Sweet One

Sweet One

My heart is overflowing with gratitude

As I sit here contemplating your sweet little soul

I have always known with unquestioning certitude

That someday your presence would make me whole

That you and your siblings would bring joy and completeness

The sense that my life’s purpose had been attained

With your smiles, your laughter, your light and your sweetness

I promise my love will be unrestrained

Take your time coming, but know we are here

Praying for you every morning and night

Waiting for your beautiful soul to appear

For our lives to be illumined by your radiant light

Your father and I promise to love you forever

As high as the sky and as deep as the sea

A love which nothing on this earth can sever

As far as the earth's core and as tall as the tree

This love will never for a moment waiver

It is as wide as the mountain and beyond what you see

Have faith in this love and let it help you be braver

As you learn to trust your heart and to give endlessly

Fire, Stone, Air and Water

Part 1 - Fire

A fire is born from the tiniest spark
A flame vulnerable and inconsequential
It must be protected and gently encouraged
In order to manifest it’s inherent potential

As humans we are much the same
Though we yearn to be independent
We must be encouraged and gently guided
In order to shine light glorious and resplendent

Thus the power we have in one another’s lives
Should not be ignored or considered lightly
We have the power to accompany, to believe in and love
And to gently encourage our friends to shine brightly

We also have the power to hurt those we love
When we think we have answers that they need to learn
Through a few thoughtless words or self-righteous acts
We can smother a spark before it can burn

So remember to love and gently encourage
To trust in the capacity of those who surround you
Believe in the flame that burns in their hearts
And watch as it’s beauty shines brighter and true

Part 2 - Stone

A polished stone begins as a rock
Protected and encased by the earth
Knowing nothing of its inner beauty
Unaware of its inherent worth

To manifest its hidden and glorious potential
Its rough edges must first be removed
Thrown together with other rocks
Through collision all edges are smoothed

Much like rocks it is quite a process
For our characters to be honed and polished
It is impossible to do in solitude
Alone our ego cannot be demolished

But in our relationships can be seen a tool
For complete and total transformation
When we collide and grind off each other’s edges
We catch glimpses of our true inner station

This is the beauty of human interaction
Through it we see with new eyes
For inside every human being
Is a gem just waiting to light up the skies

Part 3 - Air

We often smother ourselves
Hiding in the depths of our past
Unable to move forward
For fear each step will be our last

The air we breathe is filled with hurt
Denial, anger, fear and shame
We barely fill our lungs with air
Each breath poisoned with blame

We stop ourselves from feeling
The breezes of God’s love
Believing ourselves broken
And unable to attain the heavens above

But what if every test we’ve faced
Was strengthening our wings
Building within us courage and nerve
To rise to the heights of kings

Within us is the power to overcome
As much as we are willing to give
And as we transform we begin to see
That to fly is to truly live

Part 4 - Water

A drop of water becomes a puddle
A puddle becomes a stream
A stream becomes a river
Reflecting every sun beam

A river flows into a sea
A sea pours into the ocean
The depths of the ocean’s wisdom
Has set this world in motion

A tie of love is as two seas
Pulling two worlds together
Creating a body so vast and deep
It can calmly overcome any weather

Though the trials of this world of dust
May briefly darken its surface
It’s beauty lies beyond all reach
In the glory of it’s Divine purpose

For from marriage flows the essence of life
The potential for the transformation of our world
As each generation learns and develops
We watch a new civilization become unfurled

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.

The Essence of Who I Am

Happy Birthday Mommy! You are the song of my soul and the radiance that unites our family and draws us ever closer together! I hope you know how deeply and profoundly you are loved!

