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Archive for the category “Beginning”

13 Apr 2015

Prayer

Bright Morning Star

God’s diamond brooch

Upon the blackest night

Whispering Hope

‘Neath mercy’s cloak,

“The dark is almost light!”

Waken, Slumber!

Sleep not past

The painted dawn for thee.

Burst forth, O Star

One day not far

And shine Thy light on me.

– Beth Moore

I’m wandering through aisles in Barnes and Noble on Saturday. Wandering, wondering…hoping to find something I need to read, something to help me where I hurt and feel overwhelmed right now. I scan titles, can’t really focus, in the Christian aisle. I’ve read many of these books, nothing seems to be ‘it’ ugh. sigh. Surely I’m not past hope.

Suddenly, I see this book. Beth Moore (love her) 10 weeks of Devotional Prayer. Ah. Prayer! THAT’S what I need right now. Intense prayer. Prayer. Changes. ME!

I buy it, still in my fog. Sunday morning I will realize the name connection of this book, Whispers of Hope. My daughter, Krista, has just written a fictional, fantasy of her life story called, Whispers of Heaven. I bow in gratitude for these whispers speaking in my life, changing things, breathing hope in new ways.

And so I begin this 10 week journey into prayer. Learning to love more deeply and truly, open myself more fully, praise, and praise more, all good things, communicate deeper with spirit, learning intimacy in new areas of trust and allow for life changing power to flow in and through me.

Listen to Jackie Velasquez On My Knees

http://youtu.be/bJwDxWddgSk

Posted in attitude, awareness, Becoming Yourself, Beginning, beloved, Blessing, Change, Choice, Gratitude, inspiration, intimacy, Letting Go, Love, power, Prayer | Leave a comment

10 Apr 2015

the power of broken hearts

The beginning is such a good place to be. There is much in store. But there is acknowledgment of what came before the beginning to mark this moment as a beginning. And in that place I was there, too. But let’s start where beginning is—the union of Me and you, the awakening of your heart, bit by bit, to Me.

I awaken you further, now.

These first starts are for you to appreciate the moments that came before them—to see where I was, what I was doing, before you recognized my presence. Let me take you back to where I was when you couldn’t see Me there. Perhaps the definitions of beginning will need to be rewritten.

I always begin again in you.

I am the discovery of the beginning—all hope and life in you. I will give you a fresh start this day. I give you new breath, new eyes, new adventures to set out on with Me. But I want to start this beginning by going back to where I’ve always been with you.

I have always been with you, even when you couldn’t see it. I want to show you now.

🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠

Loop @ Gather Ministries

http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=278b78041b94c30f445911b53&id=ae645e9e7d&e=b9eb1d83ef

photo sources found @ www.pinterest.com/al513

Posted in attitude, awareness, Becoming Yourself, Beginning, beloved, Blessing, Choice, connection, courage, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, Grieving, Growth, healing, Letting Go, Life, Love, Miracles, Passion, Patience, People, Relationships, soul and spirit, strength, Trust, Vulnerability, www.pinterest.com | Leave a comment

08 Apr 2015

thread

Something is very gently,

invisibly, silently,
pulling at me—a thread
or net of threads
finer than cobweb and as
elastic. I haven’t tried
the strength of it. No barbed hook
pierced and tore me. Was it
not long ago this thread
began to draw me? Or
way back? Was I
born with its knot about my
neck, a bridle? Not fear
but a stirring
of wonder makes me
catch my breath when I feel
the tug of it when I thought
it had loosened itself and gone.

The Thread by Denise Levertov

BEGINNING well or beginning poorly, what is important is simply to begin, but the ability to make a good beginning is also an art form, beginning well involves a courageous clearing away of the confusing, the cluttered and the complicated to find the beautiful, often hidden lineaments of the essential and the necessary.

Beginning is difficult, and our procrastination is a fine, ever-present measure of our reluctance in taking that first close-in, courageous step to reclaiming our happiness. Perhaps, because taking a new step always leads to a kind of radical internal simplification, where, suddenly, very large parts of us, parts of us we have kept gainfully employed for years, parts of us still rehearsing the old complicated story, are suddenly out of a job. There occurs in effect, a form of internal corporate downsizing, where the parts of us too afraid to participate or having nothing now to offer, are let go, with all of the accompanying death-like trauma. In effect we must sit by the death bed of our own old, now departing wishes and come to the new step, learning that this new, less complicated self, and this very simple step, is all that is needed for the new possibilities ahead.

