To all my Family and Friends. May you all have a blessed Easter. This Easter is even more significant to me. Bitter sweet in many ways as I continue to ask some profound questions.
“And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.” -Rainer Maria Rilke, poet
No one tells a tree how it should grow;
or how to shade a lonely heart.
It spreads it branches naturally.
It teaches us about eternal love;
and houses the mourning dove,
It lets the sun shine through
brilliantly from the heavens above.
The tree I planted so long ago
has seen me sobbing all alone,
when I confided all my sorrow.
What comforts me a little
is that it will hopefully still be around
for many a tomorrow.
Someone else will look up to it in awe
and wonder who it was that foresaw
the beauty and peace it would bring,
and help a lonely soul to sing,
when blossoms bloom
in the early spring.
These days have been hard for so many of us. Deadly storms, people still stricken with COVID-19 and now we have variants of SARS to deal with; indecisions about school openings, and vaccine shortages are among all of our problems as a nation. We are still under the threat of political strife after the insurrection of January 6th.
I decided to block out many of these things. The visual contamination and pollution is all over the place on social media and cable news channels. Of course, we must keep ourselves duly informed but it is important to take a break from the excess noise and negativity. This is why I use visualization.
“Visualization is usually paired with meditation and mindfulness. What this process would look like is going to a quiet place, closing your eyes and calming your body, and starting to think about things that you want to experience in life. During this process, you want to get as detailed as you possibly can.”
I decided to go back to this practice which I started years ago. I reread my copy of Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain and renewed my objective to become more creative and to manifest a clear vision for what I want for me and my loved ones.
I truly believe that if all of us use these techniques the world would be a calmer, better and more focused on achieving the peace we all desire. When I talk to my friends especially those older and wiser than I, they express their hopes for precisely the same things I do. They all want their children and grandchildren to live in a safe and peaceful world. They all want a healthy environment. They want that their is less violence and that people simply learn to see their sameness and oneness. Perhaps like the song says, “I am a dreamer;” but envisioning a better world is what I hang onto right now. I believe we all want the same things. Therefore, peace can be achievable.
I found this quote that made me think deeply about love and our humanity.
“Take my hand and lead me to salvation.
Take my love, for love is everything, and remember
the truth once was spoken: To love another person is
see the face of God.”
Today is Valentine’s Day. A day we decided to remember what love is all about. As we continue to suffer from a deadly virus, and deal with so much confusion, hatred, bigotry, and in some cases helplessness, we must remember that Love is always an option. It lives inside of you. It was born with you. It is the need we all have in common and connects us. It is what we all need to give in any way we can. Love is the most powerful human emotion and the longest lasting.
Rumi said, “That which God said to the rose, and caused it to laugh in full bloom beauty, He said to my heart, and made it a hundred times more beautiful.” We are so connected. He also said, This is love: To fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. first to let go of life,. Finally, to take a step without feet.” I am posting this song in the hopes that you will be lifted up. God bless you all. Happy Valentine’s Day!
GRATITUDE FOR ALL
PRAYERS ANSWERED, AMEN!
MY ANGELS SING WITH JOY
“Where there is great love there are always miracles.” – Willa Cather
Great love overflows from my heart
with faith in a miracle divine
today I believe I saw a sign
in the middle of a crisp blue sky
A cloud morphed into a heart
and mine started beating wild.
The Lord answered my prayer
with a sweet whisper.
My response to this question is, I know I will try.
What are the lessons we will need to live with?
Have we understood that the power of human love is pure?
Love matters and trumps all emotions.
Love permeates everything.
Love heals old wounds.
Love is more powerful than hate.
Love dissolves everything that is ugly and not pure.
Love aids and helps to the bring order and peace.
All of us possess the power of love within us.
It doesn’t cost anything to give and spread.
This Pandemic caused pandemonium;
but it brought people together
It made us listen to the struggles of others;
it shrunk our egos.
But, some decided to abuse power instead;
as if the brain had escaped from their heads.
