Delicious Enlightenment

 

You never know where magic is going to come from in this wonderful world. Sometimes it could even come at a trip to the store for a treat. 

Come one, come all, and hear the story about a boy and his ice cream. 

 

This is not just any sort of ice cream. This is the Jolly Llama brand of diary-free, gluten-free, coconut cream, caramel chocolate chip cones. You know the type with the chocolate chunk at the bottom of the pyramid cone? 

 

This delightful delight was first encountered by this boy – OK, it was me – about two years ago when my wife introduced it to me. I was transfixed by the flavor and higher purpose. 

 

And OK, maybe I’m not a boy, but the giddiness and joy I feel when I treat myself to such a treat, is timeless and boundless. How delicious could enlightenment get?

 

You think I exaggerate? 

 

Just ask my wife when these are OUT of stock at the local store, and when we discover that they are indeed IN stock. It can go from extreme disappointment to utter glee. And let me tell you, it’s not routinely the case that the glee comes. These days, the stores are rarely stocking these llamas. Oh sure, the vanilla ones or the pink or light brown or orange ones may be in the freezer section, but rarely do we get the taste of enlightenment, chocolate flavored. 

 

We happen to know the manager of a small deli in Mission Valley who would put in special orders for us, and it was normally hit and miss. “They are out of stock for two weeks. Come back next Saturday.” 

 

Because of my intense desire for enlightenment, my mind stays focused on the goal. It’s almost like a meditation; my mind gets so laser-beam. The result is we have found one store in the La Mesa area (NO, I will not tell you which one) that regularly carries this ice cream. We have gone a bit out of our way on occasion to travel to this store. 

 

It was on the last visit where the true magic happened. And I believe there is a great lesson in it for me … and for others if they are interested.

 

While my wife started in on other shopping, I approached the store entrance and bolted back to the freezer section where I knew they held the ice cream. I was filming the occasion to share with a friend interested in eating healthier desserts. I was in a great mood for various reasons, one to do with the treat but also because of other good stuff going on in my life. As I rushed up to the section of the freezer, I built up the suspense for my friend saying, “Here it comes….”  Just as I came to the row where the Jolly Llamas reside, I saw clearly: they are out of stock! An empty shelf! 

 

I kept the video rolling, and just finished it off with “dammit!” 

See HERE 

 

Dismayed but not destroyed, I kept my good mood intact. Sometimes in the past when I got upset about “missing out,” I went to a low place with thoughts such as:

• “Oh no, I’m too late.”
• “I knew it!” 
• “I waited too long and now I’ve made a big mistake.”
• “What a bummer!” 

Well, it may be because I was in such a good mood (and that it was merely a dessert) that the past distressing thoughts didn’t arrive too powerfully in my mind. I stayed upbeat and continued on my way to find Jennifer in the store. As I let her in on the bad news, just then, a young lady worker Ashlin turned the corner. For some reason, in a happy place, I chose to interact and have some lighthearted banter with her. In an overly dramatic fashion, I let her in on the lack of Jolly Llamas in the freezer. To which, she replied, “Let me see what I can do.”

What? Could it be? Could there be a second chance at delicious enlightenment? 

 

It only took her a couple minutes to return from another part of the store and reveal a box of dozens of chocolate Jolly Llamas. 

 

Wow. My first response was of gratitude and happiness. (That’s on video too.) 

 

Next I considered this very real reality: If I would have spiraled into some negative subconscious spin from the past about being “too late,” I would not have been open to seeing this young lady approach with another opportunity. If I would have been defeated, I would not have had the wherewithal to see the victory staring at me in the face. 

 

Perhaps that’s how it happens many times in our benevolent universe. 

 

The issue arises along with a solution. And it’s up to us to stay in the right mind to be able to notice it, and then act on it. 

 

These ice creams proved to be enlightening indeed. 

 

 

 

I Said Chloe’s Name

A dear friend has a lovely pooch named Chloe who has had some health challenges. Once I saw a Facebook post in which someone said a prayer for her, I was inspired by the phrase she used at a sacred space: "I said Chloe's name." Such a poetic line; such a poetic world. 

It’s who we are, it’s how we live 

I heard the news, I wanted to give

The social media post said your dear dog was ill

A prayer for all that is peaceful and still

As we join forces with the illumination of God’s will

Into your cup, from divine abundance, we will fill

I went to the altar today, before the candle flame 

Into the space, I said Chloe’s name

 

I said her name so that all could wish the best

For her health, for her vibrancy, for her rest

I said Chloe’s name, and it gave life to the word 

The blessings of bounty, we can be assured

By a mere utterance, she was placed into the mind of God

That little rascal with dark curls, that wonderful dog

Healing any conditions, the aches, the owies and the pains

Glady, and with exuberance, I said Chloe’s name

 

And so here we stand, as concerns shift to care

Of the path of heart and healing, we are aware

Perfect health in all its forms - spirt, body and mind

For those who remember the power of simply being kind

And giving to those in need when it’s time to say a prayer

Standing strong in faith, as concerns shift to care

Surely yet humbly … happy that up to this alter I came 

So that I could speak into the space … I said Chloe’s name

I said Chloe’s name

 

Hennessy – Come To Me

We lost our dear Hennessy in June 2021. Yet the desire for connection lives on. 

