The Gift of Yes

 

Today I saw a photo within one of those Facebook memories.

Not just any photo.

It was one of those photos that stands out, has one take pause, and then offer a message, magically captured within the camera’s lens and upon the picture frame.

1000 words? Neigh, this would offer, somehow, so many more … at this moment in time, for this mind of mine, anyway. 

 

Here was a daughter and a mother.

 

On a train.

 

The young one resting her head upon the shoulder of the mother. 

 

Beyond the veil of a simple train ride – a long, tiring one at that – I perceived a storyline, the length measured within lifetimes.   

 

For some reason, I imagined that once upon a time these two souls – presently named “Dawn” and “Samantha” – gave each other the gift of a "yes." At some point, in between what we understand as a life on earth, the two spirits looked upon another and decided they would follow through on playing the role of mother and daughter.  

 

As if, the words would have been: “Shall we be born into form once more? Shall we be family? Shall you be mine, and I be yours?” 

 

As if, the answer would have been “yes.” 

 

Is such a conversation real? Is there a reality of “another side” and the return here again and again? 

 

Who knows?

 

Who knows what takes place beyond this mere measly lower plane of awareness. 

 

What I do know, though, is that on some level we all answer the question of whether to relate with another person with a “yes” … or “no.” It can take place in the most simple way – a first date, a neighborhood game of basketball, a support group meetup, a lifetime of marriage. 

 

It reminds me of the Joni Mitchell song “Secret Place.”  It goes like this:

 

Out of all of the girls that you see
In bleachers and cafe windows
Sitting flirting with someone
Looking to have some fun
Why did you pick me?
For the secret place

 

Think of all the relations that have taken place – for a season, for a lifetime, for a reason – wherein on some very real level, both of you decided to join here in experience. 

 

On whatever level the choice was made, for better or worse, for the sake of lessons and growth, for the grand life experience that relationships can bring … once upon a time we made an agreement.  

 

This is the story that this photo told me today. It’s a sweet one … full of mystery, purpose and beauty. 

 

We are indeed blessed. 

 

Whenever we recognize the gift that is “yes.” 

What Comes After Meditation?

For this writing, I did an experiment to see what came through after my morning meditation. Hmm, only took about 25 minutes. Nice!

What comes after meditation?
After some sacred time in contemplation
After the bliss of silent whisper, a surreal song
The gentle reminders of an eternal calm
What arrives after that serene stillness sublime?
Perhaps a few words placed in meter and rhyme
But the one major theme that can not be denied
Is that there is an outer world, as there is one inside
There is a world not always made of sugar and spice 
Upon arising from meditation, there is always this life

Life in all of its many myriads of form
Some I wish to discard; some I wish to adorn
There are parts of life that are, yup, a complete drag
And then the treasures of experiences I’m so glad I’ve had 
There are ups and downs and smiles and frowns
With a circus of every sort of face on the clowns 
Yes, this can be a circus with its wacky wacked-out whacks
And stacks of stupidity with attacks from the back 
Yet there is also a nature supreme beyond this mere dream
Bringing a beauty, a light, a love - beyond that which is seen  

So what do we with all this after sitting so still?
Surrender to the circus or to God’s divine will 
Maybe we embrace whatever comes our way
And leave it to the archangels to clear clouds away
Perhaps we bring that inner stillness to all that we have here
Or just carry it closer, as the darkness comes near  
Life will bring us everything, in a million different forms 
With our inner light, we can weather any turbulent storms
And so what comes after meditation to this poet’s mind?
I imagine some inspiration born of meter and rhyme

Walking The Daily Walk With You

For my wife, our 10 year anniversary at hand, as I reflect on the walks we take every day.

Step after step, some slow, some swift, left and then right 

Down Berry Street, east on Mt. Vernon, then south on McKnight

Looking for relief from the world of mankind, looking for love 

We take our daily walk with nothing but the sky and clouds above 

Passing trees and lawns, passing neighbors who oftentimes wave 

Trying to process the junk and gunk of the working day 

Beyond the retirement home stillness, beyond friendly Ricardo’s

This is the path of least resistance; this is simply the way it goes 

Sometimes in life, there really is nothing more to say or do 

Walking the daily walk with you

 

Recalling different memories, my father’s “It’s great to be alive” 

Down Berry Street, left on Mt. Vernon, then right on Gold Lake Drive

We walk against the wind heading west, but we do our best 

An abandoned house, a barking dog or two, a grounded bird’s nest

Planning future adventures – some bring agitation, some bring smiles 

Another installment for our friendly visit for “The Nala Files” 

Past the council member’s manor, alongside school grounds and gravel 

With mixed emotions … recalling the one missing on our travels

Sometimes in life, there really is nothing more to say or do 

Walking the daily walk with you

 

Now over the years, there is a sacred stroll that we can recall

Embracing experiences from the first day, embracing it all 

Our 10-year anniversary, April 7 it will be, so much we have seen

With so many walks and talks, and so many miles in between

For better or worse, we find the laugh in the gap, we enjoy the ride

For beyond the bless or curse, the Divine joins us there in stride 

The path of least resistance; never to turn away or snub 

It was there, Point Loma, Santa Barbara Street, the Thursday Club

When you walked the aisle, in front of family and God, the ocean view

Sometimes in a lifetime, there truly is nothing more to say or do 

Walking the daily walk with you