I Have Something To Say

As best I can, I will speak it clearly. You, me, everyone who is here living on this stupendously beautiful cataclysmic planet, is creative. Not just the poets, writers, musicians, artists, every single one of us is gifted, talented, with abilities that are fantastic and unique.

There is room for the expression of all our hearts, minds, and souls. By sharing, we can help prove one another whole. We must love enough to draw out the beauty, sometimes hidden in shame, to save lives that are drowning in pain.

Create, it is what you are meant for in time and space. Bake the exquisite cake, write the story no one knows, sing as if it is all that matters, play your guitar, piano, drums, dulcimer, harp, send a card – just because, build a building, design cars, set a grade so a building may stand, repair a car, give a helping hand, be an ambassador for right when everything seems wrong, share courage, raise the children – make them secure, be a light burning like a torch in a giant hand, create, because you must… also – because you can.

I cried today, thinking of those who went far too early away because they found this world too much to handle, too much sorrow, not enough play. I wished I could tell each of them how wondrous, beautiful they were, and somehow change what we cannot change.

In case no one told you, lately, you are loved. You are precious, a blessing, a beauty other beauties eclipsing. You are a gift to the Earth and its denizens, one of a kind, a purchase of grace.

When you walk into
The world trailing brilliant stars,
Happiness ensues;
It is a gift you freely
Give because you choose to live.

*****

Pen skimming over
Paper bringing life surging,
Raw, onto pages.

No one may know your exact fight, but if you reach out, you will find others care about you enough to be a resting place for your weariness. They will hold you and lift you up, resurrecting courage and sufficient strength to continue. Continue, NEVER GIVE UP!

Overall, through all, in all, every day, every way, there is LOVE, and LOVE calls us to reach for the beauty we create and give the world a reason to keep on being because we who inhabit it are the meaning.

Anyway, I tried. Maybe you, you are the one that has something to say. Do not hold it in until it fades away, let it burn bright like a comet or maybe a star. Let what you create be a blessing to someone who needs it, like breath or water, so in some painted desert, they do not succumb and be carried away.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

The Cross

Sometimes even writers are inarticulate; when overcome by awe, grief, excitement, words can fail us. Such circumstance is not the best to beset a wordsmith, for merely by the name, expert use of words is proclaimed.

I struggle with discovering a way to explain Faith, Love, the meaning Jesus has to me.

The reason why I wear a Cross:

Some people criticize the Cross as a symbol of Christianity, but the cross I wear stands for the sacrifice Christ made when he bled and died that sinners could be clean of all iniquity. He multiplied a pardon from eternal separation and death’s penalty to all who in Him choose to believe. The Lamb of God, the Sinless One, gave His life upon a cruel Cross for our Salvation, Freedom, the Victory we share. Jesus rose, the Resurrected Life, He Lives, as can we if we follow Him.

Yes, the Cross is lowly, a cruel and perverted instrument of torture and death, but what matchless Love my Savior showed to place Himself upon that Cross hanging between Heaven and Earth, Eternity, and destruction. He through His Life, Death, and Resurrection became the Bridge humanity may cross to enter eternal life. So, the Cross; became sacred, anointed with His holy blood. The Atonement was provided; humanity has a gift so precious and priceless that even Heaven wept when it was brought. Upon accepting the gift of Salvation, believing in Jesus, we become part of God’s Family.

I wear a cross; there is meaning enough for me.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

So…

I do not get much personal mail, as I expect is true of most everyone in these times. One of the friends I know online, who is a Facebook friend, wrote me a postal letter that persuaded me to return to social media. I am still of the opinion that I may remain less engaged than in the past, but there is the thought that my posts may have some small positive influence driving my presence.

You do realize,
Of course, your words and actions
Have consequences.

*****

Life is strange, it gives,
Furthermore, it takes away;
Nothing ours to stay,
The hours rushing ocean waves –
We, notes, on a tide-swept beach.

*****

No fear, I shall not
Fear, though the darkness over
Shade every hour, day,
I know He is with me here
My Lord, God, who holds me near.

*****

The lightning rockets
Across the deepening dark sky
Sending doubt to fly.

*****

What you cannot know
Will never be clearly told,
Your high castle holds.

*****

Not a rehearsal
Love is the fully played act,
No turning away
Once your hand is dealt, your heart
Is invested, no free flight.

*****

Hiding who we are
Is opportunity for
Misunderstanding.

*****

I take my heart down
From the hidden jar to place
It here where you are,
Will you take it, do you dare?
Hearts are most precious to share.

*****

The sleep mocked me
Taking the sun far away,
Giving night for day.

*****

The chocolate is
Gone, ah dears, how shall we all
Happily go on?

*****

The music danced its
Way into every sad place,
Brushing tears away,
Calling, “Life is now present,
Follow love and be most gay.”

*****

Any art is just
An attempt to clarify
Love’s sweet majesty.

*****

And I can do these on and on, so rather than bore you, I shall stop in my tracks, getting back to the book I am enjoying and allowing you your day. Find yourself some happiness before it slips, sliding away into another day.

Again, the prompt is to write haiku and tanka. I give you enough examples, you should understand what to do. Haiku are counted syllabic poems of three lines consisting of 5 – 7 – 5 syllables. Tanka are five lines with syllable counts of 5 – 7 – 5 – 7 – 7.

I tell you now, each of you is a blessing, a unique precious gift given by the Creator to impact the world in your own individual way. Cherish who you are, for you are a miracle designed for greatness. Your light outshines every star and sun. Love, for love, is who you are.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

2020.07.25 Roses Dreaming rr

They Did Not Get The Memo

One of the questions I had today at my appointment was about medications, especially ones that might be contributing to weight gain and uncontrollable appetite. All of them, it turns out, but they did not want to make changes.

They said I should exercise. I said I am already walking 20,000 or more steps on most days. The question then was, how do I do that? I said I read while walking, and I do it inside. They told me, no, no, that is no good you have to be outside. Maybe ride a bike, which I told them is bad on my knees. I have to have shots for my knees because of the pain.

Here is the real deal. I lost 65 pounds walking inside the house and kept it off for almost seven years. I cannot walk outside because I cannot breathe out there.

This evening, I revved it up a few notches by playing a selection of my favorite hits and letting myself go with the music. The real demon in this thing is hunger. The people who help me manage my mind cannot help with my weight, so I must make it happen again. I will, because I know I can.

If you have something hard you are facing, do not let anyone tell you that you must do it their way. If your way works for you, work it. You know yourself, your abilities, better than any expert who is on the outskirts of your life. I believe we are strong. I could explain, but all you need to know is that you are capable. There is nothing that can stand against you when you put your mind and heart into accomplishing something.

Rock on…

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

Oh, I moved the icons for the social media services off of the front home screen on my phone. I have not opened them on tabs in Chrome since I said I was leaving. Funny how I feel better, and how I seem to have more time. The experiment is going well.

Up and Out

2020.07.16 Lilies rr

Life consists of those
Things we choose, both good and bad,
We, daily authors
Write our stories, willing hands,
Never knowing the endings.

Looking up to God
We recognize some purpose
More significant –
Than simple independence
Setting only personal goals.

A concern for those
Who enter our days and lives
Has us reaching out
To make an impact, a change,
Capable of causing good.

Our hearts reach out for
The benefit, comfort, aid of
Others who we help;
Our souls reach up to Heaven
To grasp our meaning, reason.

Up and out, cannot
Go wrong, we long for much more
Than in ourselves held,
Spirit unfolds such answers
Service feeds many a need.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan