Ain't It Grand

What a world we live in, in our own heads and as inhabitants of planet earth. The craziness, the incredible and unbelievable in people's behavior, the wrongdoing fueled by hate and fear seems more intense. The mainstream news focuses on up to the minute bad news, the dead and dying, war, abuse, corruption, desperation and despair. The breaking news alerts the viewer of something different and new happening, probably not a good thing about the harsh reality of our world. It's the news, "it's what's for dinner". We consume it consciously and subconsciously as fear mongers in the media, corporate America and other places continue to shove the ugliness down our throats. Health and happiness do not sell as well as fear, doubt, inadequacies, comparing yourself to others, confusion, judgement, hate, cynicism, complacency,  

Stress follows the discontentment as worry and uneasiness settle-in. Meanwhile, mental and physical health are compromised. More effort is required to keep a good perspective, peaceful and positive. The attitude of gratitude is effective in curtailing the fretting but sometimes takes longer to get to that place. 

Faith and Hope are great detractors of the darkness of the world. Grace surfaces from a soulful, spirit, out of sadness, grief, trauma, after, during the moment we are most in need of the divinity and blessing. Out of nowhere like a mighty warrior to light the darkness from places beyond most human understanding, above and beyond earth's boundaries from an unlimited, unconstrained place that is of peace, power and perfection, humble compassion-driven places of privilege. Our vulnerability is front and center when we seek shelter from life's storms. We look for and wish to connect to creators' creations since time untold, here and now from on high to the lowest places, the lost, richest, poorest we all long to connect to such graciousness.

Attaching myself to the idea of something to turn to when I am not sure of which direction to go, beyond what the eye can see but what the heart and soul can feel continues to prove over and over that keeping the faith is a rock-solid life-saving strategy, prayer and defense against a chaotic and unfair world.

To counterattack, appease, remedy, soothe, replace wrongdoing in the world means to cease the opportunity to lift the shroud of darkness whenever possible, in many situations at any time and any place. It is an ongoing summit of sorts; a cooperative based on our own willingness to offer a kind word or simple gesture of kindness and make life more livable. It is a no cost approach to contributing to the betterment of the world. To have the capacity to share our own gifts of faith and hope, joy and peace even as the darkness lurks around attempting to put out our light. Ain't it grand to realize we can share our light, our own preciousness our own peace and love. 

The Light of God

 

In faith to be lead by God the essence of love and peace, patience, tolerance, acceptence, forgiveness and compassion  is to understand what it means to live a good life.

Consideration

As a matter of faith and hope in what is unseen, unknown and uncertain there are many things in our lives on a daily basis that beg to be explained and made clear. Our peace of mind appears to rely on things way beyond this earthly plain. We find it easier to worry and fret about the past, the future, what was and what might be.  We fuss about things that are beyond our control and even things well within.  

To lean on the epi center of our being is find a calm quiet place to regroup, rediscover new possibilities with a positive perspective. We find comfort in the simple quiet places where peace is front and center and leads us to soft landings and ample lighting to quide and protect us from our own tendancy to work ourselves up with our imagination. We are better, blessed and able to be a blessing when we reflect on our ability to see things through one heartbeat, one step, one day and experience at a time

Our Lady of Guadalupe

My mother used to say something extra nice would happen to her on December 12th, The Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. She expected it, looked and listened for something special and sure enough, good things, news, a little or big something would occur. Faith and hope sealed the deal to ensure Our Lady, would give a nod to such an ardent follower and devotee of the patron saint of The America's, a precious and powerful presence in my mother's life and prayers through the years.  🌹

Thoroughfare

It's been a while. I have missed you like a mother misses her child. I think about you often and hope you know how much I appreciate you in my life. We keep in touch by quick flashes of expression in other social media platforms, but I know it is not enough when you are here with open arms and an open heart on the ready to write it out. Thank you. I feel an indebtedness to the powerful resources you offer me as I look the other way. I pray, a sincere thoroughfare is being created at this very moment with these very words jumping on the surface of the screen onto this boxed set of thought and expression. I have missed your pliability and all the possibilities. I carry you around like an unopened big box of crayons waiting to be opened and used in the best way possible.

We exchange and share ideas with words and take them personally as if we own each letter that forms each thought and expression. Places words take us and bring us back to, with each personal custom made to order and fit our needs in a moments notice or without notice, like when one speaks before thinking which can cause problems, when you realize you should not have said something, after you say it.

Sincerest apologies for not connecting with you on a regular basis. It has been too long since we have sat together and complimented each other as nicely as we could. Moving forward and away from recent lack of posts into time to reflect on things, life, love, loss, light, darkness, doubt, despair, faith, hope, Grace.  I knew it would feel great to be in here with you again, I was right. Sigh. Thank you💗

A Funny Thing Pt.1

In my early 20s a funny thing happened on the way to the rest of my life. I got stuck in my head about everything. The agony of despair, doubt, not knowing the questions to ask, how or who to ask, much less the answer's to look for during what I came to refer to as the 'crossroads'. Pitch black and numbing, nothing seemed right or real, no joy only what feels like going through the motions. Peggy Lee sang about the thick suffocating human experience called; "the blues", aka, feeling shitty, depression. In the song that laments about life; "Is That All There Is?" the musical questions ask about fulfillment, illusions and disillusions. Maybe it is more a matter of perception but based on what? Learned behavior, past or present experiences, genetics, predisposition, fate? What determines how one views things, through the lens of heartache, success, good or bad health. What triggers us is particular to each one of us. 