We keep the toys that carry so many joys

With some, somehow, still making noise

Memories last beyond the distant past 

Recalling how all of our characters were cast

Us in the front seat, you in the backseat

Surely, making every one of us complete

Words we’d repeat when we would meet

Touch, sit, catch, and keeek – keeek - keeek 

Feeling free, bending down to a knee

Calling out your name, “Hennessy – come to me”

 

Left behind, a puzzle piece never to find

Forever missed, forever in our mind

Wanting to rewind, time and space are not kind

Reaching out for a mystic reading or a sure sign

The loving presence is here, that we do not fear

It’s just that the physical touch is not near

The journey of the daily walk, the two-way talk

Living without that is a devastating shock

They tell us to trust, I imagine that we must

Yet still calling out, “Hennessy – come to us”

 

So we go our way, living onward day to day

Recalling beautiful memories on this – your birthday 

How you’d never stay but like to tug-of-war play 

Proceed to open gifts not sent to you, anyway

How you would frustrate when we would meditate

Through the door you would no longer hesitate

Perhaps beyond this plane, you will remain

Where we all three will remember our names

In dream-states and love-scapes free, we’ll know where to be

Where maybe, just maybe, you call out … “Come to me”

 

Such Is The Life

This is not a piece of prose about the abuse victim or the censored patriot, or the obvious analogy between the two, but rather the failure of the abuser who wants to silence the accuser coming back into his or her own power.   

The wounded child cries out for understanding

With all the rottenness the big people are demanding
With the touching in secret places where they don’t belong
Nothing - nowhere - no-how – it’s all just so wrong
But are they the “problem children” speaking up when others won’t?
Or are they the ones screaming for fairness when others don’t?
When silence and stifling are rewarded by the wicked ones
They can’t help but point out what these people have done
They have to fight through the dirty looks, the punishment and the yelling
Such is the result when children are standing up ... and telling
Do they get a kind word, a bended knee, a willing ear, a compassionate hug?
Or simply defensiveness, neglect and the desire to sweep it all under the rug? 
 
Such is the life for the misused, abused, the ones who are still aware
Carrying the burden and weight of the knowledge when no one else will care
Such is the life for those who speak up when others want to shut them down
As they wander lonely halls of the home, praying for an angel to come around 
Such is the life for the ones who will speak no matter how much they are shamed
Gathering even more faith in something invisible they cannot even name 
 
Similarly, so it is for those who speak to tyrants – truth to power
To those mask-wearing suits who are nothing more than spineless cowards
The wicked return, but not as the abuser but rather the accuser pointing at us
To save face, to stay in control, to remain detached, they do what they must
But once more, do we go quiet, do we just let it all fall, and stay still?
Or is there another undenied authority, emerging through divine will? 
No matter the source, we are true to course, and take the slings and arrows
As the path before us, and the evil, narrows and narrows and narrows
Until there is a single way – one of peace, love, unity and light
We can rest assured – we were faithful – we fought the good fight
 
Such is the life – we have made the choice to live for the good of all 
Knowing that it is possible to return to the garden after the fall
The fake leaders? They will go their way, and fade away, learning what they must
We release their strategy of trying to divide and conquer, creating enemies out of us
We choose liberty, inalienable rights, freedom of assembly and speech
Learning for ourselves about all those things we came here to teach
No preaching now, we have history and destiny on our side
Such is the life, such is life – we recognize the truth we no longer need to hide 
Such is the life, the wounded child is rescued by our maturity, and by the Christ 
Now as adults united – we take every wrong of the past ... and make it right 

Sehra Did

A lovely gal doing a simple act, a good deed in a weary world. 

I went up to the president of a non-profit organization bringing my view of something that was amiss, hoping she would understand. She did not.

But Sehra did.

I went to an old friend who let me down recently, to communicate my disappointment, hoping he would understand. He did not.

But Sehra did.

I went to 100 other people over 20 years wanting their receptivity and an understanding of what transpired, but only got their defensiveness, their excuses and their denial. I was hoping they would receive my expression. They did not.

But Sehra did.  Yes Sehra did.

On one day in June, 18-year-old Sehra from Encinitas was celebrating her graduation day. My girlfriend and I were driving up the 5 Freeway and decided to stop by her mom’s house, visit a bit, give Sehra a greeting card and a hug or two. What happened was the distracted Sehra spent more time focused on the Internet rather than her visitors. Even after her mother asked her to put the Internet away and be respectful to the two in the room, Sehra continued to focus her attention on the computer screen.

Taken aback a bit, my girlfriend and I realized later how that didn't sit right with us. You know how it goes sometimes, the delayed response? Well, we wanted to say something - how that didn't feel right with us, how it felt disrespectful. Now given the history of simply trying to express a view to friends, given the history of taking communication classes that teach not to "judge," given the years of being faced with defensiveness within those we are wanting understanding, it would have been easy to give up on the situation. You know - just do what millions do across the war-torn field of misunderstandings. Just go mum, carry resentment, and slowly allow the relationship and friendship to just die away. 

But we love Sehra too much. And so we approached her - open expression, allowing our disappointment to come through.  

What hundreds have not been able to muster over years of attempted communication, Sehra was able to do. Humbly, and with the grace of a pure heart, Sehra responded ... with: 

• An "I'm so sorry"
• An "I realized what I had done after you had left"
• An "I love you guys"

Very simply, very bravely, very … innocently.

Can it be so hard to find such humility in the face of a possible conflict or confrontation of egos? Many of the adults - possibly hoping to save face or not feel toxic guilt within them - simply choose defense. In moments of accountability, when someone drops the ball, makes a mistake that impacts another, or otherwise blows it, they are asked to be big enough to own their part, offer a humble expression of regret, gift some appreciation for the other speaking up, and perhaps offer something in return to restore the good relations.

In those moments, many cannot.

But Sehra did. 

Yes, Sehra did.

                                       
Jim Ellis is a writer and filmmaker living in Lemon Grove, California.

The Other Side of the Sun

After loved ones pass away, a myriad of thoughts come along.

 

Tell me where do they go – my friends who were here with me

People tell me to let them go, let it flow, let it be

Tell me of a heaven in the skies, tell me all of those lies

I want to know where the angel of death lands and then flies

The mystery of death is a door with cracked streams of light 

The mystery of death may just reveal the mystery of life

So pull back the curtain, unveil the veil

Disclose the final scene of every fairy tale

Roll that bolder away from the secret cave

I want to know - where are Christiane, Steve, Jullya and Dave?

 

Is it the haven where angels sing a perfect tune?

The land where every sin has been undone? 

Is it the dark side of the moon?

Or ... is it the other side of the sun?

 

Tell me where do they go – the souls who used to walk and talk

And eat and drive and play, and stop and start

They would speak on the phone and then gather for dinner

And watch TV sports – consoling the loser, celebrating the winner

They would gather at parties, and have fun out on the town

They would play the roles of competitor, collaborator and class clown

They were, in the end, someone that no one could save

I want to know – where are Christiane, Steve, Jullya and Dave?

 

Is it a heaven where all have reserved a mansion room?

The kingdom where the Divine reunites with everyone? 

Is it the dark side of the moon?

Or ... is it the other side of the sun?

The other side of the sun

 

The Sun Shines

A pal was talking about how he wanted to simply have positive impact by being himself, but not be attached to who is impacted in any certain way. I was thinking how the sun shines and doesn't dictate how anyone receives its rays, as if it could say, "You over there get a tan, and you over there - receive some Vitamin D." No ... the sun just shines.

The sun shines, it shines, it’s all it ever does
The sun’s identity – all it is and all it ever was 
Remains … it remains … never restricted or restrained
Never lessoned, never censored, never detained 
No matter day or night in some other distant land
No matter what astronomers come to understand 
No matter clouds that come to block radiant rays 
No matter the history found in the ancient of days
The sun shines, it shines, though planets may make their move
There is no need to justify, no one to convince, nothing to prove
The sun shines 
 
Also not detained or restrained, there is another that remains
Right there, at your own center … your love is the same
No matter the bitter blows that arrive in this mystery shitshow
No matter the barriers and roadblocks that come and go
No matter the manipulation of mind, the raping of souls
No matter the gradual deterioration, or the moss that grows  
It is there to be known, to be expressed, not repressed 
Even if distress covers the light with a murky and muddy mess 
Your love shines, with no need to impact or impress 
But simply because at your genesis, you were blessed 
The love shines 
 
And so it is – from the beginning of eternity and beyond 
A divine union created from the one sure bond
No need for magic wand, just a magician with a miracle to bring
A path you veered from, a song you forgot to sing
But it is not ever truly lost, it cannot be
As long as you have a heart longing to be free 
As long as your soul is intact, at the center of your self 
As long as love’s warmth allows the hardened ice to melt 
As long as every lie you learned is released into mist
Making way for the light that illuminates you in eternal bliss
The sun shines 
The sun shines