It is always hard to believe that the courageous step is so close to us, that it is closer than we ever could imagine, that in fact, we already know what it is, and that the step is simpler, more radical than we had thought: which is why we so often prefer to live in an almost world, why we prefer the story to be more elaborate, our identities to be safely clouded by fear, why we want the horizon to remain always in the distance, the promise never fully and simply made, the essay longer than it needs to be and the answer safely in the realm of impossibility.
💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢
‘BEGINNING’ From CONSOLATIONS:
The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning
of Everyday Words
© 2015 David Whyte and Many Rivers Press

Now Available

http://davidwhyte.stores.yahoo.net/newbook.html

Listen to Frank Sinatra Love’s Been Good to Me http://youtu.be/9pLpzNPiB48

photo sources foind at www.pinterest.com/al513

Posted in Adventure, Alone, attitude, awareness, Becoming Yourself, Beginning, commitment, connection, Encouragement, find art at pinterest, healing, Leadership, Letting Go, Life, Love, mystery, Relationships, soul and spirit, touch, Vulnerability, www.pinterest.com | Leave a comment

02 Apr 2015

Where there is great love there are always miracles. – Willa Cather

For happiness

Unearthing what she is holding on to

Realizing fears that are not her own

Letting go of what she does not need

Making room for joy

The happier she is

The less she needs

The more room there is for happiness

It is not as easy as it sounds

To excavate her joy

To release fears that are not hers

To understand those that are

Then let go

Takes courage

Takes deep reflection

She has to remember

She has to accept

She has to take risks

For she lives in this world

Not in the yesterday

Not in the tomorrow

She has to live in today

Oh, deep in her heart she wants to make the best of it

Oh, deep in her soul she wants to be in love

Oh, deep in her mind she wants happiness

But

In order to decide what that is

She needs to get rid of the distractions

Remember what makes her happy

Find new joy

Explore new avenues

Seek new adventures

She needs to takes risks

Surrounded by what she is told

She must have

She must do

She must become

Gathering her courage

Gathering her thoughts

Gathering only that which she needs

She lets go of all that no longer serves her

Her home?

Her country?

Her way of life?

Her judgment?

Her perceptions?

Her conditioning?

What does she have?

Freedom

Freedom to think

Freedom to move

Freedom to start again

Freedom to learn

Freedom to create

All that she desires

Really

Truly

Simply

She becomes a pioneer of discovery

She takes risks

💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃

A Woman On Purpose

http://awomanonpurpose.tv/she-takes-risks/

Watch Soul Suckers by Amos Lee 💞

http://youtu.be/zqidM_U9rgU

💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃

photo sources found at www.pinterest.com/al513

Posted in Adventure, attitude, awareness, beauty, Becoming Yourself, Beginning, beloved, Change, Choice, confidence, courage, create, Dancing, find art at pinterest, grace, Growth, healing, Letting Go, Life, Losing, Love, Miracles, People, soul and spirit, Trust, Vulnerability, www.pinterest.com | Leave a comment

04 Mar 2015

new adventures

As the dark clouds roll in, and all hope disappears from sight, and the bright sun goes away, leaving every heart filled with fright. And all hope and virtue disappears from sight, making even the kindest things seem filled with blight; and the cold rain pouring down, cutting through us through the night. In desperation searching; nothing to find it seems though we might, continue pushing though nothing we do is right.

Drenched and sore and bleeding, empty and broken and pleading, without hope and desperately needing, some comfort though none forthcoming; the brightest day as turned to night. Our sight foreshadowed in darkness, that fog thick and endless around us, concealing the path before us, the level ground a seeming endless height!

That slippery slope before us, though level seeming to those around us, daunting as we feel it; we trip and stumble underneath it, that hidden weight we carry it, translucent and transparent, and yet to our soul we feel it. Sliding down that hillside, level, falling to the bottom, under that angry sky we’re filled with, nothing but empty gripe.

Stumbling and aching, slowly we come to standing, the ground underneath us turning, ever always turning, as if the world is shaking; for inside us the world is shaking, ever inside us quaking, sleeping even while waking; twilight seems closest to what is bright.

Ever inside us knowing, our fate for us, are future sowing, a future not worth knowing; for ever inside us searching, for a hope now lost from sight.

Then that flash and clap does shake us, the resounding sound does wake us; the bright and brilliant flash does wake us, incandescent and brilliant white! And our eyes do open wide, though blurry to the sight, of that beam shine through the sky, cutting as though a knife, through cloud and shadow and shame, and only the light remains!

