Is God Real

The American poet, Emily Dickinson, hardly left her home in the mid 1800's, yet her insights into everyday life are astounding.  To think is a gift from God and he gave this gift to everyone.  Yet, not everyone uses this gift wisely. I find it surprising that Emily understood much about human behavior even though she was a bit of a recluse and had no radio or television or internet.

Watching television uses little brain power. Too much of that will dull the mind. Doing puzzles, word games, reading and hand coordination games is good for the soul as well as the mind. It's also good for each person to question, to ponder and to converse with others their thoughts and ideas so that they can build a better life for themselves and a better world for those that follow. Emily spent a lot of time thinking and her poems demonstrate that.



I never saw a Moor
-by Emily Dickinson-

I never saw a Moor-
I never saw the Sea-
Yet know I how the Heather looks
And what a Billow be.

I never spoke with God
Nor visited in Heaven-
Yet certain am I of the spot
As if the Checks were given-

Fire and Ice

Fire and Ice

by Robert Frost

Some say the world will end in fire.
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

I've bought and laid out the food and the invitations have been sent.

Yes, I'm having a party and the guests keep arriving. I'm not surprised to see so many. Word gets around when there's delicious food. In such a short time, too.

Even with the icy cold winds and snow drifts hammering at the house the guests keep a-coming. And the noise is unbelievable. Everyone came in great spirits. I've never heard such joy and chatter on such a cold and blustery day.

We have a variety of guests too. I counted a dozen or more of each kind. Cardinals, blue jays, sparrows, chickadee, finches, and a big gray squirrel.

I am blessed to be able to host this party. The joy of giving is well worth it. But really, my guests have given me far more than I have given them.

I want to leave you with another poem about perspective on this cold winter day. Spring is coming and the ice will soon melt away.

A Linnet in a Gilded Cage

by Christina Rossetti

A linnet in a gilded cage,-
A linnet on a bough,_
In frosty winter one might doubt
Which bird is luckier now.

But let the trees burst out in leaf,
And nests be on the bough,-
Which linnet is the luckier bird,
Oh who could doubt it now?
 

For the love of animals

If only animals could talk. We would learn a lot about ourselves if they could.

My dog has the most beseeching eyes and when she looks at me it's always because she wants love, food or approval. I often take her for granted as I rush past her to do some errand. I know that she forgives me when I ignore her. She has adjusted well to being the lowest peg on the rung.

Still, I think she gets the most attention from everyone in the household. All because she's so darn cute.

Here's a couple of poems with the insight of animals. I hope it gives you something to chew on.

The Old Horse in the City
by Vachel Lindsay

The moon's a peck of corn. It lies
Heaped up for me to eat.
I wish that I might climb the path
And taste that supper sweet.

Men feed me straw and scanty grain
And beat me till I'm sore.
Some day I'll break the halter-rope
And Smash the stable-door,

Run down the street and mount the hill
Just as the corn appears.
I've see it rise at certain times
For years and years and years.



The Python
by Hilaire Belloc

A Python I should not advise-
It needs a doctor for its eyes,
    And has the measles yearly.
However, if you feel inclined
To get one (to improve the mind,
    And not from fashion merely),
Allow no music near its cage;
And when it flies into a rage,
    Chastise it most severely.

I had an Aunt in Yucatan
Who bought a Python from a man
    And kept it for a pet.
She died because she never knew
These simple little rules and few-
    The snake is living yet.

 

Have you taken time to talk to someone

Happy New Year! The year is almost over and I've written few posts. I have regrets over this. I'm sure everyone has regrets. No person goes through life with no regrets. Everyone wishes at some point in their life they had done something differently.

Well, what's done is done. For the last post of the year 2012, I wanted to leave something meaningful. I found a poem written by American poet Robert Frost, well known for his easy story like poems about human nature and rural life that are easy to read and understand. He passed away almost fifty years ago after writing volumes of poetry. He is now celebrated as one of America's distinguished poets and thankfully was honored for his writing during his lifetime. Not all poets are. He read his well-known poem "The Gift Outright" at president John F. Kennedy's inauguration in 1962.

This poem reminds us to take time to stop, listen and talk with people along life's highway. It's a good thing to do. Instead of keeping busy for busy sake, it's more important to take time out from our  work to pause and to visit with folks.  A Time to Talk reminds the reader to slow down and to connect with someone even in the midst of our business in a pleasant way. How important is that.

The projects, laundry, housework, homework or other necessary work can wait a few minutes. After all, clothes will get dirty and need to be washed again and we will get hungry and food will need to be prepared again.

