Friday 14 November 2014

Drop That Rock!


Drop That Rock!
Why are you hanging on to that hard old rock? 
Why not jump into my beautiful canoe!
To be fear-bound is like being stranded on a hard, unforgiving, cold and dismal rock, in the middle of a beautiful sea.  Fish and birds are dipping and diving and singing all around, but you cannot join their voices or play because you are afraid to fall off of the rock.   Your fingers are cracked and bleeding from hanging on so tightly, your eyes are closed shut against the light, and your voice is non-existent - it has been crying out for help for so long that it no longer has any sound. 
So why not loosen your grip, one finger at a time, and let those fingers feel the water - The water is healing and warm, and hope begins to dawn.   There is a beautiful canoe a few feet from the rock - complete with paddles!  Hope grows a little stronger; the wind calms, and a light current pushes the canoe closer and closer - You step into the water and feel its energy surround you; the canoe is at your side - hope wins - as you step in.

In my little meditation, the rock and canoe represent our spirit's struggle to stay locked up or to go, to give up or to flow.
I love the following quote from one of my little 'Friendship' books (a very helpful paddle),   "It is true that there is an ebb and flow, but the sea remains the sea."(Vincent Van Gogh) 'You might have good days and bad but, just like the sea, you will always be you.  And that is wonderful.'

'Be brave, Humphrey!'  It's time to let go of that stress-o-matic clump of woe!  Grab your paddle, whether it's in the form of a good friend, a pen, dancing shoes, guitar, something that represents hope to you, and watch your ripples start to flow - step away from the rock and find your song! 

 

Wednesday 12 November 2014

'Lest We Remember'.....


'Lest We Remember........

Forgive me for this turn of phrase on words that have echoed all around us at this time of year...'Lest We Forget'. 

Those words are living:  They hold all of us to account; They ask that we truly do not forget, but put real effort into  remembering - to cherish the freedoms won for us,  to take responsibility for ensuring that we pay our debt in full with the contribution of our actions to help build on those freedoms.

To those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, we owe our respect and gratitude, just as we owe it to all those who have not forgotten, but have built our lives up and gave of themselves from the time we were born to the present: our parents, grandparents, neighbours and dear friends.  The loss of each one is worthy of remembering, in ways that would make them proud of us and of the part that they played in our lives. 

Two minutes, two roses - As we left the cenotaph ceremony in our community, we were grateful to take something with us:  the two minutes of silence that were enriched with our respect and tears, and the mental image of wreaths that were laid and of  two roses that were placed to honour the most recent heroes in mankind's struggle to protect and preserve the best in our humanity.

Those two moments were a gift from young men and women who gave up their lives for our freedoms; They would never get any more minutes with their families.  Let our promise be to never forget, and in our remembering, to build each other up, giving the very best that is in us, every precious minute of our lives.

Saturday 1 November 2014

Little Building


Little Building


 

When you die, "You can only take with you that which you give away."  This quote from the Catholic saint, St. Lawrence, popped into my head this week and gave me pause to reflect.  It seemed to strike a stronger chord as recent life events have taken loved ones from us, some prematurely, some beautifully fulfilled, and others violently. Giving takes courage; It is not always easy to put our loving intentions out there, and to risk being rejected by another - 'Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood.' - or of being fed on by another.  It is much easier to put money into a donation box and then disappear into anonymity than to challenge our fears and commit to a face to face interaction with a fellow traveller in this life, who has fallen on hard times.

If I only have a little

But, I offer you a little

Of my little, then it’s bigger by one.

If we each take a little

Of the little that we have,

And share it with another who has none,

We would each have a little,

And that little would get bigger

Each time that it helps someone,

And little by little, we would all grow bigger,

Till our little building work is done.

 

The above poem that I wrote is entitled, 'Little Building' - one of a group of poems that will eventually make up my fourth children's book, "How To Patch A Puddle" .

Life is lived in little moments:  What a long, love-filled life this would be If we gave until we had nothing left to give, for the giver always receives something back in return.   I am not talking about material giving - that is certainly valuable, but it is not the best of what we have to offer;  Our most valuable resources are contained within our individual, private treasure chests - chests that hold our smiles, our kind words, our encouragement, the gifts of our precious moments. These are resources that we have in abundance and that have the potential to give us all a return of the true wealth that comes from building understanding and hope. 

 The instruction manual for opening that 'hope chest' reads:

1.  Click on the 'Courage' icon.

2.  Smile!

3.  Encourage others.

Best Before Date:  NOW!

 

You are the only 'you' there will ever be:

May you give as long as you live, and may love be in all of your giving,

May you feel great joy in your living, joy that will grow with each giving;

Don't  dwell on the size of the gift, just one little smile aids forgiving,

And may your bags weigh a great loving ton,

When your 'little building' work is done!