The Gift of Childhood

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

My Sacrifice

For so long, I’ve made effort
To learn, to strive, to grow
To be positive and optimistic
To kindle love’s wondrous glow

While I’ve grown beyond recognition
There’s an emptiness I feel 
A sorrow in my heart
That I yearn to understand, to heal

For with each passing day, each month, each year
I've set more of my essence up on a shelf
And hidden behind layers of responsibility
I find I am missing my old free and joyous self

The Light of the Kingdom

Make me a beacon of ever-flowing light

A bird enamored by the gifts of flight

A minaret wafting songs of joy and delight

A haven of love in the darksome night

Purify my heart from all worldly things

From the dust which sullies my mortal wings 

From self-focused thought and the torment it brings

From this world to which my ego clings

Let the Light of the Kingdom radiate through me

Its reflection illuminated in the depths of the sea

Its glorious message setting hearts and souls free

As each of us strives in His Light just to 'Be' 

"Let the love and light of the Kingdom radiate through you, until all who look upon you shall be illumined by its reflection."

Reflections

I feel like I've been lacking in creative inspiration

My mind and heart avoiding one another

My pen and fingers silenced by fear

Fear of what my heart and mind might say

Were they to meet

Right now I am drifting on a raft of separation

Holding my breath and trying not to make too many ripples

In the lives of others or myself

Not asking for anything, but wishing I could

Yearning to matter

I miss the comfort and sense of love that come

From living with a family

People to care for, to protect and cherish

A constant and continuous union of love and joy

Where all feel needed

Where the past and present meet is a rich sum

Of beauty and faith, light and joy

Where loss turns to growth and we continue to progress

Moving forward along a path

Known to all and yet none

Crisis and victory often shape my existence

As I walk a path unknown

Sometimes lonely and disappointed

Trying to be detached and to trust that if I put my faith in God

All will become clear eventually

Everyday I pray for Divine assistance

To let go of my sorrows and limitations

And I take comfort in the fact that as I struggle and learn

I draw closer to Him

And mature into the person He created me to be

A Joyous Day

A joyous day is the light in my life

The milestones of my past

On my future paths it is cast

It leads me forward with radiance and courage

Optimistically I move ahead

My soul afflame with the joy it was fed

This joy is the soundtrack of my life

My heartbeat, my measure

My deepest, cherished treasure

Without this blessed means of connecting 

I would surely perish and lose sight of what's real

But His mercy has given me this gift - to feel

(17-Mar-2011)

The Gift of Happiness

How could I not be unconsciously happy
In this wondrous place where His light shone
How could I not be filled with joy and wonder
At the way my spirit and mind have been honed
What astounding blessings have I been given
More profound and unfathomable than I have ever known
I pray with the fire which burns deep in my heart
That when I leave my capacity to serve Him will have grown

How could I not share this joy with others
When it has so graciously been bestowed upon me
How could I possibly cover this light
Which radiates and glows for all to see
This love and joy I find deep in your eyes
This laughter of life, this soul weaving glee
With happiness, laughter, joy and love
He gave us the gifts to set our souls free

The Power of a Smile

“O Son of Man! Rejoice in the gladness of thine heart, that thou mayest be worthy to meet Me and to mirror forth My beauty.”

When I see your smiling face
My heart is filled with light
It takes me to a place
Where His love shines glorious and bright
Every time I meet you
I am introduced again
To a spiritual beauty pure and true
A mirror with no end

Our soul’s rejoiceful meeting
Brings gladness to my heart
For in your radiant greeting
Is a perfect work of art
A masterpiece of bliss
The heartbeat of the world
What deep transformation exists
In this radiance unfurled

My foundation is recentered
My love for Him increased
Once this joy has entered
It screams to be released
I yearn to mirror forth
This beauty that’s inside
To inspire others to see their worth
The nobility they hide

And so I share with them
This gift you gave to me
Shining light into a gem
Produces radiance for all to see
In a single smile
We find a force for change
And there can be no denial
That hearts are rearranged

For when you smile with your heart
His beauty you reflect
And with each smile you start
Your own social and economic development project.

“O Son of Man! Rejoice in the gladness of thine heart, that thou mayest be worthy to meet Me and to mirror forth My beauty.”