Secret Treasure
January 17, 2015
*
The exciting truth
It’s a treasure to be found
If you will but ask
With a heart longing to know
With your soul and mind engaged
*
We do not know what to ask
Until we get real quiet
That’s when I asked the question
What matters the most
*
When I look around
Watch the multitude looking
Bringing their passion
It is all about the “doing”
What is it I want “to do”
*
I am blinded by the doing
Confronted by the results
I discovered this secret
“Who am I” is first
*
Establish identity
Who are you; why are you here
Answer these questions
Look In the spiritual realm
Consider the unseen first
*
I’ll live from the inside out
I don’t have to prove my worth
A human being will do
When they know they count
*
Death is not bigger
Circumstances can’t destroy
Forgiveness will rule
Love overflows for yourself
And power to love others
*
I know this is true
“Who I am” I hold sacred
A friendship with God
It’s a secret gift of love
It took my best mind to see
*
I am Beloved.
*
You know, after fifty-four years of seeking, please consider, “YOU ARE BELOVED.” I write these haiku’s each morning reflecting on the past and looking to the future. Looking both directions I find joy today. I believe with honest reflection; seeking a knowledge of what is true; being willing to go outside the box of religion; overcome the arrogance of human pride that a person can find their way to real life and meaning. The Hebrew Scriptures particularly Psalms and Proverbs have mothered and fathered me. The real story of Jesus in the Gospels awakened me to a compassionate and gentle love. I make sure I have time to think each day and refuse to be driven by the “ought to” self doing and just take time “to be.” The treasured secret is this: God’s love is seeking you! I could be right!
Early Morning Times
January 4, 2015
*
My best questions come
In the early morning times
In quiet moments
I’m confronted with my life
My fears and anxieties
*
I’m frightened sometimes by dreams
By realities of life
For others and for myself
My questions are hard
*
What do I believe
I struggle with unbelief
About the world and the pain
How do I view me
And the big question is God
And the meaning of friendship
*
I take the time to be still
To listen and contemplate
The puzzle of this journey
That involves my life
*
In my early life
I learned to detach myself
To not feel the pain
My imagination flew
To a place where I felt safe
*
I could settle down
With memories that were good
Of people who cared
Grandmothers and the neighbors
There was a secret comfort
*
I found in the solitude
A forced abandonment pain
A feeling of helplessness
With no person there
*
Solitary confinement
On the raft of shifting seas
With sharks all around
I was searching for answers
To understand and survive
*
It was in this search
To find out who I can trust
I found a focus
Big enough to contain me
Give me perspective on my life
*
No easy answers
But confidence I could find
The hidden love presented
By One I could trust
Who never failed to give love
To broken and lost children
*
I am one of His
If I ask the question,”Why?”
I must ask then “Why not me?”
We all have a cross
His mysterious presence came
“Don’t be afraid, I’m with you”
*
Reflections after reading Psalm 4, 34 and 64. Proverbs 4:7. I had no mother or father to guide my thinking or big enough to listen to the pain. I had no words to communicate. There was only silence and a simple prayer taught me. “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take.” There was a song I learned that I sang, “Jesus Loves Me” this I know. I chose as a child to hold onto this mysterious unseen love and to trust this unseen God. I grew up and learned his story and discovered there was One who was with me when I was unaware and the angels were attending. His love was there and looking back I can see. He brought me through it all with His angels attending. He will bring you through. In the midst of my unbelief I cry out confessing it and pray “Help my unbelief!
Light
December 27, 2014
*
To say I’ll walk in the light
Brings me joy and great sorrow
Because I can remember
And I am aware
*
When I walked in the darkness
I was blind and did damage
To myself and other ones
This is the problem
*
I lost some good friends
Who gave to me from the heart
I took and did not return
Give back the love gift
I know I’m hard on myself
That is still all about me
*
Growing up is hard
When one misses the stages
Others will suffer
Maturing comes through the pain
The trials and the hardships
*
What is good in me is this
I was looking for the light
Darkness is what held me captive
My tears called his love
*
Confusion and the chaos
Growing up was the challenge
Navigating the losses
Is what each must do
No one escapes the darkness
No one can hide from the light
*
Moments of silence
In the abandonment years
Came my life questions
Suicides, alcohol, grief
Love entered in little ways
*
Pinholes of light came
Little kindnesses given
A smile and a gentle word
Of affirmation
Were the surprising moments
Were embraced with great delight
*
Light brings the delight
Forgiveness breaks through with joy
For myself and the others
This love was revealed to me
Through the life of Jesus Christ
*
He led with real compassion
His gentleness drew me in
Religion orchestrated
Making sure he died
*
He died a horrible death
I cannot even fathom
The magnitude of this loss
Love it represents
*
He is my pinhole of light
My failure as a human
Is connected to his death
And resurrection
*
I have peace today
Forgiving myself right now
Forgiving others
Accepting the light of his love
And giving it to others
*
I’ll make no demands on you
We can be a reflection
But not the reality
God is near to love
*
These secret truths are revealed all along the way in the process of growing up and deciding to never give up! There is so much to learn on the journey and I hope to never stop learning. One thing I am determined to do is never stop moving toward the light even in the darkest hour. The movie “Unbroken” is a good example of light coming in the darkness and the power of never giving up. Love never fails. It must start with me and not the other person. Forgiveness opens the window of the human heart to the light of inexpressible joy!