In a nut shell, I was conflicted by being born a girl but feeling like a boy and feeling bad about the damn internal messy, mixed-up thing of it all. Having a 'normal' twin brother was part of the calibration or constant self comparison that perhaps made me think I was a mistake. After those dark days saturated in sad grievous thoughts and walking head-on into the preverbal raging fire, I marched out the victor feeling like a bloodied, wore-torn soldier but standing tall after fighting the battle of a lifetime, I am good, 'rustic', one of kind, better for the wear and tear and aging quite imperfectly. It has been, is now and will be I pray, the faith, hope, comfort I receive from The Holy Spirit(s) above, among, around, under, in and out of us and what can not be fathomed. The girl and boy, man and woman in me is soft, strong, tender, sheds tears of joy and can feel like a badass all at once.

In the song; "Alfie" again the question begs for answers; "What's It All About, Alfie?" The answers sometimes surface out of nothing and nowhere for some, for others the answers to the perplexities never go away and for others various therapeutic methods, means and ways of digging oneself out of virtual hell involves a resolve to surrender to something big or barely there, something within, greater than any real or imagined problems, worries, aches or pains. Some questions simply will never be answered that is the thing, as we absolutely have the capacity to decide in an instant, at warp speed or the gradual realization of your own preciousness, the sacredness of life in all it's painful unfair ways, presenting itself in such a blessed way, you have a choice, to switch mental gears, is one choice when your heart desperately wants to heal and move forward new and improved. It happens, it is a most humbling and magnificent illustration of God's amazing Grace. 

Ring of Life

We get to a point where we have squeezed-out every drop of fear, life, love, blood, sweat and tears, then a gust of courage, life, love, laughter and comfort comes along. One finds themselves immersed in the mysteries, magic and miracles of love lost and found, of life and death, our every breath bordering on the balance of light and darkness of joy and pain, loss and gain. Moments of reprieve may seem fewer and far between but become more important and make more sense out of hope and faith than ever before.

We move along in the ring of life, bobbing, weaving, jetting back and forth hoping to maintain a strong sacred heart, avoiding technical knock-outs or defeat by decision. We take life's jabs and punches, ultimately one blessing, blow, one kiss, misfortune, grand slam and spectacularly simple moment at a time, on the ready for any mental, spiritual or emotional opponent.

The physical realm is pushed beyond it's limits but the desire and discipline to train and optimize our awesome places of the heart, grows ever grander with the potential to overcome the little and large obstacles, the busy and quiet times, the full and empty days and every which way we go in our heads, hearts and souls- that make us champions of the world in love, light, goodness and a beautiful blessing to others. Yes ~

Good Luck!

Luck, Goodness, Faith, Hope, Wishes, Prayers, Thoughts, thugs, mugs, Pugs on the rug you want to HUG.  It's a rambling ride more than a stroll, a hard rock, roll and rumble take it in stride. Travel well be prepared with respect and pride in doing right by life. Maintain a sense of awareness for the natural horsepower to run smoother on cleaner fuel and change the lackluster plugs that lose their spark.

We are given the tools to help fix a blown-out tired soul and change run down tread with simple encouraging words, to handle the world with care, kindness, compassion and rebuild with spirit-lifting, heart-healing light-casting lubrication. Restore the weary traveler, whenever possible lift the shroud of despair and doubt from the wounded road warrior in an uneven, unjust world, if only one weary traveler at a time.

To cherish life is to live with passion for love, peace, a place in the heart that makes sense to retreat to, rest, renew and recharge.  The battles, losses, victories, disappointments, life's delights, a good laugh or a good cry... days and nights, years, the lives and loves we experience make us who we are, who we were and who we will be.

Heart & Soul

To say goodbye to someone you have known forever, someone who was a permanent fixture in your life even if there were years you saw each other almost never... it is a time when one reflects on the goodness, the love, respect, admiration and stories about the life that passes on to another realm.  The transition is sad but sacred as faith indicates after life on earth the spirit thrives in a perfectly peaceful place of existence.

The connection transcends time and space as the love is not diminished but remains in tact and in a state of grace, as if the connection is strengthened with the awareness that we now have greater access to the heavenly elements, powerful, unrecognizable to the human eye but felt with the heart and soul, spiritual connections we can not even fathom yet reveal themselves to us by way of abounding quiet and not so quiet blessings.

And so we say our sad goodbyes to prima Marian Romero, good woman, salt of the earth with a big heart and generous nature, funny, sassy and a safe place for me to land when I was bouncing off the wall with youthful exuberance and mom allowed me to hang out with. We were good paleez.

Love you Marian, rest in peace.

Hallelujah!

Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing hallelujah

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you

Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah

There's a blaze of light In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken hallelujah

Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though It all went wrong
I'll stand before the lord of song
With nothing on my tongue but hallelujah

~ Leoanard Cohen

¡Viva Guadalupe!

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe!
12.12.12

The bittersweet story includes children and unbridled faith. It is a spiritual alchemy of sorts with the capacity to lift what has been somehow lowered, to rebuild what has been torn down, to create compassion out of chaos, to cast light out of the dark.

Miracles prevail no matter what you call them, grace derives from divinity, where divinity goes so goes elements of peace, power, privilege, perfection, the presence of a holy spirit.
Yes, it is true, Blessings abound among the hardships, the sail stays upright, true, strong,
available to those who seek and find it's amazing wave of glory.

~ Peace On Earth ☼ And Goodwill Toward ALL ~

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Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. ~ St. Francis of Assisi