Then the calm and gentle breeze, the warm and kindest breeze; touches us as we freeze, to the spot we find us standing, and for a moment remaining, for a new breath grasping; and we find us speaking “light don’t leave me, please!”

The Storm by Matthew Mele

Yesterday was the beginning of a new adventure. I will be hosting and producing a public access tv show named Artitude. Yesterday I sat down with three amazing, courageous friends to share our stories on camera. George Manuka, pastor of Dunbar United Church of Christ in Hamden, CT. He is also my pastor. Linda Bonadies, composer, song writer extraordinaire. Linda has written a one woman show based on her story, called Give it all Away. I recently saw it in NYC. I am so inspired by her courage and talent. We are writing songs together for the show. Matthew Mele (above poem) is Poet in Residence. Matthew teaches martial arts, he has an incredible story, great poetic ability and a unique gift of perspective. I am so excited to have him share and explore these on this show.

I am feeling very grateful, a bit overwhelmed, excited, afraid I can’t do it, challenged in every area, ideas are bouncing around in my head, the things I don’t know feel like a hovering mountain to climb.

I feel the importance of this project. I feel the largeness of this opportunity. I feel the responsibility which comes with sharing my voice.

Artitude will be about the arts, sharing stories, connections, how we build stronger communities and heal our lives. Here is the 60 word explanation of the show premise:

Everyone is an artist. Our lives are our masterpiece.

We each hold the power to choose, to create, to change our personal stories.

Art touches the deepest longings of our hearts. Things like poetry, fiction, film, theater, drama, dance, music, friendship and conversation awaken us to our own possibilities. They inspire us to become all we can be.

This is Artitude.

Please pray for me as I step into this calling. Thank you!

More to come…

photo source tracks found at

http://pinterest.com/al513

Posted in action, Adventure, attitude, awareness, beauty, Beginning, courage, Faith, find art at pinterest, Happiness, inspiration, Letting Go, Life, Miracles, People, touch, Trust, truth, www.pinterest.com | Leave a comment

08 Feb 2015

deciding where you want to go…

I came to the end of the sidewalk
was wondering which way I should go
There were gates for each road all around me
The signs up above were all flashing to show…

They read…this way
and that way
and his way
and her way
There was your way
and my way
and right way
and wrong way

I stood at the end of the end of the sidewalk
It was all so confusing I struggled to know
Which gate was the one I should enter
Which road was the one to lead me back home…

Cause there was
high way
and by way
low way
and long way
There was which way
and what way
there was fast way
and slow way

Then I saw a small sign near the bottom
It wasn’t flashing or bright
But this sign it caught my attention
Cause this one pointed towards LIFE…

Some signs read short way
and one sign said no way
one was blinking far away
all the way to the milky way
there was dream way
and scream way
There was wander way
and squander way

But this road it had a small entrance
Not many had gone through before
The gate was all rusted and creaky
Had to knock just to open that door…

It was dark and a little bit lonely
There was just a small lamp for to see
It took me awhile to adjust to the style
For this road was far greater than me

Cause it’s Your way
not my way
It’s a new way
towards life way

The longer I walked, I saw better
Though it never got easier to see,
But this road lead right where I followed
cause Life was the journey, you see…

ACL 2/7/15

Diamond Road…Sheyl Crow
Walk with me the diamond road
Tell me every story told
Give me something of your soul
That I can hold onto

I want to wake up to the sound of waves
Crashing on a brand new day
Keep the memory of your face
But wipe the pain away

When you¹re lonely (you¹re not alone)
When you¹re heart aches (on Diamond Road)
It’s gonna take a little time
Yeah, it’s gonna take a little time
When the night falls (you’re not alone)
When you’re stumbling (on Diamond Road)
It’s gonna take a little time
To make it to the other side
So don’t miss the diamonds along the way

Every road has led us here today
Little bird, what’s troubling you
You know what you have to do
What is yours you’ll never lose

And what’s ahead may shine
Beneath the promise of blue skies
With broken wings we’ll learn to fly
Pull yourself out of the tide
And begin the dream again

So don’t miss the diamonds along the way
Every road has led us here today
Won’t you shine on
Morning light

Burn the darkness away
Walk with me the Diamond Road
Tell me everything is gold
Give me something of your soul
So you don¹t fade away

Don’t miss the diamonds along the way
Every road has led us here today
Life is what happens while you¹re making plans
All that you need is right here in your hands.

