Winter storms have been happening and continue to happen. “When will it stop?” “How much damage will it do before it passes away?”
Political storms have been happening and continue to happen. “When will it stop?” “How much damage will it do before it passes away?”
While I don’t have the answers, I do have hope. Hope that “this too shall pass.” Eventually. Hope that “new life is on its way.”. Eventually.
This morning a glimpse of hope was evident in a pot of earth where, tucked inside were spring bulbs. Nothing appeared above the earth yesterday. This morning, a sign of hope.
How will that sign become reality … meteorologically? … politically? I do not know. This I do know, Hope is around us.
I want to see signs of hope. I want to experience signs of hope. I want to be a sign of hope.
Thank you, Mother Nature. In spite of the reality that the snow has not yet gone and it’s still really cold outdoors, three little bulbs are my sign of hope for today.
We’ve heard the expression “Have a nice day!” We’ve heard it from family, friends, store clerks, strangers. When someone greets me with it, I reply with something like “You, too” with a smile on my face.
But one day, I said those words to my employer and he barked back “Don’t tell me what kind of day to have!”And no, he didn’t have a smile on his face or a joking tone of voice when he said it. He was going to have the kind of day he was going to have, and did not want to be told to “have a nice day.”
Walking along the boardwalk, I noticed a plaque on a bench that read “Have a Plain Day.” While I just ‘know’ there’s a story to the plaque and would love to know it someday, in the meantime, I can’t help but think what response my former boss would say!
All of this brings me back to today. THIS day.
What kind of a day will it be for you? Will you “have a good day”? Will you “have a plain day”? Will you wake up “expecting something wonderful will happen” or will it be something else?
The calligraphed words by artist Trish Taylor, as she describes it, are an “as- is” early morning sketch which she did while awaiting lung transplant surgery. She made her choice about the kind of day she was going to have
Whatever kind of day each of us has on THIS DAY, may there be … a moment of peace … a glimpse of hope … an experience of grace.
“Whatever the future holds … we’ll be each other’s strength.” Those words spoken by a very special man on our wedding day and often repeated to one another throughout the years were true. True then … for the two of us. True now … even though he has died. True … for us all. In this world of uncertainty, we can be … we must be … “each other’s strength.”
Before closing the blinds last night, the wondrous silver beam of light
shone brightly in the sky and brought a reminder of those words and a hope that in spite of troubling news and times, there will be a tomorrow.
When clouds began to form and the moon became hidden; when its light diminished and seemed lost as sometimes happens to us when clouds
of fear, isolation, loneliness, sadness, grief, self-doubt begin to form and cover us and it feels as if our light has gone out; like the moon we are still here, simply covered up, waiting for the time, when the cloud passes, and the light shines through … hope.
The words written and spoken by one man to one woman and back to him,
can be the words written and spoken by us all … to one another.
“Whatever the future holds we’ll be each other’s strength.”
(Hans van der Werff) Rest in peace, my beloved. Rest in peace.
“There’s something about this photo that speaks to me. It speaks to me of life and death … darkness and shadow … light and hope. Hope?
The hope is in the clear sky. The hope is in the bright yellow colour in the flowers in the foreground. The hope is in the healthy green leaves beside the flowers.
At this time, the United States is in crisis. A much-feared (by many) President-Elect will soon deliver his First Address to the Nation. A much-loved by many President has delivered his Final Address.
The first personifies the fear many are feeling. The second named the fear many are feeling and reminded people to “be vigilant, but not be afraid.”
He set forth a plan. Clear, simple, direct. Using the three words he used at the beginning of his Presidency he used the same three words at the ending of his Presidency: “Yes, we can!”
As a sign I read on a wall in Dachau “I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining. I believe in the stars, even when I see them not. I believe in God, even when God is silent” noted … the Presence of Hope is always present.
We just need to be open for it. We just need to look for it. We just need to see it. We just need to believe in it.
At the time I took this photo, I didn’t know why I took it. Tonight, I know. “Be vigilant, but not afraid.” (President Barack Obama, January 10, 2017)
“The Project” (as it’s been known) is a cookbook that began many, many years ago and was eventually published under a different title. Thanks to word of mouth, it made its way around the world, literally, and quickly sold out.
In recent years, requests, more requests, and more requests for copies of the book had me wondering “Is it time to re-publish?” A ‘test query’ over three years ago went to Soulistry followers and friends with resounding results. “Yes!And in some way connect it to the Soulistry Story.”
So three years ago, the work began. I thought that it needed a new title.
Thanks to Lilian Taylor … it arrived. A new title meant that it needed a new cover. Thanks to Alice Young … it arrived. The cookbook needed more work but it was put on the back burner because ‘life’ happened, computer glitches interfered, a new computer program needed to be learned. and it all took time. Longer than I had imagined.
But slowly, gently, it came together and today … it arrived. Nourish Gently – The Soulistry Cookbook is now published as an ebook and available. And I am grateful and delighted and humbled by the way it unfolded. Curious? More information can be found here: www.soulistry.com/books
May “Nourish Gently – The Soulistry Cookbook” gently nourish bodies and gently nourish souls.
I don’t want to think of evil, or believe in evil, or acknowledge the presence of evil. And yet … as the situation of Aleppo continues … as announcements of the appointments made by the POTUS and the reactions to that news unfold … as weather conditions continue to pummel the world with floods, snowstorms, tornadoes, earthquakes … as some around the world have so much, while others have nothing … as homelessness, contaminated water, unbreathable air, dangerous work situations cause lives to be compromised or lost … as freedoms are eroded … I must not be naive. Evil exists.
Where there is darkness … we must bring the light. Where there is darkness … we must send the light. Where there is darkness … we must *be* the light.
Let us offer good thoughts, light, prayers, healing energy. Let us focus on goodness, not evil, even in the face of evil.
