Lynda’s Journal of Blessings – # 787 – Darkness
Welcome!
On this journey of sharing BLESSINGS
Some friends accompany me. You can visit them, too.
Jackie at Jackie McBride
Abbie at Abbie Johnson Taylor
And I am Lynda Lambert
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©Lynda’s Journal of Blessings – #
>> Darkness <<
©Walking by Inner Vision, since December 2009.
__My Thoughts
Check out last week’s BLESSING #786 – World – Here!
Good Day, to my Friends who are Walking by Inner Vision this week.
November days are remarkable in the foothills of Western Pennsylvania.
This is the time of year that provides the themes of colorful landscapes and unexpected blessings that a poet loves. I begin today by gifting you with my poem, recently published in
Coming Home, Award Winning Poems, published by Oprelle Press, 2026.
Coming Home, anthology of poems by Oprelle Press, 2026.
Coming Home: Award Winning Poems
Published by Oprelle Press, 2026.
I am delighted to say that 2 of my poems that were written many years apart, share the pages of this new anthology by Oprelle Press. The two poems are snapshots of moments from my childhood. I will share the poem, Nightfall, with you in this article. Next week, I’ll share the other winning poem “A Summer Day.”
First, a back story that inspired my poem, Nightfall.
The poem is a remembrance of typical winter nights in western Pennsylvania.
My mother loaded all four of her children into the back seat of our Buick. We left in the darkness and drove to the mill-gate of the U. S. Steel Mill to wait for my father to be released through the gate when his shift was over at 11 PM Come with me as you read the poem. I am in the back seat, with my little sister, Patti, and our two brothers, David and Tom. Mom’s name is Ester, and my father is Bill McKinney.
___ Below is the poem!
Nightfall
I watch from the snow-blotched ridge.
Brilliant, wintry lights
reflect on the surface of water
scurrying downstream.
twisting around the bend in the creek
I am thinking of the highly polished
stainless steel my father made
in the munificent black steel mill.
Every night my mother puts us in the back seat
of the green Buick.
in our pajamas the four of us
slump in the back seat.
She drives down the tube-mill stretch
and turns to the left beneath the
wrought-iron arch at the mill gate.
She turns off the headlights.
The eleven pm whistle blows.
We wait in darkness
watch for our father’s pale face
the glimmer of his metal lunchpail.
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(Note: Nightfall_Date of writing, 12/19/2023)
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©Lynda Lambert, 2026.
__Scripture
Read Psalm 2_
- In The Old Testament text: Psalm 2 does not name the author.
- It is a Hebrew text.
- In the New Testament: (Acts 4:25–26) this psalm is attributed directly to King David, and affirms that he wrote it by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
BONUS: All about the STARS: Here.
__Daily Action Plan
1_Go back and reas Psalm 1 again, before you read Psalm 2 in the Christian Bible this week.
2_If you read Psalm 1 from last week’s article, then think about the possibility of Psalm 2 being connected to Psalm 1. Look for evidence that it may be a continuation .
3_ Take some time this week to read Psalm 2 several times. It is a good chapter to read as a morning prayer, or an afternoon respite, or even an evening prayer before you go to sleep for the night.
4_Is there anything that you have read in this week’s Psalm assignment that has brought something new to your reading experience. Let me know how Psalm 2 provided something special in your day.
Compare the opening verse in Psalm 1, with the final verse in Psalm 2.
What do you see when you read them both together?
Keep the JOY of the LORD in your heart this week. Do not allow any circumstances or fears to enter your heart. Live in the Joy of knowing that our God is in control of the entire world, and even in control of our little place in it. Tell Him, “Thanks!”
©Lynda’s Journal of Blessings, 2026._
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FYI
__A Final Note:
Lynda in green shawl.
This hand knit shawl was a gift from a friend. I cherish it.
Oh, Yes! I am the author of:
Star Signs: New and Selected Poems.
I received a an extraordinary book review from a reader.
It is always a wonderful surprise when a very thoughtful person reads one of my books, and then sends me a review that warms my heart and gives me credit for creating a book he found to be so inspiring. I deeply appreciate such a professional and thoughtful gift.
Stellar reviews of our books are always a blessing.
What inspired me to begin writing blog posts
about BLESSINGS?
Your comments and prayers inspire the best in me.
Thank you for sharing my Sunday Blessings!
©Lynda’s Journal of Blessings, 2026.
FYI: My Background:
Professor Lynda McKinney Lambert taught fine art and humanities at Geneva College in Western Pennsylvania, She was a tenured professor, an actively exhibiting artist, and a published author.
Lynda’s exciting courses in Studio Art, English Literature and Humanities were taught on campus during the spring and fall semesters. Her summer courses were taught in Salzburg, Austria for a month of travel and studies. Students traveled with her to Italy, France, England, Germany, and Czech Republic.
Lynda says,
My passions in academia are poetry and fine art. I author books and I create fine art in several mediums – Painting and Fiber Art.
I Found INSPIRATION in Unexpected changes:
I discovered a new life after sudden sight loss in the fall of 2007.
. For the next two years, I learned to see the world and my place in it in an entirely new way. I completed training for Personal Adjustment to Blindness, It took two years of training and lots of challenging work to learn to read and write using adaptive technologies for the blind. Ad the months went by, God was showing me that my creative life would continue,, but in some new ways.
I began to write Divinely inspired life lessons
New experiences and God-directed Opportunities
New DISCOVERIES to share with the world
A NEW SEASON on the Narrow Path with Jesus.
At this time, I have six published books!
I am working on my 7th book currently and it will be an anthology of poetry that will be a collection of my poems from 1985 to the present. The book will be titled:
©Gatekeeper: Poems, Lynda McKinney Lambert, 2026.
365 Days – My ONE WORD for 2026 is DAYS.
We have 365 DAYS each year. Make the MOST of each one.
Lynda’s Latest Books are now available on Amazon and all retail booksellers.
Interview with Lynda Listen Here!
What’s NEW?
My NEWEST BOOK…Now on SALE at AMAZON
NEW___Each Day Holds Some Small Joy: Little Poems from my gardens.
Photo: Courtesy of AllAuthor
Each Day Holds Some Small Joy – Collection of Haiku and Tanka nature poems.
You May Also Like:
Photo: Courtesy of AllAuthor.
“Songs for the Pilgrimage” by Lynda McKinney Lambert
Songs for the Pilgrimage…A Collection of Poems and short writings from journals and travels
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“I have 6 published books.”
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©Lynda McKinney Lambert, 2025. All rights reserved.
Photo: Courtesy of Allauthor. Thank you!
Books illustrated were created by DLD Books.
Lynda has 6 published books.
Memoir, Poetry, Non-fiction.
More About Lynda
©Lynda’s Journal of Blessings, 2026.