Matthew 7
7 “Ask and it will be given to you;seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
13 “Enter through the narrow
gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

photo source tracks found at

Posted in action, Adventure, attitude, awareness, Beginning, Change, Choice, create, Encouragement, find art at pinterest, Gospel, grace, healing, home, Life, Love, Miracles, Seasons, soul and spirit, Trust, truth, Uncategorized, Vulnerability, www.pinterest.com | Leave a comment

21 Jan 2015

It was a very good day…the bravest are the tenderest…it takes courage to bear Light in the world…Beauty, Donna Knutson

Go and open the door.
Maybe outside there’s
a tree, or a wood,
a garden,
or a magic city.

Go and open the door.
Maybe a dog’s rummaging.
Maybe you’ll see a face,
or an eye,
or the picture
of a picture.

Go and open the door.
If there’s a fog
it will clear.

Go and open the door.
Even if there’s only
the darkness ticking,
even if there’s only
the hollow wind,
even if
nothing
is there,
go and open the door.

At least
there’ll be
a draught.

The Door by Miroslav Holub, from Poems Before & After, translated from the original Czech by Ian Milner et al. (Bloodaxe Books, 2006). Text as posted on Scottish Poetry Library.
http://www.ayearofbeinghere.com

Sunrise @ Branford Point, CT this fine chilly morning! My challenge was to get out of the nice, warm covers! SO worth it!! xo

Posted in action, Adventure, attitude, awareness, beauty, Beginning, Change, Choice, commitment, connection, courage, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, light, mystery, nature, strength, Tenderness, touch, Winning, www.pinterest.com | Leave a comment

15 Jan 2015

just knock

In Matthew 7:7 Jesus told us to ask, seek and Knock and the door will open. It’s written as a guarantee.

Our only responsibility is to want the door to open.

25 years ago I came to that door. I raised my hand and I knocked.

I began an adventure, which is healing my life and has lead me right here. I have found that the secret to curing both my insecurity and my arrogance is to seek who God is – and I have come to be humbly aware that even my seeking is because He sought me first and the ability to want Him, somehow comes from His wanting me.

My relationship with Love (because God = Love) has steadily changed and grown, as has my awareness of the mystery, magnitude and wonder of who He is.

Along the pathway I have been granted the tiniest of mind-blowing glimpses, which are almost more than I can comprehend. They always take my breath away and I stagger when fiery glory becomes visible, as only God can reveal, because only a moment before it looked to me like another ordinary bush. These glimpses always reveal the ridiculousness of my own desire for self-importance, and free me to release any need for performance or perfection.

As I have discovered grace, I see just how little this great God needs me, or you – but, oh, how much He wants me and you! It is the desire of God to know and be known by us and He was willing to become helpless and give His very life to enter into that intimacy we call relationship. We are each His most beloved and as I began the journey of accepting myself, warts and all, as truly loved and worthy of belonging, I find I can also love you, with your warts, as I do myself.

These things blow my mind, This great love pours over me and gives me courage and passion. It allows me to share myself, my life and songs with you. I believe it is the only thing that could possibly allow someone like me to fall so deeply in love that I lay aside my personal desires, to become transparent and vulnerable, willing to endure the shame of the cross of Christ. I surrender to a plan I really can’t even understand, much less have any control over, yet know for certain is so much more valuable than I could ever even imagine!

Every day, I am surprised to find myself here. I am the most unlikely pilgrim ever, and I gratefully think about these strange things and say, along with every other person who has ever experienced this amazing love,

WHO AM I, that You would love someone like me? I am not much, but I am yours, please help me be all You have created me to be, take me, use me. Your will be done on earth as in heaven. Yes, here am I, send me.
ACL 1/14/15

God does not change, but He uses change—to change us. He sends us on journeys that bring us to the end of ourselves. We often feel out of control, yet if we embrace His leading, we may find ourselves on the ride of our lives.
– Jen Hatmaker

Posted in Adventure, awareness, Becoming Yourself, Beginning, beloved, Change, Choice, courage, determination, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, Glory, Gospel, Gratitude, healing, Letting Go, Life, Love, Miracles, mystery, nature, Reflection, soul and spirit, thankfulness, touch, Trust, truth, www.pinterest.com | Leave a comment

05 Jan 2015

growing fruit

Patience is a hard discipline. It is not just waiting until something happens over which we have no control: the arrival of the bus, the end of the rain, the return of a friend, the resolution of a conflict. Patience is not a waiting passivity until someone else does something. Patience asks us to live the moment to the fullest, to be completely present to the moment, to taste the here and now, to be where we are. When we are impatient we try to get away from where we are. We behave as if the real thing will happen tomorrow, later and somewhere else. Let’s be patient and trust that the treasure we look for is hidden in the ground on which we stand.