Shining Spirit

Dear Friends,

I’m using this space to give you some new information.

As you know, each time I post to ShiningSpirit.org you receive
an email alert.  Sometimes you can read the entire post
through the email and sometimes you are prompted to
go to the website for the complete piece.  I hope you find
that kind of notice helpful.

Now I would like to introduce you to PoetryPlace.blog,
my new site which will contain only poetry.  I will
continue to post to ShiningSpirit.org with inspirational
commentaries, but I will use the new site for poetry
only.  If you enjoy the kinds of poetry that I have
been posting through Facebook, now you can get
the same email alert from PoetryPlace.blog.  All
you have to do is go to the site, look in the lower
right corner, and check the little box that says
“Follow”.  Fill in the required information and
you’re all set.  I no longer participate in Facebook.

Thanks for your support and comments over
the years.  I appreciate your readership very
much.  So, I invite you to follow both sites
and enjoy your reading.

Roger

I knew what had happened when I heard the “thud”.
The young dove was curled up in the corner of the
patio, wing askew, eyes closed.  Crashing into the large
window, thinking she had an escape route from the
pursuing Hawk, had now made her completely vulnerable
to the predator perched on the metal railing and poised
to drop down onto the bricks for a quick lunch.

When I scooped her up into my hand, Hawk used language
I choose not to repeat.  He was one unhappy Hawk.  He let
me know the state of his mind by screeching and flapping
his usually graceful wings.  He left in a huff.

Dove and I sat awhile in a rocking chair.  I talked about
how nice it will be to fly again.  She slept.  For the better
part of an hour, we rocked and talked and slept.  And
then she shuddered, opened her tiny, black button eyes
and looked at me as if to say, “Ok, now what?  Do I die
or do I dare?”  Because she became a bit agitated, held
in the hand of a giant, I placed her carefully under a
thick bush, out of sight from hungry hawks, and backed
away.  It wasn’t long before a little gray head popped
out of the green leaves, eyes seemed to dart in several
directions, and she jumped into the sky for another day.

It was a happy moment for both of us.
Everybody needs a second chance.

Wednesday is a welcome friend at my house.
That’s the day I put on my gray, Be Kind T-shirt and join
second graders at a local elementary school.
I watch the light come on in their eyes when something suddenly
makes sense.  They laugh and tell me jokes, look at me like
“are you kidding!” when we work with short and long vowels, and
print their names in big, lopsided letters.
Everything catches their attention.  A picture in the hallway
is a springboard for a hundred questions,
light patterns on the wall pull them into some fantasy
adventure.  Imagination reigns.
And they are kind.
That’s the Wednesday theme and that message
is on their T-shirts, on posters, on bulletin boards.
Everywhere you look:
“Be Kind”  “Be Kind”
Maybe grownups should wear “Be Kind” T-shirts
everyday, not just on Wednesday.
We need to be reminded.
We need to practice
the virtue.
Try it today with everyone you meet.

Let Light warm you on a cold morning
so that you can be warmth
for all you meet.

Find joy in a friendship today so that
you might wear joy for
all to see.

Laugh and cry and wonder and dare
so that those you meet will
know you are authentic.
Be real.

Sing, play, explore, reflect, dance
Pick one today and another
tomorrow and do it
with grace and
gratitude.

Record the time you spend today
worrying, then at the end of
the day see how much
has changed for
the better.

Realizations about 2018 but no Resolutions

I can revisit the old year, but I cannot relive it.
What’s done is done.

The journey brought me a few steps closer to the period on the page.
I prefer an exclamation point!

The old year provided abundant examples of inhumanity
and sufficient examples of goodness.  I will
cherish the goodness.

2018 also —

Encouraged me toward simple clarity, less is better, and
tolerated my circumlocution.
Oops.

Deepened my spirit roots while pushing me to sift
through old baggage better left behind.
Not that it was easy.

Showed me where to spend myself and taught
me the costs of trying.
Practical and emotional costs.

