Be Strong And Courageous

I have not put up a handwritten piece in a while. Frankly, I have problems writing, seem to skip words and such. This one actually turned out well. I think I have told you some of my writing is done to motivate me, but I think maybe others deal with similar issues, so I share.

Background: The thought of being confined to the house, despite that I do it a lot voluntarily, scares me. Mobility is a fundamental freedom. I went into a full-blown panic attack over this today. Then I wrote this:

2020-03-15_Be Strong and Courageous Prose Poem

I have all I need for a bit. I do not understand what drove me to panic today. Just so weird in town Thursday and yesterday.

I hope all of you are staying comfortable and have what you need.

A couple of songs I recommend:

God Is In Control by Twila Paris
We Believe by Newsboys

As a prompt: If you are getting a little freaked out with all that is happening, I highly recommend creating. Address your discomfort, make something out of it.

This may be all today, but I highly doubt it. Blessings to you and all you love. Stay safe. Thank you for visiting.

Maybe Today

We can spend time with
One another, talk, listen;
Pick up a book, magazine,
Newspaper, read good things.
Love
On our pets, while they love us,
Play with a child, love them,
Read interesting storybooks, or
Make stories up together.
Color, draw, paint – something
Beautiful,
Listen to music, sing along, or alone,
Pause some screen interaction,
See less bad news, avoid fear, panic,
We can discover an alcove of quiet
In whatever way we wish.
A long walk with mindfulness,
Bringing along a non-phone camera,
Writing letters to those we love,
Who
Will treasure the gift of “real” mail.
We must not allow chaos, meanness,
In the public sphere to dictate
The persons we are and become.
Humans are able to transcend disasters,
Growing richer, better, more capable,
Polished, polite, kindly, generous,
People of LOVE!
We can rise, creating,
A world
Of possibility and opportunity.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

As a prompt, I encourage you to put the world aside, a while. Enjoy the people, the places, the things that enrich your existence. If you wish, engage your creativity and produce something. Or if you are as exhausted as we often become, rest. Blessings to you and yours. Peace amidst the turmoil.

Poetry

I did not think I would find it in me to do any more work today. I am not well settled with myself, and I am sorry if it disturbs you to know this. Worry not. Days are challenges, always, just some tear at me worse than others. I was reading and realized a poem wanted to be. For me, when the words shimmer and trill, I better busy myself, or I will be more ill than ill. So be it…

Poetry

The graceful leap of ideas –

Casting lures aptly baited
With irresistible word
Gathered, (stolen), from dragon hordes
And memorized vocabulary of
Spelling Bees.
Late nights, (early hours), spent
Flashlight reading
Under covers fresh warm surround,
Pouring over dictionaries, encyclopedias,
Maps, travel brochures, thesauruses,
As many as would be found.
Studying Bible verses and ancient poets
Until meaning is engraved on who one is,
Seeking images, highlights, making
Adventure in every visited space,
Harmonies, lyrics, melodies lightly stored,
Every experience questioned, explored,
Each day providing, proving mystery,
Reasons, motives, dissected, laid bare.
Love throughout it all, yet doubt, fear,
Dual vines growing untempered,
But love more potent than any adversary
Filling heart, mind, soul with those
Sensibilities needed to become complete –
Writing the poems acquired for the desire
Of the choosing to sufficiently compete.

An instrument, malleable, beloved
Desiring to encourage, inspire, love,
Through the application of gifts.

I am most fortunate. There is much for which to be grateful, many graces we never realize. It is my hope that all of you remain safe and well. That you take this time while some things take a time-out to renew relationships and do some of the things you often don’t but enjoy.

Maybe the lesson for us is appreciation, sometimes we are so caught up we lose sight of blessings. Gratitude is a beautiful way to honor love and life.

Create. Creativity is destiny.

Alchemy

What of us who are
Unlike as earth and water,
Surrounded by air?
Can we find much in common
Together in sharing things?

Light breathes on fields, waves,
Shore kisses surf giving bits
In the wash and spray,
Earth witnesses ocean, river,
Providing base and surface.

Opinions diverge
The atmosphere becomes charged,
Violent manner quelled,
Animosity prohibited,
Civilized conversation reigns.

No stolen thunder,
No shrill banshee wails unleashed,
Gentle the turmoil –
Evoking tranquility,
Projecting calm, bringing peace.

Communication
Is our art for reasoning
Forging agreements
Bringing our society
Into greater possibility.

Our differences
We must recognize, treasure,
Encourage tolerance
For only Love can forestall
More horrible disasters.

We, diverse but like,
Needing one and another
Dependent, yet free,
You reflect with me, empathy,
Together we clearly see.

The poem was three verses when I transferred it. It did a sea change. I want you to know most often when I speak of Love it is the agape love we experience in Christ Jesus.

Yesterday really shook me. I do not know how much I will be writing.

I have never experienced pandemonium like that in the physical world before.

Anyway, you all take care. Blessings on each of you.

Fall Out

I avoid going out
Because it makes me
Uneasy,
But medical needs
Become primary,
Today knee shots,
Last four of a series
Of twelve, shorts, tee.
The need for things
Drove me to Sam’s Club,
It was CRAZY!
No paper goods at all
And lines worse than
During the holidays.
I kept not touching
My face with my hands,
But the wrist for hair
In my eyes, irritant.
At Kroger I made
Some lady mad,
I did not know why.
Got out of there
Quick time,
The place was a mess.
The disorder in both
Stores was disorienting.
Mailed a letter at the P.O.
In the drop.
Decided to have
Haircut,
Sanity was a factor.
The librarians asked
Where my bag was,
I have not been in
Months.
I stocked up on
Books,
You know, in case
Of apocalypse.
The fear out there
Was palpable,
The desperation
Was frightening,
The majority
Of people were
On the edge of control.
I stay home a lot,
Right now,
I think the pandemic
Has me working
On being home
Even
More than usual.
It was peculiar
How the tension
Seemed near to
Boiling to the
Surface.
It had no sense
Of understanding
It breathed meanness.
I was even more pleased
To return home than
Usual.
I do not have a fully
Developed idea of how
This may go, but
You all that are
Out there every day
I am praying you
Stay safe.
The panic of a pandemic,
It seems well underway.

This was after the haircut.

Pardon me for writing about this today. It has been difficult settling and much on my mind. I am hoping others do not experience it as I did. I think I am set for a bit here.

The weather was beautiful today, which was a grace.

Maybe I will be back with something, or perhaps I will just settle myself. This has caused me much concern. I do not like to see the world fall into disarray.