Hour by hour,
death was ignored,
and instead money and power was adored.
All of nature spoke and rallied to instruct
But lack of knowledge allowed ignorance to destruct.
It is true, in a world of so much change
there must be gain and loss
but we lacked, we could not find
the leaders we could trust.
Endless deception without rejection from the ones
who had the power to do so.
No practice of the golden rule.
Too many preferred to be absolute fools.
Following untruths and narcissistic desires.
Do not forget we as The People
still have the control
to make things right
and get back in the fight
to revive our democracy
and redeem our soul
as a society
as a nation,
of the free and
where justice
will prevail for all.
Let us live the lesson,
Let love be our guide.
The moment is now;
we all need thoughts of love.
Feel your heart beat in your chest;
my heart beats as well.
Connect to me as you breathe in;
I too am breathing right now.
How truly rich we are,
when we shift our collective fears
to the miracle that is love and peace.
We all need thoughts of love.
All we need to do is make it a priority.
My heart swells with pride!
It dwells in a place unknown.
I rely on faith.
A silent prayer for a loved one that needs healing.
Someone told the story about their grandfather’s love for his wife. She passed first from this deadly virus. He passed a few months later from heartbreak. I was so moved and it prompted me to write this poem as a memorial. God bless their souls and may their memories be a blessing. As of today 216,000 people are dead. More than 25,000 more can potentially die if the deaths continue at the rate of 1000 deaths daily by election day. Please vote!
It sits there waiting for him to come back,
He who loved it best
will never return to it again,
to share his joys
in silence, and sometimes
whisper his long held secrets.
Like how he should have let her win the argument
she was so passionate about.
Like how he ate the tofu but he really hated it.
He gave that rocking chair a special purpose.
It rocked him to sleep when he missed her the most,
and could not bare to sleep in the bed they shared for so many years.
It tolerated his snoring when she could not.
It did not complain when he packed his three grandchildren on to it.
He loved their hugs and kisses so much.
The rocking chair brought him peace.
He loved its attention;
and often was the sole witness
as he smiled
when his dreams were the sweet dreams
that brought her back to him.
More simply known as Rumi, his poetry was mostly written in Persian but popularized in many languages including English. I recently read The Love Poems of Rumi published in the United States in 2015. This collection was translated by world-renowned Iranian-American architect Nader Khalili, who was also an author and humanitarian and teacher.
Before then I had come across some of his poems and quotes which impressed me greatly. The love poems connect expressions of deep emotion to the very soul of the poet. Rumi’s full name is Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī which is a mouth full but I was intrigued why Rumi is most popular. Rumi’s birthday is commemorated on September 30.
Here is one of his poems from the collection:
Come Let’s Speak
Come let’s speak
of our souls
let’s even hide from
our ears and eyes
like a rose garden
always keep a smile
like imagination
talk without a sound
like the spirit
reigning the world
telling the secrets
uttering no word
let’s get away from
all the clever humans
who put words in our mouth
let’s only say what our hearts desire
even our hands and feet
sense every inner move
let’s keep silence
but make our hearts move
the mystery of destiny
know the life of
speck after speck of dust
let’s tell our story
as particle of dust
These two great singers are among my very favorite singers. Listen and read the lyrics. They always bring me peace.
I pray you’ll be our eyes,
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise,
In times when we don’t know
Let this be our prayer,
When we lose our way
Lead us to a place,
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we’ll be safe
La luce che tu dai (the light that you give)
I pray we’ll find your light
Nel cuore resterà (In my heart it will remain)
And hold it in our hearts
A ricordarci che (To remind us that)
When stars go out each night
L’eterna stella sei (You are the eternal star)
Nella mia preghiera (In my prayers)
Let this be our prayer
Quanta fede c’è (How much faith there is)
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe
Sognamo un mondo senza più violenza (We dream of a world with no more violence)
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza (A world of justice and hope)
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino (Everyone lends a hand to their neighbour)
Simbolo di pace e di fraternità (A symbol of peace and fraternity)
La forza che ci dai (The strength you give us)
We ask that life be kind
È il desiderio che (And the desire that)
And watch us from above
Ognuno trovi amor (Everyone will find love)
We hope each soul will find
Intorno e dentro a sè (Around and inside themselves)
Another soul to love
Let this be our prayer
Let this be our prayer
Just like every child
Just like every child
Need to find a place,
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe
E la fede che (And the faith that)
Hai acceso in noi (You have ignited within us)
Sento che ci salverá (I feel that it will save all of us)
Today I learned about two deaths in the family. One, was taken by the virus we are all fearing these day and the other passed in an accident.
She was full of the kind of ganas that few people have for life and living. I do not think I ever saw her without a wide and beautiful contagious smile. She survived cancer twice and those scares gave her the courageous to take on this deadly virus called COVID 19. She fought it as long as she could and passed away all alone. This is the first close up and personal case I have heard of among friends and family members.
I been thinking a lot about the AFTERLIFE and what is is that happens when we leave this dimension. I have been thinking of the family members who have passed on, some for decades now. I think about these things not to be morbid or obsessive but because I suppose numbers matter and as of yesterday 138.000 souls are somewhere on another plane. Some not able to say goodbye to their loved ones.
So I did what I always do I write to alleviate the pain and to help me cope with the reality we are all facing this year. We will all know someone who knew someone with COVID and who lost the fight. It is worse when the person is someone in the family.
The other family member was younger, full of dreams. A former military man returning from a final tour. He had just relocated and was looking forward to a new job. His mother visited him this week to help him get organized and all moved into his new house. He went out to get take out and five minutes later he was killed instantly in a vehicle accident. A drunk driver impacted his motorcycle.
Two people died two days apart. One never imagined what destiny had planned. The other although on a ventilator hoped she would make it. But once again hope and praying just did not seem to be enough.
Here is my poem to help family deal with these horrible events. if you have been coping with a similar situation please share your thoughts. I always love to get your feedback. Please stay safe.
How Many More?
A rhetorical question, maybe.
Sadness stared me right in the face last night.
I could feel the heartache and pain from far away.
Grief and sorrow walked down two different paths;
Each taking a loved one to a place where forever is a stay.
Sorrow never stands alone.
Woe wails loud and clear,
when sadness comes with the loss of someone dear.
Grief pierces our hearts and I wonder if it even cares.
We can only hope that death is not proud of what it does.
How many more?
Only God knows.
In the meantime, let us remember them all
and pray that their memories are blessings.
I salute all those who served our country today. I am grateful for their sacrifice. I hope that as we celebrate today we remember that there are many others who sacrifice daily to keep us safe. God Bless America!
I remember our adventures
when we crossed the river
and slipped on the moss covered rocks
we laughed because one of us would always loose our shoe.
I remember how we loved to go to the Saturday matinee
and watch three movies for fifty cents – our whole allowance.
I was only two years older than you
yet I was your aunt as chance would have it.
But you called me sis.
I remember your love for nature.
I remember how you always picked buttercups and made a small bouquet
and bring it back to surprise your mom.
I remember how happy it made you to play your guitar.
I remember your contagious smile and fabulous chuckle.
I remember the day you decided to join the army;
your mom and I were terrified.
I remember listening to radio that dreadful day;
It was Memorial Day morning.
TAPS was played and then America the Beautiful.
My heart stopped beating for a second as it always did when I feared
something horrible would happen to you.
I tried switching the fear gears in my brain.
Two days later we got the news.
You had passed.
Forty-three years ago I could not believe what had happened
and it is still hard for me to believe it is true.
It was not supposed to happen;
I prayed so much.
Now I pray I never forget your face.
I wonder how it would have been if you were here.
All I know is that somehow I can still hear
your hearty chuckle
and see your beautiful smile.
Rest in Peace my dear Nephew.
You are always remembered
even when it is not Memorial Day!
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