presence

8-31-23

There are no mistakes in nature, there is only what is.

We want permanence, we want stability.

The only permanence is impermanence.

Everything is in the process of growth and decay.

Attachment to the way things are brings suffering,

Rejection of the way things are brings suffering.

Make peace with the changing skies, changing seasons,

Changing lives.

Appreciate the beauty of the setting sun, as well as the

Gathering darkness.

This is your life, this is your ride, this is your existence.

Hold the moment not with your touch,

But with your vision, which does not grasp.

Release the memories that distort your ability to be at peace now,

Seeing beauty in the now will help to release painful memories.

If you are unable to see beauty in this moment, create it-

It is within your power to.

8-24-23

Very light small clouds hang in the sky today,

Their movement undetectable.

A day of oppressive heat.

I start the day a little lost, direction unknown, a wandering soul.

I can live with that.

This day too will become a memory,

Maybe soon forgotten, maybe notable.

To me it is the most important day, let me make it my own.

I hope to meet other lost souls, to share the path-

If only for a moment.

8-27-23

As the day rises, let my heart rise as well.

Let my peace not be disrupted as I travel through the changes of the day.

Let me not fear what appears to be chaos,

Aware that reality is always balancing itself in the process of creation.

A moment of stillness is always present to remind me that all is well.

7-31-23

Forgiveness returns as an over-riding necessity in how to have relationships.

He who is unforgiven, moves on, he proceeds with his life, often unaware.

He who is unforgiving stays and moves no further, believing he can change

the past, or create justice.

We are all imperfect people and we all hurt each other.

I believe I can learn how to own my pain, be aware of its’ rising and passing,

Without seeking blame, living forgiveness.

I still need more practice with owning my pain and releasing blame.

However, I am beginning to get a glimpse of the possibility.

As I reflect; All the pain in my life has passed, once I allowed it to.

8-17-23

Cool winds and a cloud covered sky present a pleasant change on this young morning.

The rain that was forecast is slow to come, if at all.

That’s OK, all will be well. The last remnants of darkness have been swept away.

Let me live this day humbly.

Let me not be a hinderance.

Let my presence be unnoticed.

Let me be a witness to the moment, as it yields to the next.

Let me offer support from a hidden foundation of peace

8-7-23

Learning this life, learning how to live, once the lesson is learned,

Life changes and I must learn again.

It makes the moment special, it might be familiar, but not the same.

We gather our experiences and value them, but their guidance is

Incomplete. Each moment requires open-mindedness as well.

As I ruminate, the moon catches my eye, it is setting, the soft white

Whisper in the pale blue sky.

I stop talking to myself, and allow appreciation for the gentle touch

Of the morning moon. No feeling, sense, or thought, just appreciation.

No inspiration, desire, or expectation. Only This.

This is what I was made for. To be present for existence. To be present

For appreciation.

8-2-23

One of the most difficult realities for me to accept is,

“People believe what they want to believe”,

We pretty much all do.

We’re really not looking for what’s right or what’s true,

We seek more to justify our choices and confirm our view.

We join with others with whom we agree,

Self righteously avoiding to see differently.

Although there are those who think me wrong-

I just can’t deny it.

I will trust my own counsel if my heart just can’t buy it.

7-31-23

To travel unmarked roads, to breathe new air,

To see what has not been shown-

To discover what has always been there.

To travel through your own insanity,

To make peace with your pride and your vanity.

To forgive until the wisdom of forgiving is revealed,

To open until the final secret is unsealed.

To keep showing up when you are no longer sure why,

To know that your mind can get stuck,

But your heart can always fly.

7-18-2023

As the day dawns, I am surrounded by activity and busyness.

It is good to be still, to allow everything to happen without me.

Still learning how well things work without me.

Learning how to step aside when not needed, nothing to add or takeaway.

Learning how to live with the natural order of things.

There is a place and a time in our lives for ambition and accomplishment,

But it is equally important at the proper time to live without them.

To live with acceptance and trust.

To know that I may be making matters difficult, instead of better.

Today maybe a peaceful heart and a calm mind is my best contribution.

As the morning sun clears the eastern clouds, the tree line to the west turns gold

And I get to see it.

7-9-23

To be given this time, this place, I am overwhelmed by emotion.

There is so much here for us,

The material world blocks so many other sounds and visions.

It is so necessary for me to detach as often as possible,

To connect to the deeper reality that exists for us all.

Find peace in your interior life and it will always accompany you.

We do not need to be afraid of the world or deny it’s reality,

But we can learn to not overvalue its’ struggles and rewards.

We are more than that.

Learn the value of being alone.

Spend time in nature, wherever that may be for you.

Meditate, whatever that may be for you.

Believe in and trust your own creativity as it grows inside of you.

Gratitude will be more than a word, more than an emotion,

It will be your experience.

7-6-23

Today the clouds move slowly, north to south,

A pale blue sky provides the background,

I struggle to find my place today-where do I begin?

What is my purpose?

I feel the need to connect to something, no breeze moves me.

Do we reach a point, is there a moment when we know our work

has been completed?

Are we overtaken by peace, but unfamiliar with the feeling?

Do our souls know the truth but our mind hangs on wanting more-

Still hoping for necessity.

Is today the day I stop using caffeine to fuel my ambition?

Is it the day I stop the heart medication that adds more days?

Is today the day I start living the words I’ve written,

Quiet acceptance, peaceful ways.

I could never leave, it would be too sad, I will have to be taken.

6-25-23

The day dawns and I realize I am at odds with myself already.

I find myself blaming other people for my problems.

In my head I create conflict with others to avoid the conflict within.

Fortunately I am able to get away, and I arrive at the park.

I stop to observe the forest and the sky,

To appreciate the rainfall we received last night.

Detaching from social relationships for now,

I focus on the place I am in.

In this moment I need only belong to this place, nowhere else.

My breath slows and deepens.

A small rising of emotion waters my eyes,

My struggle has turned to gratitude.

The natural world unfolds, unaware of me, incapable of judgement.

I turn to it for todays lesson of acceptance.

6-19-23

So much starlight left to see, so many mysteries to behold.

So much grace has been given me, my failure turned to gold.

I look forward to each day, even more the darkest night.

Finally loosing judgement as well, not knowing wrong or right.

And now we show up for our lives, never knowing what will be.

Never sure of what it’s all about, only sure it’s not about me.

Moving through the day, whether it’s a moment or a mile.

It’s less important what I say, more important that I smile.