laughter
May 28, 2009
~
When I awake, I listen
In the spirit of the now
Each day brings new surprises
Be still, watch closely
~
Seize the moment well
Use your mind, heart, soul
And you will laugh more
~
Laughter, a good antidote
Sometimes you can see clearly
When you do not take yourself
Too seriously
Relax and be you
You are unique and special
~
My mouth is filled with laughter
My tongue with songs of great joy
The God I know is good
I awake seeking
~
written May 27, 2009
~
refreshes you
May 27, 2009
~
A friend hears your soul
Your grief and deepest longings
It refreshes you
~
These are the friends that I need
They always greet you with joy
They remind you of their love
They know my dark side
~~
There is a strange paradox
One that I cannot explain
It’s a mystery of love
Modeled in a friend
~
Words are a doorway
To the mystery of soul
When spoken in their context
Understanding comes
Knowledge will become a bridge
I will take time to listen
~
A bridge over confusion
Higher than criticism
It’s big enough to carry
Providing safety
~
Rest is what I need
I’ve been searching for that place
Now I have found it
~
I can pass it on
To others when I listen
Not quick to give my answers
Understand their words
Silent but fully present
Giving them honor and love
~
I will wait for them to ask
If they want to hear a way
That I found through listening
In silence I hear
~
In silence I am aware
Of the air I am breathing
I then become so thankful
When I take a breath
~
I begin with thanksgiving
For the simple things of life
My eyes, my ears, my feelings
Wake me up to life
~
My mind then asks questions
That come to me at the time
Then I follow those questions
Process them with friends
~
There is one question
It is one I have pondered
What to do with death
~
When you are ready to look
Search with all your senses
Give yourself plenty of time
Truth will set you free
~
There are different
Kinds of death to examine
One is physical
Another is relational
Relationships are hardest
~
It’s easy to die
It is much harder to live
I will be in discussion
On how to live well
In relationship with friends
And also my enemy
~~~
I am not afraid
I have learned that I can think
And process this life journey
Others have done it
So there’s no reason I can’t~
~
I will not die, I will live
And share the things I have learned
To those who want to listen
I will wait in peace
~
The doorway to rest
I have learned to be thankful
For the little things
~
One little thing that I heard
Was said to me by a friend
His words I’ll never forget
“Do not be afraid”
~~~
Friends were gifts in my despair
In the darkness of my soul
They came loving me gently
Giving me real hope
~
written May 24, 2009
~
remember
May 26, 2009
written on Memorial Day
~~
I want the humor
Of Bill Wooten to help me
Discover the light
~
I watched Bill Wooten face death
With courage and dignity
I stood there powerlessly
In a sacred space
~
Do not be afraid
There is a hope to be known
Looking you will find
***************************~
Today I will remember
Those who have fallen so young
Because of the bad decisions
Of Adolf Hitler
~
Normandy and Omaha
On those beaches lay the dead
Of young men who were heroes
Who died for freedom
~
Each person has a story
That is known by very few
Each would say “ordinary”
If they only knew
~
Each life is special
The one thing I have learned
Help me see each one
~
Words are important
They can bring life or bring death
Spoken from the heart
~
It helps me to write
The things that are on my mind
My grandchildren will read them
Maybe get a glimpse
Of how much I love them
Of ways that will set them free
~
When I was young I sought peace
Now I am much older
Some say I am elderly
I don’t think I am
~
Inside there is a little boy
Full of wonder and great joy
Living in discovery
At age sixty-six
~
I grew up in the trouble
But I have found a teaching
That’s been tested in the streets
Triumph is in reach
~
I will have to wait
For those I’d love to ask me
How I found my way
~
In quiet I can listen
Think through the things I can do
And what I can’t do
~
It’s been a good day
I have vacuumed the house rugs
And taken a nap
Been refreshed at Starbucks
Where I am writing this now
~
I owe a great debt
To those who’ve given me words
One’s Landon Saunders
~
Another man I thought of
He was ninety-four years old
I sat listening to him
E.H. Ijams his name
~
I could see light in his eyes
His sense of humor was strong
He spoke to me words of wisdom
I’ll never forget
~
Some of my mentors
Battle worn and full of joy
Heroes in my world
….
May 25, 2009
…
To hear a story from Bill Wooten, click here
scroll down until you see “Bill Wooten’s Story”
(underneath “Special announcements and Presentations”)
…
healing
May 25, 2009
…
What do you do when
Trust is broken among us
I have found a way
…
Healing of a good friendship
Will take time and your best thought
We are all in a hurry
Slow down and be wise
.
The breaking of promises
The breaking of promises
Is one of the first killers
It is like breaking a leg
You no longer run
.
