For Yaedi

For Yaedi

Looking out the window at the trees

and counting the leaves,

listening to a voice within

that tells me nothing is perfect

so why bother to try, I am thief

of my own time.

When I die

I want it to be said that I wasted

hours in feeling absolutely useless

and enjoyed it, sensing my life

more strongly than when I worked at it.

Now I know myself from a stone

or a sledgehammer.

~ David Ignatow ~
(New and Collected Poems, 1970-1985)

Sometimes

Picture taken in Illinois on our family farm; right out the back door! Winter 2005

Sometimes things don't go, after all,

from bad to worse. Some years, muscadel

faces down frost; green thrives; the crops don't fail,

sometimes a man aims high, and all goes well.

A people sometimes step back from war;

elect an honest man; decide they care enough,

that they can't leave some stranger poor.

Some men become what they were born for.

Sometimes our best efforts do not go

amiss; sometimes we do as we meant to.

The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow

that seemed hard frozen: may it happen to you

~ Sheenagh Pugh ~

SOMETIMES

Sometimes
if you move carefully
through the forest

breathing
like the ones
in the old stories

who could cross
a shimmering bed of dry leaves
without a sound,

you come
to a place
whose only task

is to trouble you
with tiny
but frightening requests

conceived out of nowhere
but in this place
beginning to lead everywhere.

Requests to stop what
you are doing right now,
and

to stop what you
are becoming
while you do it,

questions
that can make
or unmake
a life,

questions
that have patiently
waited for you,

questions
that have no right
to go away.

~ David Whyte ~

(Everything is Waiting for You)

Following is a little story I wrote to share with the children in my family and life for Three King's Day. I hope you enjoy it and that you have a blessed Dia de los Reyes!

THREE KINGS DAY!

One Christmas when I was just a little girl, we lived in a place far, far away from my country home across the ocean on an island named Puerto Rico in a town named Ponce.

This is a story of how I came to learn about the true meaning of the Christmas season.

In Puerto Rico, we lived next door to some great people named Milka and Etienne. They had a little girl who was two years old named Milkita. Her grandma, who everyone called Mama, also lived with them. Mama was a very special lady who only had one leg and was in a wheelchair. Milkita and I used to crawl up in bed beside her and she would tell us wonderful stories.

One Christmas night, Mama told me a very special story. We were outside, Mama in her wheelchair and me standing beside her. She told me the story of the Christmas star. We watched for the star to appear and when it finally did, she pointed it out to me. Have you ever seen the Christmas star? It is the brightest star in the sky on Christmas night. When Jesus was born, it was so very bright that the three kings followed it and the star led them to the baby Jesus.

While Mama and I were gazing up at the star, she gently took my hand. She had a present for me! When I opened the little box, it was a necklace with a medallion of the Virgin Mother with baby Jesus. How did Mama know this was exactly what I wanted for Christmas? It remains a mystery, but I still have this very special treasure.

That same evening, there was a large procession of people in the street. It was like a parade but there was only one float….it was a float with a large cross on it.
All of the people following the cross were carrying lit candles, singing, and praising the Lord. I was given a candle and walked with all of our neighbors and the crowd of worshipers to praise the Holy Son.

The people who lived on the island celebrated Christmas, but their true celebration happened after Christmas on January 6th. This is the day that is known as El Dia de los Reyes or Three Kings Day. It is the day when the Kings named Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar arrived in Bethlehem to find the Messiah and bring him gifts of myrrh, frankincense and gold. Three Kings Day is the day everyone exchanged gifts, not on December 25th. This day is also known as the Epiphany or the celebration of the nativity.

I hope this story helps you to remember the true reason behind this season of joy and gifts and laughter. Remember the Baby Jesus and how the three kings traveled very far with only the Christmas star to guide them and bring our Lord gifts and praise his holy name!

For Presence

For Presence

Awaken to the mystery of being here and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence.

Have joy and peace in the temple of your senses.

Receive encouragement when new frontiers beckon.

Respond to the call of your gift and the courage to follow its path.

Let the flame of anger free you of all falsity.

May warmth of heart keep your presence aflame.

May anxiety never linger about you.

May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of soul.

Take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention.

Be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul.

May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.

~ John O'Donohue ~

(To Bless the Space Between Us)

Red Bird by Mary Oliver

Red bird came all winter
firing up the landscape
as nothing else could.

Of course I love the sparrows,
those dun-colored darlings,
so hungry and so many.

I am a God-fearing feeder of birds.
I know He has many children,
not all of them bold in spirit.

Still, for whatever reason--
perhaps because the winter is so long
and the sky so black-blue,

or perhaps because the heart narrows
as often as it opens--
I am grateful

that red bird comes all winter
firing up the landscape
as nothing else can do.

*Photos are courtesy of friends on Flickr! So many were making comments on these pictures that I didn't want to take credit for them; only can take credit in 'finding' them to post!

Christmas!

Ok, I finally am getting in the mood for Christmas! I went shopping on my lunch hour at Marshall's. There was so much really neat stuff! Not sure if any of my family check this blog, so I don't want to give anything away, except to say that I bought totally useless but really pretty things! :)

It seems like once I am happy with a purchase, I get more in the mood for Christmas and excited to find more 'perfect' gifts! Is anyone else like that? I'm still having trouble deciding what to get our granddaughter who will be 3 on Dec. 19th. She's a bit too little for Barbie dolls. Her mom got her a baby doll, coat, boots, a v-tech...same things I would've gotten her! I have gotten her some clothes, but really want to find her the perfect toy and at this point don't have a clue! Does anyone out there have a 3 year old they are buying for this year? If so, I would love some ideas.

I know it is not all about the presents and the 'reason for the season' must remain in the forefront of my mind; but let's face it, it's just a blast to buy presents for people. It is for me anyway! So ho-ho-ho; time to do some wrapping!

Remembrance

In one of the stars,
I shall be living.
In one of them,
I shall be laughing.
And so it will be
as if all the stars
were laughing
when you look
at the sky at night.
~ The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery

In memory of all those who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor.

Just Looking For Some Peace

Live your life so the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their views, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and of service to your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide. Always give a word or sign of salute when meeting or passing a stranger if in a lonely place. Show respect to all people, but grovel to none. When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies in yourself. Touch not the poisonous firewater that makes wise ones turn to fools and robs them of their visions. When your time comes to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home.
-Tecumseh (March 1768 - October 5, 1813)
a famous Native American Leader of the Shawnee

Native American Wisdom

A Native American grandfather was talking to his grandson about how he felt. He said, "I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is the vengeful, angry, violent one. The other wolf is the loving, compassionate one. " The grandson asked him, "Which wolf will win the fight in your heart?" The grandfather answered: "The one I feed."

~ Native American Story ~