For all those in California knowing great loss

Though, I might be, in my sheltered place;

 I know  many of you may not be

So I'm reaching out to all of you,

 with my heart upon my sleeve

Praying and truly hoping that;

 after all these storms have,  passed

You can begin to start anew with grace

 and find some peace, at last.

Times, such as these occuring,

 are so very difficult and  unique

It's hard to know what to say of them,

 or how to soothe and speak

To the devastedness enveloping you;

 or the uncertainty that is real

But I will pray and truly hope that

 my words can heal your hurts I feel

My heart is breaking, inside of me,

 over everything you have lost

Your years of building up has become

 like ships:  beaten up and tossed

Across the waves of destruciveness

 you see hopes shattered again and again

Oceans pouring out like endless rain

  have left you wondering where to begin

Like so many souls who have passed through trials

 there  will be another day for you

And though. right now, you cannot see it clear..

 Hope will rise to pull you through

The rebuilding up and  restoring of

 what nature has severely torn apart

Will reinforce your faith again inside

 and heal your sorely  broken heart

I've been There

In one of the psalms I read that: 

I will rise and waken the dawn

Is it really possible to do this; 

can I, really,  urge the morning along?

Can I rise up so early that I can say that: 

I  have welcomed the morning star

Or, will I simply waken to realize that:

 such an ambition is going too far>

The time has come for a pondering: 

for a considering of all my ways

Before I can  embrace the daylight;

 I should lift up my heart in praise

With all of the creatures of the universe;

 and with all of the land and sea

Become a song of  heartfelt gratitude

 for the One who gives so lavishly

It isn't , so hard to do this;

 and  it isn't, really,  so hard to  start;

But, I'll have to set aside some  moments,

and be ready to open my  heart.

I will have to open up some spaces

 and  I will  have to prepare my mind and will

So that Eternal Immortal;

 can share   this Heavenly Meal

Then. once, I'm nourished with this manna: 

 this food, the angels, all, know

I can embrace each hour and each second

  no matter how fast or slow

I can approach  each person around me 

with a loveness so pure and  Divine 

That they'll know for a sure, I've been there:

a visitor toGod's transforming shrine

 

Things we can get for free

The early sunlight's dancing and is tapping on my  window

While  messengers of lightness are lighting up my pillow

Slowly I am rising up and am stretching toward the skies

Trying  hard to focus so I can see through  blurry eyes

All the world is  whirling;  and I can hear it  everywhere

So many souls are ..zooming around,  without a single care

About  what they might be passing up or having a chance to see: 

If only we could slow down; we would know some  tranquility

I stand, here , like a stranger to what might be .. ok

The buying and the traveling and the stashing up  for another day

But the purchasing and amassing is something we should  inch into

Knowing that there's a debtedness that these can  attach us to

So,  we  learn  to love the landness, the creatures  and the tree

The inexpensive soundness of the lovely birds and bees

They are part of the many treasures that our world can never buy

Freely given to each of us: we have only to open our inner eye

They're ours to take advantage of without a single cent

We can participate in viewing them; for all are Heaven sent

It's the other stuf attached to them that puts us all in debt

When will we learn that happiness doesn't cost a single cent

Losing grace

What values do we sacrifice to be in the "in crowd" 

Is acceptance so important, that, we'll do what's not allowed

In the eyes of the angels or in the eyes of our  Lord...

Do we need  a few reminders or are we just getting bored?

Inside of our own spirits and inside of our heart

We have a written  an itenary , right from the start

We are chosen and beloved and made just for Him:

Why world  we compromise "this" for something so dim?

Everybody is doing it; so, it must,surely, be allowed

Don't point out any wrongness or things could get loud

Let me run with the wildest and choose to be free

Doesn't matter if it's wrong or if the angels might see?

We have lost all of our filters and have sacrificed grace

We have surrendered to temptations and given Satan a place

Dressed up in the promises of the rich and the great

We are wooed by the demons and we eat from their plate...?

Happiness

Take time to listen, to what the world has been trying to say

Everything, around you, has so many beautiful messages along the way

All of the creatures: the flowers, the trees....the birds

Are sounding off sweetly, with their powerfully grace filled words

It's not, in the buying, that you'll find the things you need

But in the having of what's already planted inside you as seed

Take time to nourish it, the beautiful garden, of grace and love

You will find refreshment, in the loveliest gifts, from God above

I know;  it sounds, so foreigh; so unreal, to think that you can be

Totally satisfied, with something you cannot touch or see

But, if, you're truly, in touch, with the God of love and prayer

You'll  know that, happiness, is something you already have to share

Turning the page to 2023

The pages have turned from 22 to 23;

What will be different for you or for me?

Will there be changes or will we make moves?

Time will reveal wbat paths we can choose.

Learn from the old; and embrace what is new.

Let's build on what's good, from the year 22

Not holding the past; or dragging it in

Will make room for blessings;  23 can begin

Remember the good and let go of  the bad

Look forward with hopefullness and we can be glad

To embrace what is coming for the year 23

And soon we will echo: "its the best it can be"