A Good Thing

I have a calendar on my desk which has quotes on it and the quote for today says "Too much of a good thing is still a good thing." This seemed exceptionally appropriate given that today marks 7 years since I arrived in Israel. So many emotions fill my soul today. But somehow they all come back to gratitude. Gratitude to God for having put me here, for having given me the opportunity to live in an environment that reflects and is a manifestation of the nobility and true essence of the human race, for having tested me and assisted me to grow and move farther beyond my own limitations and fears than I ever would have thought possible. A bit of sadness for all the beautiful souls I have said good-bye to in the 7 years I've been here, but also so much gratitude to have had them in my life. Particularly a family that just left 2 days ago. Two precious little girls and their loving and beautiful parents whose fingerprints are all over the most joyful and touching memories of my service here and who have left an imprint in my heart that will stay with me forever. I think I will feel grateful for the rest of my life for the gift that has been my time here.

Vulnerability

I stare at your dead flowers
shaking in the breeze
While right beside you
your small brother flourishes
His coral flowers reach for the sun
What left you destitute my friend?
bereft of life giving beauty
What internal struggle broke your spirit
leaving you an inflexible and thorny barrier?
How can I help you to bloom again?
To believe in your worth
to show your vulnerability?
For the most vulnerable and fragile part of ourselves
is often the blossoming flower
that attracts the hearts of others

How do I?

How do I sacrifice more deeply?
How do I love more completely?
How do I align my life more with Your will?
How do I ensure my cup, I eventually fill?
How do I draw closer to You with each passing day,
And learn to see colors in what is only grey?
How do I feel Your gentle breeze,
And recognize the confirmations I receive?
How do I see in each test sweet gifts,
And ensure my heart never drifts?
How do I pray with greater ferver,
And live life as more than just an observer?
How do I know I am who You wish me to be?
How do I become a bird, flying high and free?

Resplendent

A pearl

Its surface reflecting the glory

Of it's untold story

Imperfect, yet glorious

By its very nature victorious

Shines resplendent within you

Within me

Every experience

Adding a layer to our being

A boundless ocean freeing

Us from the dust that gave us this form

From the ego's storm

Drawing us further from ourselves

Towards God

I choose this form

To shape my inner self

A manifestation of the wealth

You placed within my heart

Your glorious art

I must polish the mirror of my soul

And let Your light shine through it

Resplendent

A Symphony of Light

A symphony and delight

The wondrous mid-day sky

A dance that fills our sight

Tween the sun and clouds on high

Without the clouds both grey and white

And the contrast which they each supply

We couldn't appreciate the glory of light

And see in tests God's loving eye

The Ripples of Existence

He stands by the rail

Staring out at the expanse of ocean

Contemplating the depth of humanity’s tale

The ripples we each set in motion

These temporary swells

That disappear into the vast calm sea

Are as the greetings and farewells

Of a moment with eternity

The water's ebb and flow

Forced aside by his journey's advance

Tell of distant shores where waves will show

The impact of their passage's dance 

For though we live for a moment's breath

And pass quietly through with no commotion

The effects we leave long after our death

Are a testament to our love and devotion

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The Bounty of Rain

As the clouds roll in

The air warms and my heart soars

The flowers reach out in longing and anticipation

For the flood of grace that will pour from the sky

The water falls 

Gently and beautifully painting the world with life

Showering existence with new energy and vigor

A gift of God, given to revive and restore

The earth sings it's gratitude

As the air is cleaned and purified

The dust and dross of this world washed away

All colors vibrant and glorified by the bounty of rain

Bahji in Bloom

Red and green paint my vision

Life and beauty a mural of grace

Between the soul and the world there lives no devision

When walking the pebbled paths of this place

The tension that lives outside of these gates

Slips silently away with the glorious breeze

And my heart's delight patiently waits

As I walk down the line of cypress trees

My feet never falter in their quest to attain

The Mystery entombed in that sacred room

And I would give my life to ever remain

On this path of His love, as the flowers in bloom

A Haven of Beauty

I often seek solitude in nature
Mountains and trees
Eagles soaring high and free
Or the sun on my back
The feel and sound of the breeze

In these times of quiet reflection
I sit with my chin on my knees
Staring out at the sea
Introspective and pondering
The world that surrounds me

In these moments of calm thought
To another place do I transcend
I'm reminded that love knows no end
Mirrored back to me in the beauty of this earth
I find my truest and closest Friend

A Divine Springtime

As night gives way to the dawns first rays
We greet the new day and sing God’s praise
The sun’s embrace warms the earth with His grace
By its radiant face traversing the vastness of space

In the breath of the morn a new breeze is born
One many have sworn with their lives to adorn
It’s fragrance speaks of a Beauty unique
For any who seeks to attain it’s great peek

So we pray for His light to illumine our sights
Like birds taking flight unto glorious heights
And we soar on the wings of the King of Kings
As nature gladly sings of His blossoming Spring

