ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

This is a familiar acrylic painting that Paul crafted over a period of time observing a family of Osprey as the went from one male and one female – to 3 eggs – to 3 chicks – to 2 fledglings and one loss. Their family developed over a period of months. Paul was on a study of sorts, with a few other observers. Each day they would meet at the Coon Rapids Dam, set up equipment to photograph, paint or just observe these magnificent water birds. They watched as the nest was crafted out of all sorts of things, including twigs and other objects to hold it tightly together as a resting place for the coming eggs that would be laid carefully and tended until the chicks hatched. There was even a dog collar embedded in the enormous nest. The expedition kind of went south when the men couldn’t come together on how to present their findings. Would it be in the form of a book? Would their observations be presented to other bird watchers? Not being able to reach a decision, they all went their own ways. Paul started with several sketches. The fun was had in the time together and the bond that these men made with each other and nature. The stories have been left untold, but I have a visual reminder of the event in this magnificent painting.

A house is just a dwelling place, a place to sleep and eat,

A set of rooms to roam about, to gather and to greet,

Each filled with lath and plaster, with paint and other things,

It soon becomes inhabited and that’s when life begins,

The walls could tell us stories of who these people were,

By things they said, the hugs and joys and words that would occur,

Of broken hearts, of emptiness, of loss and loneliness,

Of joyfulness and goals achieved, of peace and happiness,

It’s  just a simple shelter made of brick or wood or stone,

But when a family lives there, it soon becomes a home.

Families come in all sizes and shapes. They become a working unit that can conquer many things through teamwork, memories, teaching the basics of God’s Word, sharing their faith with others, learning to love, share and encourage each other. In a world that has lost track of God and is searching for a solid foundation, the answer lies in the family unit and the collaboration of those that are part of it. We need God back in our families. That’s where His greatest work is done. He teaches us so much about life, love, faith, joy, peace & contentment. He loves us more than any human possibly can. As a new week begins, start to think about the power of God and His ability to make good even from chaos. He can do that through us.

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us to be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that they did not know Him.” 1 John 3:1 ESV