June 14, 2013 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

Why I Write

Signature of Kahlil Gibran (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Half of what I say is meaningless, but I say it so that the other half may reach you.”

–from “The Forerunner” (1920)

Kahlil Gibran

Why do I write?

I write because I feel this need inside of myself to express who I am.

I do not know who will read me…or if anyone at all will read my words. I do not know if the words I write will have any effect on anyone or on the world.

I do know that when I write, I feel like I have a purpose. I feel like I am alive and it gives me courage to be myself. I feel less threatened by the world.

My passion for life seems to get in the way of being received. I know I am an intense person. I can get very passionate about what I am saying or feeling. Even if I say nothing, people who know me a bit, feel my passion through my being. I feel that some people fear me because of it. This saddens me. I have no desire to hurt anyone. In fact, quite the opposite…I feel I want to protect others. I find the only way I can do this successfully is through my words in the hope that some of what I write may help to give light to the world…to bring love into the world. Some people are threatened by my words…they think I may be attacking them…maybe some days I am saying what I think needs to be said—but I try intensely to only say or write things that are the truth and need to be said to help them be more free…more open. So perhaps it is good that I stick to writing, because then one can decide to read it or not. I find even in my attempt to write, depending on the person and their mood and feelings, I may be bringing them pain. The perceptions of the individual will color what they read.

My perceptions color what I write.

Today I wrote about my writing to a dear friend, whom I have never met in person. I remarked: “No, the “PedalPushingThoughts@wordpress.com blog is a diversion so I stop thinking about love. I thought I needed a second blog so that I did not write just about love.

This very special Someone said to me today: “giggle over laugh out loud over smile…..Jane, you never write about anything else But Love…..giggle. “

I write to communicate and to feel less lonely in this world of seven billion people.

Perhaps one small phrase may encourage someone to give love to someone else.

June 11, 2013 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

Nadia…my little doctor

Nadia, my Granddaughter, who is almost 4 and 1/2 (she likes to think she is “older” and grown-up…so that 1/2 is important) stepped into her medical shoes last evening! After dinner, I went to lie down as my back was in horrible pain. Nadia came in to check on me. She asked where the “doctor stuff” was. We have a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff still in the house from when my Mom came home to live with us.

Nadia proceeded to the drawer and pulled out the stethoscope and carefully crawled on to the bed to listen to my heart. Her face became clouded, when she announced to me, “Nanny, I can’t hear your heart!”

I responded with equal surprise, and encouraged her by saying, “Perhaps you should go and check your Mom’s and your Aunt Lara’s heartbeats, to see if the stethoscope is working!” Off she went to the kitchen where they were in conversation.

She returned in a few minutes, announcing to me that their hearts were just fine and the stethoscope was working. So she listened for my heartbeat again. Then she confidently, and with a bit of caution, announced, “Nanny, I can only hear your heart a little bit because your heart is tired. You are tired from the monsters in your back.”

Then she listened to my legs. “Nanny, you have Princesses in your legs!”

Then she listened to my arms, “Nanny, you have ants in your arms!”

Then she said, “I have to go into the kitchen.”

Eventually she returned with a drawing that she had made for me several days ago and that was hanging on the proverbial refrigerator bulletin board. “Nanny,” spoke Nadia with intense eyes and orders for me, “You must keep this picture on your tummy ALL night, so that the monsters come out of your body, up and through this picture and go out the window! Then be careful and do not step on these monsters again when you go outside! The monsters in your back will go away!”

She also told me that the Princesses would battle with the monsters in my back and that the ants were the soldiers fighting for me as well!

What she didn’t say, but was said through her words and actions, was that she loved me. These love crystals helped relieve me of the monsters! Little Nadia understands life and what we need so much better than all of us!

June 8, 2013 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

Little Boxes…from Annie

The Production poster for the original Broadway Production of Annie. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

LITTLE BOXES

Dedicated to Annie, my Daughter

Rummaging through the basement

I came upon the trinkets of your love in delicate concealment

An intricate reminder of your constant care…

Of course, YOU always have the artistic flare…

Gently placed within a handsewn piece of pink dainty cloth

Tied with a white ribbon to keep out the moths

Two colors…green and red…colors of Christmas I did find

Led me to my heart and of your love it did remind

Outside the words were written, “Merry Christmas”

So smitten…was written your test of litmus

Of course, I knew…your love was constant

Your way of showing it without resentment

These little boxes, 1 x 2, appear so often on my shelves

Each one is so unique and placed by my little elf

In one you drew a picture of me asleep

With the caption”YOUR eyes wide OPEN”…did I weep?

Some things did pass me by

and gave way to many sighs

the care you gave me like a fox

with a tender little box

I treasure each one

for from your heart they did come

and now I see in your children so sweet

the deep love that you hold deep

your love is in their eyes so dear

you have groomed then well it is clear

their sensitivity and charm

comes straight from the heart and they would give their arm

just like YOU

you are ONE on a trillion, blue and true

you love your sister, through and through

no one doubts your love, yeah YOU

your love is beauty–through and through!

you give your heart

right from the start!

