Uh-Oh

The “Thin Mints” are gone,
Opened the box and kooky
Cookie Monster ruled.

Because I am the Hungry, Hungry Hippo.

Honest though, binging is an uncontrollable thing, and I cannot purge, so I pay a price. Keeping weight down is an endless war, and food has the winning hand.

Stop, Do Stop!

A hole wide open
Met inside experience,
A phone call today,
Ignored again, it remains
A worry of mind, all mine.
Will it never cease?
Calling, calling, no answer,
It will not become;
Forcing is no way with me,
I quit, will not engage, talk.
Months, and still pursued –
Why? There is no one, nothing
Here, to cling onto,
My properties, forsaken –
My attributes, verboten.
I erected boundaries
For all the best of reasons,
No coward am I, but fear
It has become acid inside.

I have two phone stalkers who will not desist. Many months have passed, it continues. Forgive me, I need to let my fear vent.

Story Start – She Is

She did not like to say life was hard, because she recognized everyone had challenges, problems, struggles. Adding her bit to the misery did not seem right. She ate her consternation, her pain, along with what she collected from others. She tried to sample them only in privacy.

She found herself continuously resorting to prayer as she knew no other way to deal with such a multitude of troubles.

Sitting alone in this blindingly white room on perfectly cornered snowy linen in a gown that was allowing the air to nip at her back and behind, she felt more vulnerable than she liked. Her mind would drift into fear, and she would call it back like a hyperactive unleashed dog. Sometimes it obeyed, and she could bring it to heel, sometimes not.

The battle she faced was not unlike others, where her life was invaded. The trick was always finding a way to continue, overcome, survive. She snatched up her smile, painted it in permanent pigments, trusted her prayers, were continually heard, and chose joy over doubt. She might be weak, her weapons dull, but love was strong and capable. Even something life-threatening could not keep her down.

Seraphina would be okay, whatever befell, she determined to go bravely with a pleasant countenance and a spirit yielded to God.

Anyway, Love

In bright times laced with smiles,
On long days covering too many miles,
When success breezes in, dreams come true,
At moments when failure occurs, as it will do,
Find yourself constant, love anyway.

Discovering a new love, quite delicious,
Dealing with a terrible loss, needing one solicitous,
Welcoming the advent of excitement with joy,
Finding tedium and boredom in things that cloy,
You have the power within, love anyway.

When tired beyond bearing, yet cannot sleep,
Tempted by whatever pleasures, unable to keep,
Disappointed by those you hold precious, dear,
Facing intense battles, riddled by fear,
Square your shoulders, head held high, love anyway.

Embraces that gladden hearts near despair,
Confidence enriched from many, everywhere,
Friends on whom you can depend,
Relationships breaking to suddenly end,
The brightness and darkness, love anyway.

Love is not a few words, aptly said,
Invite it to live and tuck it in bed,
Love can be defined by no measure,
Love is all, present forever, infinite treasure,
We are our most competent best when we love anyway.

Photo taken in the Chapel at Callaway Gardens. I was there a number of times doing photo shoots.

I was struggling, not knowing what I would write tonight. A phrase leapt out of the novel I am reading, “he loved me anyway.” I immediately thought we should all love anyway. The poem came with some work, but it sure is nice to be loved anyway. I believe unconditional love is in somewhat short supply.

I hope each of you has a productive week, peppered with enough relaxation to keep you fortified for all that comes your way. May you gain the successes you strive for and find peace and love in all your ways. Be well, God Bless You!

@ Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

Steel, Today

All things exist within us,
Anxiety, doubt, fear, pain,
Gaiety, happiness, joy, pleasure,
Each one a reaction of the heart
Gifted by the immensity of soul.

We allow feelings at times
To overwhelm us and drift
Into a morass of despair,
Or deep jungles of desire;
We learn to steel ourselves.

Nothing and no one can have
Power over us, without
We permit and submit;
We are made so bold, strong,
Able to evade traps set before us.

The Love within us, our gifts
Of emotion and intellect are honed
To protect us from mighty storms,
We shall not be forced to conform
To what negates our justification.

All we are a precious company
Set forth to aid humanity,
Pressing forward, not gazing behind,
Fixed inside this time of confusion
To dispel destructive delusions.

Wield well the weapons given
Leading others into the glow
Even as the shadows grow
Like a cold forbidding night;
All belong in Christ, made bright.