But that moment in which to exchange friendly words with another may not.  And feeding the soul is just as important as feeding our stomachs.

A Time To Talk
Robert Frost

When a friend calls to me from the road
And slows his horse to a meaning walk,
I don't stand still and look around
On all the hills I haven't hoed,
And shout from where I am, "What is it?"
No, not as there is a time to talk.
I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,
Blade-end up and five feet tall,
And plod: I go up to the stone wall
For a friendly visit.

 

The Little Things

A while back I had a poem published by a publication called 'Story Mates' and I've decided to post it. It's a poem I've turned into a song and I often sing it while I'm driving or at home. I hope who ever reads "The Little Things" enjoys it too. It really is the little things in life that are the most memorable.

Without the thoughtful actions and words of others life is not as sweet as it could be. Family life flows better when we are thoughtful with our words and actions. A trip to the grocery store is made better with a pleasant cashier or helpful store clerk. When I go a place where I get served I try to make it as pleasant as possible for the person who is serving. After all they deserve the little things too.

The Little Things
- Diane Smit

Often it's the little things
the smallest act or deed,
that mean the most to others
and fill the greatest need.

A helping hand, a smiling face
the heartfelt words we say,
an earnest prayer on one's behalf
are things to do each day.

It matters not if small or poor
to do a thoughtful thing.
For the language we call kindness
makes everybody sing.

Love is like the Sun-The Night has a Thousand Eyes

The Night Has A Thousand Eyes

by Francis William Bourdillon

The night has a thousand eyes,
And the day but one;
Yet the light of the bright world dies
With the dying of the sun.

The mind has a thousand eyes,
And the heart but one;
Yet the light of a whole life dies
When love is done.

How true. Love to us is like the sun to the world. Without love, life is almost meaningless.

Suppose we understand all the mysteries of life, are blessed with abundant knowledge and have amazing faith. If we are unwilling to love we are as nothing.

Suppose we give tons of money to charities, help feed the poor and are willing to die for great causes. If we don't do it in love it will not do us much good.

What does love have to do with this? Why everything! Love is what takes life from good to great.

So what does love look like? Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not envious of others. It does not brag and show off. Love does not behave rudely. It is not self seeking or selfish. Love is not easily provoked and thinks no evil. Love does not rejoice in evil thoughts, words, or deeds. Love believes, hopes, and rejoices in all things good and true.

Love is so wonderful and perfect that it never fails.

The Quarrel

It's always a great time to get rid of clutter in our homes.  I've got a pile of stuff I haven't used in a long time waiting to be taken away. It feels so good to clear out the clutter and claim back much needed space. I'm finding that some of the junk, or stuff is still useful for others to use and other things, well, they are not. It's time to let them go.

But there is something even more important than the junk that's piling up in our house. I'm speaking of the junk in our hearts and inner beings. I'm speaking of de-cluttering our hearts of things we need to let go of.

I'm posting two poems that will blow you away. Though these poems were written for children, adults can relate to them too.
 

Today's two poems talk about the secret to keeping good relationships, good, or, making them better.  To keep our relationships healthy, everyone needs to use these seven small words from time to time. "I'm sorry." "I was wrong." "Please forgive me".
 

If you think about it, these seven small words hold a lot of power. By power I mean the power to heal. Anger, strife and pride hurt us more than we realize. They stop us from having rich and rewarding relationships. All because we are too proud to turn back and apologize.
 

When we experience a conflict with someone we care about and feel that we are right, it's hard for us to see things any other way. Our pride and emotions get the better of us. You could say we let our negative, prideful emotions control us. They take over. We want the person we are angry with to say we are right. Sometimes, its just better to let it go.

I want to challenge you. Take a moment and reflect. Think about someone you care about or have cared about in the past that you are having a conflict with. Could the power of these seven little words fix it?
 

It's always, always worth a try.  

The Quarrel

by Eleanor Farjeon

I quarrelled with my brother

I don't know what about,

One thing led to another

And somehow we fell out.

The start of it was slight,

The end of it was strong,

He said he was right,

I knew he was wrong!

We hated one another.

The afternoon turned black.

Then suddenly my brother

Thumped me on the back,

And said, "Oh, come along!

We can't go on all night-

I was in the wrong.'

So he was in the right.

  

The Silence

by John Mole

It wasn't your fault,

It was just the way

That things turned out

And I don't know why.

Nobody meant it

Whatever it was

That started the silence

All over the house.

Please don't go

But if you must

Then think of us sometimes.

You're the best.

Send me a postcard

(wish you were here)

And I'll believe you

Wherever you are.

Perhaps before long

The silence will break.

Every one's waiting

For you to speak.