*
“Delta Blues From Darkness to LIght” can be reviewed on Amazon and is $0.99 cents on Kindle. It is my story of the painful but hopeful process of continuing to discover light.
^
Why Christmas?
December 23, 2014
*
I will meet with you alone
There is no greater moment
Than being in your presence
The secret treasure
*
You delivered me
From the bonds of slavery
A prison inside
*
My heart demands perfection
I can never measure up
To be able to please all
It’s impossible
*
So I stand guilty
Behind the bars of performing
Looking for affirmation
So someone will see
I am a person of worth
My grief and losses scream out
*
I have hidden faults
Secret ones that condemn me
I can’t measure up
Beliefs about me are a lie
I keep looking for relief
*
I found in silence
Behind the condemnation
The noise of judgment stopped cold
When I looked in eyes
Of the Creator of life
Who showed me that He loved me
*
Stillness is so hard
Because my own heart condemns me
I need to be held
Comforted like a small child
Held in the arms of my friend
*
I found this unseen love
In stillness God came to me
I focused on His dear son’s
Compassionate love
*
He knows each of us
With understanding He comes
He has chosen you
Knows your name and your pain
Says, “Your are my Beloved”
*
I could be right about this
“You are Special and Beloved”
I’m not talking religion
But relationship
*
Friendship that’s deep and lasting
A friend who will never leave
A joy that’s unspeakable
Love that cherishes
*
This secret treasure
Is for all those who seek truth
Who decide to fight
Begin by caring for self
Take responsibility
*
I have found the light
My soul searched with compassion
And the message, “I love you”
Comes with knowledge
Understanding the story
That God became a human
*
I sing “Silent Night”
The reason for the Season
In stillness He comes
*
Early morning reflections from Psalm 19
Bill Frey – A Gift
March 4, 2012
A friend is a gift
He was always glad to see me
No expectations
No plans for my improvement
Rejoicing in our friendship
With light in his eyes
Giving joy and acceptance
Generous and kind
Special history
So many loved him dearly
A giver not a taker
A wise man who knows
What matters most in this life
The value of a person
I watched him live it
First Bunny, his beloved
Melissa, his child
His friends he made feel special
Those who worked with him honored
Compassionate and faithful
A true man who sought the best
Loved to laugh and take pleasure
All in his presence
I have some regrets
I did not avail myself
Of more moments of his friendship
But one thing I know
We both shared a deep bonding
That is eternal and real
One promise he knew
Death would not be the winner
Love was much greater
Defined by the Christ who died
Who rose victoriously
He was not afraid
Bunny was there to comfort
Missy held him close
A sacred moment for them
As in peace he breathed his last
This tender moment for them
Will always be in my mind
Bunny on his chest whispered
“I love you and it’s O.K.
You can let go and go home”
February twenty ninth
His dad, Carl, died on that day
He knew that this was the day
He was not afraid
We all hated this process
The angels were all around
Bill was covered with God’s love
Surrounded by his dear friends
Held close by his beloved
Angels attending
Terry S. Smith
March 1, 2012
The Psalms I was meditating on as I wrote these thoughts were: Psalm 4; 34; 91; 103; 119:50 and John 11.
~
celebrating 44 years of marriage
August 18, 2009
~
~
Charlotte and Terry
I remember when I saw her
Briskly walking approaching
With an energy and joy
Her greeting was electric
My soul leapt surprised by joy
I wanted to know her name
They called her “Charlotte”
It was a rainy evening
I was walking behind her
I gave up my umbrella
I asked her for cover
She was kind and receiving
I bought her an ice cream cone
Then walked her back to the dorm
Graciously said “Bye”
The thing that impressed me most
She was kind to everyone
I was looking for someone
Who reflected love
I wanted to be her friend
Friendship does not make demands
Nor does it try to possess
It gives with no strings attached
We would laugh a lot
Our hearts felt lighter and free
We both had the same focus
A love larger than us
written October 18, 2008
for my beautiful wife
tender care
August 11, 2009
~
I have received tender care
Looking back I see people
Little things that meant a lot
Ina Reed was her name
The game was “tiddlywinks”
There was focused attention
Love at five years old
My mother left her children
Four of us she forgot
Secret friends came to help
I know not their names
Friends were the surprise
When I decided to seek
Their kindness drew me
No one told me how to live
They showed me with their life
Seeing is better than words
I wanted to know
written August 29, 2008
~
find rest
July 10, 2009
I am free to be myself
In the presence of a friend
There is no need to perform
It’s there I find rest
I’ve been trained to think
To watch closely for my friends
Who show up on time
Intimate friendship
Is where I have discovered
How to listen well
I had to face the darkness
Of my own self-centered life
See the darkness of others
Before I could see
There are very painful truths
Places we seek to avoid
They’re plenty of distractions
That will block the light
When I’m with a friend
Who knows the truth about me
I find I can rest
That’s what God is like to me
It is based on truthful facts
A friendship over the years
That’s bigger than death
written July 10, 2009
Your Story Matters 