life: acoustic & amplified
poetry, quotes & thoughts about life
Archive for the category “Death”
Solitude
The Voice in the Garden of Solitude
Solitude is the garden for our hearts, which yearn for love. It is the place where our aloneness can bear fruit. It is the home for our restless bodies and anxious minds. Solitude, whether it is connected with a physical space or not, is essential for our spiritual lives. It is not an easy place to be, since we are so insecure and fearful that we are easily distracted by whatever promises immediate satisfaction. Solitude is not immediately satisfying, because in solitude we meet our demons, our addictions, our feelings of lust and anger, and our immense need for recognition and approval. But if we do not run away, we will meet there also the One who says, “Do not be afraid. I am with you, and I will guide you through the valley of darkness.”
Let’s keep returning to our solitude.
– Henri Nouwen
http://www.henrinouwen.org/
Read the full ‘Alone’ Newsletter at http://songsfromthevalley.com/September-09-2.18-Alone.pdf
Check out William Perrelli’s photography at http://unusualphotos.shutterfly.com/
Life is Beautiful! – Motto of Marc’s Bagels, Blue Ash, Ohio
“I don’t really want more time;
I just want enough time.
Time to breathe deep & time to see real & time to laugh long, time to give You glory & rest deep & sing joy…
I just want time to do my one life well.
Life at its fullest is this sensitive, detonating sphere —
and it can be carried only in the hands of the unhurried and reverential—
a bubble held in awe.”
~ One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are
My Path to Finding Happiness
My journey has not been a particularly fun or easy one. It is full of brokeness, control, abuse and loss. The details are grim, in many respects. My life could have gone a different direction – but 21 years ago I started on a quest to find happiness – real happiness – that was my goal – no matter what it took! I was determined to find my way to a life full of peace, love, joy, kindness, gentleness, patience, hope. I took it very seriously.
I really wouldn’t wish anyone else in the world to find happiness, love and peace, by repeating the life-events I have gone through, but I believe the path is the same for everyone. Seeking. The most important thing to seek is goodness. No matter what circumstances you find yourself in, face it with reality – then choose to seek goodness right there.
There are many things in this life which are so bad it is hard to even comprehend them. Face it with truth….it is what it is….your truth is all important. Then look for the good. (I know it’s hard – I’ve made that difficult choice – and, guess what? Every time I made the choice to look – I ALWAYS found goodness.) Take responsibility for your own actions. Look for what you need to do differently in your life to incorporate peace and happiness. Then begin to make the changes you know need to be made – one at a time. Any good you can find. Acknowledge it. Make it as important to find as gold. Every day, every minute seek good. Seek the lesson in all your circumstance right now. Determine to be in control of how you respond to any circumstance. Determine to learn the lessons you need, so you don’t repeat the same mistakes. You have a choice! Keep your hope alive by your choice of the goodness. Allow your worst moments to soften your heart and allow you to see the pain in others around you so you can help them. Show them the good you find.
This is my path to happiness. I have found so more than I ever thought possible! I cannot tell you I have not found it to be an easy thing to do – I can tell you I have found it to be the most valuable and worthwhile thing to do! I have found it an amazing way to live and I highly recommend it. I believe everything I have gone through is for a reason. Without living my faith this way, I do not believe I would not be here today, much less claiming and sharing happiness. It is a miracle to me and makes me a little giddy!!! hee
I want everyone to know that this is all about choice! Every day we are given is a new gift. A new chance to begin to make those choices!!!! wooo hooooo
What’s Your Shadow Look Like?
Afraid of dying, we avoid living.
We sleep a sleep of fear,
dark nightmares pulled up around our chins.
Thinking we must survive now,
we wait to live later.
But the present moment is constantly being destroyed,
swept away into the past,
taken by a thief
who leaves another.
Life is transitory.
Each day, in fact, can be our last.
So wake up,
and live in the present moment.
The thief steals only what you have kept,
not what you have spent.
What calls out in your life?
What song needs singing,
what person needs loving,
what risk invites the investment
of all of yourself?
Child, awaken.
Rise to this day.
If you love someone, tell them,
before the moment to do so
is burned in a flash.
If you have a gift,
give it before the moment
vanishes like a dream.
__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Used with Premission
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net
Practice Letting Go
Fear makes us cling rather than letting go. But clinging
only binds us to our fear. It does not set us free. Practice letting go.
Fear inhibits our willingness to be fully, lovingly
present each moment. Afraid of the responsibility and uncertainty of investing
ourselves in the present moment, we withhold ourselves. Afraid of what might be
demanded of us, we do not engage in what is before us. Wishing things were
otherwise, we bury ourselves elsewhere. But life is this, not something else.
Practice being present.
All that you are and all that you have is God’s. You have
nothing to lose. Practice giving yourself away.
__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Used with Permission
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net
It’s A Wonderful World! part 2
The Sun Walks by Steve Garnaas-Holmes
The sun walk
s through the autumn woods
slowly on her long yellow legs,
notices things, points them out,
reaches down between the grasses
and draws out their color,
touches leaves here and there
and makes them brilliant,
plucks a leaf and drops it,
plucks a leaf and drops it.
All through the woods her light
flutters down, swings down, dances down.
It is not winter that takes these leaves,
not frost that steals them in the night.
She gives them. It’s how she finds her way
down into the black soil,
how she gives her light
to the darkness working beneath.
It is not death
that takes us from this world,
but life that gives us, ripe and golden,
into the next.
______________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Used with Permission
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net
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