Annie, you are love

and a gentle dove!

June 8, 2013 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

invitation to fly!

“Come to the edge,” he said.

They said, “We are afraid.”

“Come to the edge,” he said.

They came. He pushed them, and they flew.

– Guillaume Apollinaire

My youngest daughter, Lara, is leaving for Togo, West Africa, in 1 more day. Lara did not seem to need much push——she has been dreaming of this for a long time! I am more afraid than she is! I am her mother and she is going off into the world. She made it out of the yard… through elementary school, high school, and graduated from Marquette University, a week ago. Now the world is there…waiting for her gifts and talents. I pray that she will be well received by those she meets and that she, in turn, will continue with her open and receptive attitude to what others offer.

She has a sense of humor and I think that will carry her far. She loved singing, Hakuna Matata from the Lion King:

Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase

Hakuna Matata! Ain’t no passing craze

It means no worries …For the rest of your day

It’s our problem-free philosophy…Hakuna Matata!

It is always important to be able to laugh at ourselves and accept our humanity and the humanity of others…to remain flexible in what we set out to be and do.

Each time, she went a bit further away from home…each experience stretched her from her roots. I pray that the people in the universe treat her kindly. Sometimes the world is not so kind and gentle, and when she meets those times, I hope she remembers that she is always loved, and that those who love her are only a thought away. I hope she meets many loving hearts along her journey and that each experience brings her greater joy and belief in the human spirit and how much we all need one another to create a beautiful world on Mother Earth.

To say, I will miss her, in an understatement! I know her Dad and sisters, Annie and Sara, will miss her greatly! Her Aunt Kathy will miss spoiling her and their lively conversations and Uncle Ron will miss his scintillating political questions and thoughts on the universe that he shared with her. So she will be getting tons of mail! But I know she must go and follow her dream. For isn’t this what we prepare our children for as mothers and fathers? We help to grow them as persons, providing food and shelter, educating them to be all that they can be, and most importantly, bathing them in love and the importance of our connection to one another.

I left Wisconsin September 14, 1974…four months after I graduated from Marquette. I was amazed that Lara chose to go to the same university and pleased at the same time! I ended up in Kenya, East Africa in August of 1975 for two and a half years, teaching in a rural Harambee school. Now Lara is going off to Togo, West Africa to work as a Peace Corps Volunteer for two and a half years. So amazing! Just simply amazing! How blessed we are…to be so honored to experience people of another culture! How enriching our lives are because of our experiences!

My Mom cried so much that day at the airport. I thought she thought I was dying! I had never witnessed such tears! I was young and full of adventure and out to find myself in this huge world! Now that I am 63 and I find myself in the same position as my Mom–Mom was 59 when I left…NOW I finally understand her tears! and I am feeling the separation. But I know it is right that she has to take off for the world and live her dream~! I know it…but I am allowed my tears…yes?

I believe there is a God—a God of Love–and in that God we are called to love ourselves well, to BE that love for one another and accept that love from the other. I know that Lara has a strong connection to the God of Love. I am entrusting her care to LOVE.

When Lara was in 1st grade, she wrote: “Snowmen may melt, but never your heart!” And I know there are not many snowmen in Togo, West Africa…but there are many loving hearts waiting for her lovely heart…and we all will be with her on her journey, sending her love each day!

Take a Leap of Faith and Fly! (megnocero.wordpress.com)
Friday Fiction #15: Wings to Fly (susannenelson.wordpress.com)

June 6, 2013 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

The Lord’s Prayer

Abwûn

d’bwaschmâja

Nethkâdasch schmach

Têtê malkuthach

Nehwê tzevjânach aikâna d’bwaschmâja af b’arha

Hawvlân lachma d’sûnkanân jaomân

Waschboklân chaubên wachtahên aikâna daf chnân schwoken l’chaijabên

Wela tachlân l’nesjuna

ela patzân min bischa.

Metol dilachie malkutha wahaila wateschbuchta l’ahlâm almîn

***

Abwûn O cosmic Birther, from whom the breath of life comes,
d’bwaschmâja who fills all realms of sound, light and vibration.
Nethkâdasch schmach May Your light be experienced in my utmost holiest.
Têtê malkuthach. Your Heavenly Domain approaches.
Nehwê tzevjânach aikâna d’bwaschmâja af b’arha. Let Your will come true in the universe (all that vibrates) just as on earth (that is material and dense).
Hawvlân lachma d’sûnkanân jaomâna. Give us wisdom (understanding, assistance) for our daily need,
Waschboklân chaubên wachtahên aikâna daf chnân schwoken l’chaijabên. detach the fetters of faults that bind us, (karma) like we let go the guilt of others.
Wela tachlân l’nesjuna Let us not be lost in superficial things (materialism, common temptations),
ela patzân min bischa. but let us be freed from that what keeps us off from our true purpose.
Metol dilachie malkutha wahaila wateschbuchta l’ahlâm almîn. From You comes the all-working will, the lively strength to act, the song that beautifies all and renews itself from age to age.
Amên. Sealed in trust, faith and truth. (I confirm with my entire being)

