayer,

a praise song,

a blessing heard

but not seen.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations: Garden of the Gods Park - Colorado Springs, Colorado

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

 

Praying

 

When I pray,

I try to quiet my mind

and concentrate

on God's presence.

Then, humbling myself

with deep respect,

I give sincere thanks

for His incredible creation,

and wait patiently

for the Holy Spirit

to stir my soul

with inspiration,

to accept and embrace 

who I am called to be,

seeking guided navigation

from obscurity into purpose,

to be ready

to accept His message

and show gratitude

through my writing.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

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

2. Ada Township - Kent County - Michigan

3. Home Garden - Cannonsburg, Michigan

4. Home Road - Cannonsburg, Michigan

Humble Light

 

Perhaps a lighted candle

does improve the prospects

of a prayer achieving its purpose.

Who knows?

Maybe God notices the humble light

flickering with possibility,

affirming the hope

of the one who lit it.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: 

Our Lady of Light Catholic Community - Estero, Florida

Advent

 

As we advance 

through Advent,

we are waiting for

immersion in grace.

Praying that it will take place

in the small nativity space

of our hearts where we'll meet

baby Jesus face-to-face.

Emmanuel ~ God is with us.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: 

St. Patrick Parish - Parnell, Michigan

Acceptance

 

In the quiet air of an autumn afternoon,

something seems to be asking for my attention.

Something hidden in the vacant spaces

between leaves turning from green to gold.

Waiting for confirmation,

validation, affirmation.

It could be the inscrutable presence,

the essence of the Holy Spirit.

I will offer my benevolent attendance

through a fervent prayer of acceptance.

© 2023 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

2. Fallasburg Park - Kent County - Michigan

3. Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan

A Pray-er of Prayers

 for Mary Havenga

How she became 

one of the best

pray-ers of prayers:

She offered words of comfort

to those in sorrow or need.

A message of hope to those discouraged.

She prayed with naturalness,

like Jesus was giving her 

the words to say.

She found the right words,

spoken with sincerity,

and people listened intently.

Friends she prayed for

felt a calming peace.

A restfulness in their souls.

And among the names 

on her long prayer list,

some of her prayers were answered.

© 2023 Richard Havenga

Bronzed

 

Penetrating rays of sun

have bronzed the early fog.

And bronzed the soybeans

nearing harvest time.

I'm embraced by the quiet

of a cool October morning.

A perfect place to pray

prayers of thanks to begin the day.

Until two crows break the silence

with their own invocation.

© 2023 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

2. Lowell Township - Kent County - Michigan

Invisible Prayers

 

I know that prayers

are obviously invisible,

but I thought I saw some

rising and riding the wind;

to their anticipated location,

their appointed destination;

on the delicate wings

of a  Swallowtail Butterfly,

on the powerful wings

of a Bald Eagle,

on the net-veined wings

of a dragonfly,

on the fine, silky fibers

transporting milkweed seeds,

on the white, billowed cumulus

towering into the atmosphere.

© 2023 Richard Havenga

You may also enjoy: "Prayer Beads" from June 15, 2023

There are 44 references to Prayer in the TOPICS section of WWFN. 

Photo Locations:

1. Home Garden - Cannonsburg, Michigan

2. Eagle Lakes Park - Naples, Florida

3. & 4. Home Garden - Cannonsburg, Michigan

5. North Fort Myers, Florida 

Prayer Beads

 

Some days the clouds

float across the sky

like healing messages;

white wishes drifting

through your life,

prayer beads fingered

by the hands of the wind.

© 2022 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. McCarthy Lake - Kent County - Michigan

2. Catalina, Arizona

3. St. Patrick Church - Parnell, Michigan

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

Prayer Leaves

 

Each yellow leaf

that has fallen this fall,

and the red, orange,

and brown ones too,

represent  so many 

fluttering prayers.

Prayers of gratitude

that have illuminated

my autumn days.

An elegant  ballet of twists and turns

sifting through branches and twigs,

to land softly upon the ground;

a book of uncommon prayer.

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 3. Home Woods ~ Cannonsburg, Michigan

2. 4. & 5. Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan

Stream Songs

 

Last September, I was blessed

to be listening to the song 

of mountain streams. 

They like to sing all day,

and through the night

when I've gone away.

Sometimes it sounds

like a memory of all

that has passed.

Other times

it's like a prayer

for all that is to come.

I will keep listening,

and remembering,

and praying,

that someday I may live 

near mountain streams,

and listen to their mountain songs.

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 2. South Fork ~ Payette River - Idaho

3. Blackfoot River - Missoula, Montana

4. Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado

A Writing Prayer

During the work of writing,
my prayer ends with this plea:

"Please ignite my mind with images,
and guide my hand to honor thee."

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

Home - Cannonsburg, Michigan

Windows

In memory of Peter Draugalis Sr. (June 29, 1895 ~ September 10, 1959)

When I was eleven,
my upstairs bedroom was small,
but my responsibility was large.

I had to pray hard every day
for the cancer to go away
from my grandpa,
who had to go away
to a special hospital
in Ann Arbor
for those mysterious
cobalt treatments. 

He had no windows
in his hospital room.
I didn't think this was fair
for a man who loved
to be outdoors,
for a man who loved
to hunt and fish,

for a man I loved
when he let me hunt
between himself and my dad.

They would send me
into brush piles,
down the swales,
through briers and brambles.

If I "jumped a rabbit",
one of them would fire his shotgun.
Grandpa carried a 20-gauge.
Dad had the stronger 12-gauge.

I longed to hear that gunshot
again in October;
only a month away.

As I stared out my window,
I studied the east fencerow,
tangled with thick brush;
sumac and saplings
hung with wild grapevines,
maybe a rabbit hiding
in the dense briers that
curled along the ground.

I watched out my window
as dusk arrived.
I listened out my window
as a whip-poor-will
sang his melancholy song.

I prayed out my window:
"Please God, give Grandpa
a little more time."

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Endnote: 

Today, in my upstairs bedroom, I have two shotguns: a 12 gauge, and a 20 gauge.

Supplication

The branches
that arch over this trail
form a cathedral;

and remind me
of the blessing
in our church
when the parishioners
extend their arms
into the sacred space
arching above their souls
while a prayer for healing
is conferred upon the sick,
and enhanced
by our plentiful palms;

like all the leaves
in the woods
reaching for the sun.

Supplication sustained by praise.
Hope hinged with belief.

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Wabasis Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

2. & 3. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan