26

I, like the other 20 billion people on this planet have been shattered by the events that transpired last Friday, Dec. 15th in Newtown, Ct.  There are NO words to describe what has happened and NO words to explain to the parents of these children (and adults) that were murdered. We can only accept that this terrible grief and sorrow is to be placed on the altar of God and that He will show them mercy and consolation.  We have experienced tragedies such as this before, (Virginia Tech, the Sikh Tempe in  Wisconsin, Columbine) and most assuredly we will experience them again until our legislators, Mental Health officials, and the general population come to a common and hopefully expeditious discussion on this horrific circumstances that continue to take our people.  There could be a ray of sunshine that comes of this in that because of the innocence and age of these latest victims, people will finally be so outraged at the moral depravity of our society that something will finally be done.  As a teacher assistant in above all, a kindergarten room, all weekend as I watched the events unfold, I could only imagine the children in my room being mercilessly and methodically murdered, lying on the school hall floors in a pool of blood.  It has taken an emotional toll on me.  So many lives so ridiculously taken away.  I hope the rest of the world will unite with me in prayer for this never, ever to happen again.  I offer the words to my favorite Christmas song and a photo of a young infant with her whole life ahead of her and the gentle touch of her Mom so preciously in love of her.

May God Bless the people of Newtown, Ct.

"Grown Up Christmas List"

Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies
Well I'm all grown up now
Can you still help somehow?
I'm not a child but my heart still can dream

So here's my lifeful wish
My grown up Christmas List
Not for myself
But for a world in need

No more lives torn apart
That wars will never start
And time will heal our hearts
Every man will have a friend
That right will always win
And love will never end
This is my grown up Christmas List

May kindness rules our lives
Not just the strong survive
Sweet tears for all the thousand years on mind
This is the world I pray
We will all share some way
Help me begin by reaching out my hand

No more lives torn apart
That wars will never start
And time will heal our hearts
Every man will have a friend
That right will always win
And love will never end
This is my grown up Christmas List

Why does this illusion call the innocence of you?
Maybe when the time believe we can find the truth
No...

No more lives torn apart
That wars will never start
And time will heal our hearts
Every man will have a friend
That right will always win
And love will never end
This is my grown up Christmas List

This is the prayer that I will keep
This is my grown up Christmas list
Christmas list

Define Love

"The beginning of love is the will to let those we love be perfectly themselves, the resolution not to twist them to fit our own image. If in loving them we do not love what they are, but only their potential likeness to ourselves, then we do not love them: we only love the reflection of ourselves we find in them”  

Thomas Merton

Set Your Priorities

"To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything is itself to succumb to the violence of our times". ~Thomas Merton

A Work of Art

What would it be like if you lived each day, each breath, as a work of art in progress? Imagine that you are a Masterpiece unfolding, every second of every day, a work of art taking form with every breath. ~Thomas Crum

This is my most favorite place on earth to visit.  Now, I say that with certain qualifications as I've not traveled out of our country.  Well, I've been to Canada so that registers as "out of our country"but I've not been to Europe, Asia, or the like.  But for now, until a trip such as one of those occurs, this will have to suffice.  In case you're not recognizing the scene, it's the Grand Tetons in Wyoming.  And, maybe I may again have to qualify my statement.  IF I were to venture to New Zealand, or the Serengeti, or the Matterhorn, the Grand Tetons may very well still be my most favorite place.  One can just look at the majestic beauty of those snow capped peaks, or the jagged foundation of them, the hues that crisscross the skies, and see what I see here.  I think it's the face of God and the inherent peace that abounds.  It's the resilient aura of life that magnifies my belief in not just love of nature, but my never dying respect for the creation that has hold on us all. 

"People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering". ~St. Augustine

I like this quote by Augustine, who in his day was one of the most prolific philosophers and teachers of his time.  And if we look inherently at what he is saying, aren't we all somewhat guilty of failing to recognize and acknowledge the beauty we all possess?  Who isn't awestruck by the the aforementioned natural creations?  Most of us have stood at the beach, danced away from the crashing of a wave as it rushed at our feet.  Or, have been fortunate to cross a mountain pass in a car, or better yet, walked up a pass and witnessed the beauty of it.  But, how often do we fail to look within to know the wonder of our very being?  It is truly a God given quality that escapes us.  Look within, see your beauty.

Your Heart

        Sorrow is how we learn to love. Your heart isn't breaking. It hurts because it's getting larger. The larger it gets, the more love it holds.

Rita Mae Brown

The End of the Tunnel

The Light isn't at the end of the tunnel, it's wherever you are!

                  

In Memoriam

He was getting
old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For old Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

He won t be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Someone who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier--
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end?
He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

Visualizations

"To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour".   

William Blake  

  

The Realist

Again,the times has slipped by and my thoughts and putting them down on paper have once again eluded me.  I've gotten inspiration from a most unusual and unexpected source.  I'm going to try this again, start slow, and allow the creative juices to flow.  My camera certainly hasn't waned in this respite as I've been to several "old" haunts within the last several months.  

I'm offering a quote here:

"THE PESSIMIST COMPLAINS ABOUT THE WIND, THE OPTIMIST EXPECTS IT TO CHANGE, AND THE REALIST ADJUSTS THE SAILS".  

In scheme of life where do you see yourself?