Cosmos (Photo credit: Sameer Karmarkar)

***

“Oh Thou, from whom the breath of life comes, who fills all realms of sound, light and vibration. May Your light be experienced in my utmost holiest. Your Heavenly Domain approaches. Let Your will come true – in the universe, just as on earth. Give us wisdom for our daily need, detach the fetters of faults that bind us like we let go the guilt of others. Let us not be lost in superficial things, but let us be freed from that what keeps us off from our true purpose. From You comes the all-working will, the lively strength to act, the song that beautifies all and renews itself from age to age. Sealed in trust, faith and truth, I confirm with my entire being.

***

O Birther! Father- Mother of the Cosmos, Focus your light within us – make it useful. Create your reign of unity now- through our fiery hearts and willing hands Help us love beyond our ideals and sprout acts of compassion for all creatures. Animate the earth within us: we then feel the Wisdom underneath supporting all. Untangle the knots within so that we can mend our hearts’ simple ties to each other. Don’t let surface things delude us, But free us from what holds us back from our true purpose. Out of you, the astonishing fire, Returning light and sound to the cosmos. Amen.

***

My friend, Yoli, sent this to me last year. I love it so much…it is so inclusive and speaks to me of the Love God has for us…and what we all need to have for one another. The top prayer in said to be in Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus. The last two variations are translations of this same prayer. Regardless if it is the true Aramaic Jesus spoke, or if it was translated into Greek and then back into Aramaic, and then eventually into English–I do not care…I will leave the semantics to the linguists. I love the meaning of the prayer as it speaks to me today…and I intend to write it in calligraphy and hang it on my wall. I find it so beautiful! Thank you, Yoli, for sharing such a beautiful prayer with me!

SOURCE: http://www.church-resurrection.org/home/rectors-reflections/november2011thelordsprayer

Never Lose Hope!

Sun Pillar (Photo credit: Axiraa)

Never lose hope, my heart, miracles dwell in the invisible.

-Rumi

bogs of brooding come like a swarming fad

whenever I am sad, I think of reasons to be glad

I think of the Sun that rises each day

the breezy clouds that sail away

the stars that punctuate the darkness

the multitude of colors to contrast the starkness

the love that fell upon me once

that made me laugh and my heart did bounce

the gentle touch of your hand so near

the sparkle in your eyes that gave me cheer

the hope that there would be better days

the miracle of breath in all we say

for within the softness of the soul

there is the love for all to know

the child who smiles so bright

when watching the ant crawl with delight

***********************************

The other day, my granddaughter, Nadia, 4, was peering intently at the floor…and then looked up at me smiling and exclaimed: “Nanny! Nanny! The ant has life!” The previous day we had found a bug crawling on the floor and having learned from my Insect Collecting days, told her, “We will have to gather the bug up and take it outside.” She replied, “Why, Nanny?” To which I replied, “Because the little bug has life!” Nadia learned the lesson well!

June 3, 2013 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

“Rankle”….Title was a Gift from Cheri the Hermit

Dared to use “rankle” in a poem…so here is the limerick:

There once was a dragon named Rankle

He slipped and fell on his ankle

He racked his brain

No longer was sane

And no longer was he tranquil

Dragon from PSF D-270006.png (Photo credit: Wikipedi

_________________________________________________________________________________

Limerick: A poetic form that is comical and often nonsensical. Composed of five lines. Typically the first, second and

fifth lines rhyme with each other, while the third and fourth lines rhyme with each other. A limerick follows an anapestic rhythm.

A popular form in children’s verse, the limerick is often comical, nonsensical, and sometimes even lewd. The form is well known to generations of English-speaking readers, by way of Mother Goose nursery rhymes, first published in 1791. Composed of five lines, the limerick adheres to a strict rhyme scheme and bouncy rhythm, making it easy to memorize.

Typically, the first two lines rhyme with each other, the third and fourth rhyme together, and the fifth line either repeats the first line or rhymes with it. The limerick’s anapestic rhythm is created by an accentual pattern that contains many sets of double weakly-stressed syllables. The pattern can be illustrated with dashes denoting weak syllables, and back-slashes for stresses:

1) – / – – / – – /
2) – / – – / – – /
3) – / – – /
4) – / – – /
5) – / – – / – – /

– See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5783#sthash.6yDImAgC.dpuf

how to write limericks for loved ones (teachmama.com)
Most Popular Styles Of Poetry (competitioncrazy.com)
Descriptive writing and Limerick (leslieannewrites.com)

June 3, 2013 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

Don’t compare

Do not stare

Suffering comes in

Leave it go again

Why hold on to the bad?

Leave it go and don’t be sad!

Remember who you are

Travel with the LIGHT and take it far!

forget the childhood drama

break that precious negative china

forget the “not good enough”

enough is enough

be true

YOU are YOU

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