Confirmed that making New Year’s Resolutions is a game I
intended to throw from day one.

Solidified friendships and opened doors to new ones.
Reminded me to reflect on those who
went away.

Allowed me the 57th opportunity to say
Happy Anniversary to my beloved,
and daily reasons to say
I love you.

May you find joy in the New Year!

The middle of the night and they pound on my door!
There’s no room here, not even the floor!
All right!  Hold on!  I’m on the way!
Speak up, young man.  What is it you say?
You want a room tonight?

You must be kidding! There’s no room at all.
All I have left is a small manger stall.
There’s no room in town, the census, you know.
People are searching high and low
for a place to sleep tonight.

So, go around back, open the shed
and there you can make a hay and straw bed.
I know it’s not much.  It’s the best I can do.
Get settled in.  I’ll bring you some stew
to hold you until dawn.

When dawn arrived, a cry was heard,
far from the sound of a common word.
The babe that Mary held that day
had so much more to do and say
for the blessing of the world.

They all went home in a day or two.
Shepherds and flocks and wise men, too.
You might assume that the story ends,
but you’d be wrong.  It just begins.
It really just begins.

King of the Jews?  That’s what you say?
Where is the one who claims to play
the role that only I possess?
I’d love to see him and caress
his precious little hand.

I ask a favor, my good friends.
Perhaps you’d be so kind to send
directions to his birthing place
so I might gaze upon his face
and bring my homage, too.

When they come back with further news
I’ll make sure this King of Jews
discovers clearly that I rule.
I am no careless, naive fool.
I am the only King!

These Jews are such a tricky race.
They cheat and steal, refuse to face
the truth that I am sovereign here
and will create such dread and fear
for all who threaten me.

Infant King, indeed!

Come, my love, the time draws near.
You’ll be fine.  Do not fear.
The donkey’s made this trip before.
He knows exactly what’s in store.
See how strong he looks.

Pay close attention, my long eared friend.
I trust your strength and will depend
on you to carry her tonight
to Bethlehem so that she might
give birth to our first child.

She’s young and scared of what’s to come,
so step with care, do not become
distracted by some sound or sight,
for on you rides this very night
a child of destiny.

So, come now Mary, mount your steed.
This regal animal will need
a pat or two before we go.
I’m sure the ride will clearly snow
how capable he is.

Step lightly, donkey.

Why are the sheep so nervous tonight?
Does something stalk and cause this fright?
I think it’s the light that’s scaring them so,
and it comes from that star, such a powerful glow.
I’ve never seen this before.

It must be a sign or an omen of ill.
Tragedy comes!  Right here on these hills!
The sheep are the first to sense the intent
of some treacherous spirit with evil bent
to destroy us and the flock.

Calm down.  Calm down.  I hear what you say.
But I disagree.  I think not that way.
The flock is nervous and milling around,
but the sheep are all moving toward Bethlehem town.
Perhaps the omen is good.

Let’s follow the sheep and see where they go.
Their instinct is keen, perhaps they all know
something that we cannot understand,
maybe a miracle is clearly at hand.
Come on, they’re leaving us here.

Aren’t we supposed to lead the sheep?
They’re leading us.  Come on, let’s keep
the pace and hurry right along.
What’s that?  The sound of lovely song,
as sweet as angel choirs.

Who are those men?  They look like Kings
in their fancy robes and jeweled rings?
Have they ever been through our town before?
I wonder what they have in store
for someone down the road?

Do you think they’re chiefs of foreign states?
Diplomats or Potentates?
They seem to watch the nighttime sky,
and I wonder why they hurry by
without a friendly word.

They must be headed for David’s town.
There’s nothing else for miles around.
But why the rush on this starry night?
What drives them on?  What heavenly sight?
Maybe that big, bright star!

That star is new in the eastern sky.
An omen, you think, for someone to die?
Perhaps it’s seen all over the earth.
Maybe it signals a great person’s birth.
I suppose we’ll never know.

News travels slow out here.