How do you choose your close friends
How do you choose your close friends
That has been my big question
I know who the first friend is
I will befriend me
~
I found a criteria
That works for me over time
My greatest gift is the friends
Who have come to me
~
Yes, I have learned a secret
An experience of life
One I am happy to share
With those listening
~
My first friend is me
This is hardest of all
For I have failed me
~
Yes, forgiving me
Then forgiving the others
Which of these comes first
~
You decide which one is first
But I must begin with me
The other has broken trust
I have no control
~
I concentrate on healing
I concentrate on healing
Relief is not the answer
I seek good counsel
~~
Anger can blind you
Of appropriate options
Your fears will paralyze you
Hide the healing touch
Please consider being still
And find a very safe place (And find the wisdom of love)
~
There’s nothing wrong with anger
It represents the deep hurt
Get it out in a safe place
Then look at options
~
Although the path is simple
A profound truth you must see
You must understand one thing
Your personal worth
~
So search out your friends
Be honest and transparent
Forgive yourself and others
I begin with that
Accept that you are human
And those around your are, too
~
My mother failed me
She was nineteen when I came
I had an older brother
Father, twenty-one
Listen to your story well
You will find important clues
~
My sister was born
Before mom was twenty-one
Mom’s life was broken
~
Everyone has a story
There are secrets in each one
Some are good and some are bad
I found the good ones
~
The bad ones are real
Secrets that need to be told
It gave me understanding
Seen without judgment
I will lead with compassion
For myself and the others
~
To make space everyday
To be aware of my world
To be kind and respectful
And choose what makes sense
~
I found friends who live in joy
Yes, they have been hard to find
When I decided to search
I found friends looking
~
My teachers are good
I have chosen them with care
They lead with their life
I have asked them my questions
And they have given respect
~
Life is a process
A tree starts as an acorn
Planted in good soil
Watered well and good sunshine
Then a mighty oak is grown
~
The same is true for persons
With plenty of time and love
A heart searching for the truth
Honesty guiding (With authentic talk)
~
The best person in my life
The best person in my life
I have known for forty-six years
I’ve failed her more than others
Her love is secure
~
She is one of those dear friends
Who’ll never leave or forsake
One I have always trusted
Who has room to fail
~
In early morning light dawns
Help me be gracious and kind
Compassionate and giving
To all that I meet
~
written May 23, 2009
~
Never give up
May 23, 2009
.
There are living lies
They speak for generations
The soul’s deep darkness
.
My grandfather’s decisions
He died before I was born
Were handed to my mother
They impacted her life
.
His choices brought death
He set a path of darkness
Of emptiness guilt and shame
My mother followed
.
Can children break the cycle
The empty way handed them
I discovered the answer
Absolutely “Yes”
.
Determination
To not repeat the same way
Must be decided
.
Then the search begins
Our questions must be honored
And never give up
.
I have learned to live daily
Respecting self and others
Considering the unseen
Life larger than me
.
Processing my life
Searching for what makes good sense
Looking for love is in me
Thirsty needing drink
I found that love seeking me
I was surprised by the joy
.
I’m talking forty-four years
Forty years of marriage
Four daughters nine grandchildren
Life larger than pain
.
Injustice must be dealt with
Lies must be exposed to light
Pride and lust be confronted
Greed under control
.
Some are cynical
Blame is the name of the game
There’s another way to go
I know it found me
Through a passion for living
And loving friends to join me
.
I have betrayed others
I have also been betrayed
This is true of all of us
I’ll lay down the stone
.
My heart judges me
I don’t need you to do that
I need forgiveness
.
Determined
May 22, 2009
.
I determined I would find
A different way to live
Than the way given to me
A passion for life
.
To be diligent to seek
What is true, noble, and right
To search fresh springs of life
A longing to be fulfilled
.
I’ll never arrive
But it’s a secret journey
Of my inner soul
Where at the center peace calls
And love pursues in silence
.
The noise is so great
The fears have deep roots screaming
With the adrenalin rush
How to calm the storm within
It will take your best thinking
.
Do I fight or run away
I felt panic in my soul
Depression knocked at my door
Who would come and help
.
I have asked for help
Looking around I have found
Resources of love
.
This will take courage
To seek what is good and right
To persevere and control
The dark voices in my soul
To choose life and healing grace
.
There are thoughts in me that lie
It’ll take wisdom to detect
To cut through the false feelings
Expose assumptions
.
wisdom
May 20, 2009
.
To get wisdom is to love
Oneself and others near you
Insight and timing will work
When we learn to hear
.
Understanding is the key
And unlocks the way to love
Good information given
With safety and time
.
Lies must be exposed
It’s the only way to health
Peace is the result
.
Arise and search well
Arise and search well
For understanding of things
And you will find life
.
There are many barriers
Your perceptions are the first
It will bring the resistance
To reality
.
Choose advisors well
Ones who are living freely
Whose life and words speak
Who will provide you safety
.
An invitation to speak
Into my life is given
To those who’ve demonstrated
A love without end
.
I have no expectations
For anyone to fix me
But I do expect to find
What makes sense in life
.
This is what I’ve found
A way to look with great care
At my real issues
.
a heartbeat
May 19, 2009
.
There is a heartbeat
That quietly speaks to me
Of a higher love
..
I have rhythm in my soul
A song to sing in the night
I discovered in darkness
That’s led me to joy
.
My circumstances were bleak
Relationship emptiness
People I love took their life
Where was I to go
.
As a child alone
There were no words to utter
The sounds of my soul
.
As I hear others groaning
I know I cannot save them
Or respond to all I hear
I can say there’s hope
.
I know relationships die
It’s happening all the time
The children are suffering
God help the children
.
If you are wise you will think
You’ll look for information
And not assume you have it
That is arrogant
.
Wisdom is what I’m seeking
Knowledge applied at right times
Looking at all the angles
Of situations
.
each person’s story
May 18, 2009
.
Each person’s story
Is amazing and unique
I’m trained to listen
.
A deep abiding grieving
That is happening in me
When I see the pain
.
The invisible calls me
I have no language to speak
Living in desperation
I found love waiting
..
The isolation
I see people living in
Cut off and alone
Touches my heartfelt longing
For them to be touched by love
…….
..
Welcome to Your Story Matters
May 17, 2009
~
What are your eyes fixed on now?
Awareness of the focus
Will help you make wise choices
Look to the future
We know the past well
It is where we reason from
The past dictates the future
We must think clearly
Or repeat the past again
That truth is hidden from us
There are many quick life turns
And sudden changes around
One of my biggest questions
“What can I count on?”
Your Story Matters 