The Climb

She was told to climb the mountain

     An intimidating aspiration

     To conquer His marvelous creation

Seen from the bottom there was nothing but clouds

     The distance to the summit boundless

     The request unreasonable and groundless

No words could be spoken, not a single thought voiced

     Submitting outwardly, she began to walk

     Suffering, sweltering, yearning to talk

Frustration trapped in her parched mouth, she struggled with every step

     But slowly the complaints eased and faded

     As she moved forward alone and unaided

The echoes of silence consumed all her thoughts

     The wonder of being alone in her mind

     Of searching within herself and removing her blind

Nature's tranquility brought calm to her heart

     Her thoughts turned to the path she was treading

     Where she had been and to where she was heading

As she approached her goal, tears filled her eyes

     In awe of the freedom she felt in her soul

     The recognition of her true self, of taking control

Her last few steps were taken with wonderment

     Leaving behind her faults and imperfections

     The ecstasy of the moment bringing clarity to her reflections

She understood that life is not about fleeting trials or achievements

     For all these things will come and pass with the ebb and flow of time

     But rather, detaching from self and drawing closer to Him 

     Is the true and wondrous purpose of this never-ending climb

This is a poem I wrote in Jan-2011 but never published. I tweaked it a little, but it seems appropriate now for many reasons. It was inspired by a story from a friend's blog - http://sahbarohani.blogspot.co.il/2007/02/greatness.html.


Picture from google search - http://jakartaexpat.biz/travel/climbing-mt-merapi-no-jumping-pictures-please/

A Jasmine Blossom

The sweet perfume of thy petals

Will accompany me this day

Invigorating my soul

Strengthening and guiding my way

Given by the loving hand

Of a pure and radiant heart

A reminder of His constant grace

This living work of art

Your intoxicating fragrance

In an instant transports me

To the pivot of my essence

The threshold of His Mercy

Your fragile, delicate blossom

Will slowly wilt and die

But the glory of your fragrance

Is beyond the mortal eye

Connection

Little by little I became a shadow
My essence unmanifested, my heart's comfort out of reach
Grasping for an anchor in this world
A connection from which Your love to beseech

But no matter how I struggled and searched
My efforts felt in vain, my quest incomplete
And as my joy and light slipped out of my grasp
I lost sight of the concrete

But with one glimpse of a mountain of snow
One raven's call, one forest's glory
I found that connection once again
The physical bindings to my soul's eternal story

A Door Unlocked

What waits for me there,

In the land of longing and glory?

An answer to my questions?

The continuation of my story?

Why have I been blinded for so long,

To the truth of my love for you?

You have called to me for eleven years

And my heart yearned for your view

My essence answered your call,

But I thought you were out of my reach

Gone forever from my life

Beyond any gift my prayers could beseech

Now I look back in wonder

At the door I thought was locked

And can’t wait for the day

When my footsteps again fall where once they walked

Longing for Beauty and Innocence

(a pantoum)

This longing lives deep within me

Trees of green and nature's glory

For a place I once felt safe and free

For northern lights and endless stories

Trees of green and nature's glory

Explored through childhood's purity

For northern lights and endless stories

Paint pictures of joy and security

Explored through childhood's purity

The magic and wonder of life

Paint pictures of joy and security 

Free from all pain and strife

The magic and wonder of life

As lovely as the rain in the sky

Free from all pain and strife

Soaring as high as an eagle can fly

As lovely as the rain in the sky

This love in my heart still holds true

Soaring as high as an eagle can fly

Alaska, I pray once again to greet you

This love in my heart still holds true

For a place I once felt  safe and free

Alaska, I pray once again to greet you

This longing lives deep within me

Reaching His Presence

Gold flowers narrow my vision
Shoes placed neatly around the door
The fragrance of roses, waft gently toward me
My feet find calm in the carpet strewn floor

Light flowing in from the high ceiling windows
Brings with it a sense of serenity and peace
Flowers and birdsong engulf my whole being
Turning that corner my control I release

Each step has a magic, each breath a new meaning
My soul approaching the source of its yearning
Beyond that threshold, an unknowable Presence
The force around which our whole world is turning

This place is a beacon, this visit a blessing
One I will never fully understand
His confirmations and love surround me
A bounty from God to have come to this land

30 Days of Creativity: Day 1 - Ode to a Dolphin

Light glistens off each wave
Your fins dance through the masterpiece
A breeze textures the rich ocean surface
My vision created for this wondrous purpose
To breathe in the beauty of your presence

Each piece of creation mirrors forth His beauty
Glimpses of His unknowable essence
The rock His Steadfastness, the candle His Light
Your existence reminds me to see with His sight
For your love and grace bring joy to my soul

Whispered Longing

In my mind I see
The leaves change, the colors range
My heart starts beating, the season's greeting
The wind blows by, the mountains sigh
As rain lightly falls, purifying inflexible walls

In my heart I feel the glee
First sight of snow, sets my eyes aglow
Calm settles on the trees, anchored by the winter freeze
Lights reflected, peace perfected
Joy resounding, love abounding
As it settles in my soul, the beauty brings life and makes me whole

The Same Moon

The moon out my window
Shines bright like the sun
A reminder each night
That the whole world is one

No matter the barriers
Or the hatred we croon
When we lay our heads down
We all see the same moon

Sunset

When I see the sun in the sky
I become more aware
That His love is always there
For us to feel and share
The source of everything
The lifeblood of the earth
Remember to look for worth
By finding him within

I want to watch the sun set
On this beautiful day
I want to see the rays
Make color from this gray
As the sun goes down,
It will light up the sky
And that's when I
Will find Him

Sun meets earth,
Earth touches man
You can feel His love
In the warmth of the sand
Even in the night
When you can't see the light
You know its just around the earth's bend
And at dawn you will see it's radiance once again