CANDLES OF LOVE

 

Our candles of love burn softly…yet our whole world they can illuminate,

but our candles of love are fragile…they can be blown out by the winds of hate.

When our candles of love are extinguished…when they surrender their last spark,

with no more light of love to guide us…we are forsaken to live in the dark.

If we don’t want to dwell in darkness…then we must not succumb to hate.

We must share our candles of love with each other…before it is too late.

We must abolish hate wherever we can…it must be eliminated…thrown out

lest we find ourselves in eternal darkness…when that last candle has burned out.

It’s easy for our candles of love to burn…those times I agree with you and you agree with me…

and though it can be difficult it is also vital we keep our candles burning…those times we disagree.

We are not naive enough to think disagreements will ever go away,

but we are hopeful enough to think compassion, acceptance, reason and love…will, in the end, rule the day.

For compassion, acceptance, reason and love are what keep our candles aglow

in the midst of disagreements…when the winds of hate will blow.

So we will stand up against anyone who advocates hate…with our candles burning bright…

because when it comes to how we want to live…we much prefer the light.

For we know it is much easier to walk with confidence…even when our candles of love are small…

Whereas if we choose to walk in darkness…we know that we will fall.

NATIONAL READ A BOOK DAY

 One of the many things I love about working in a bookstore is how, every now and then, the magic of the store unwraps…Like the other day when a mother sat in our big chair reading a book…with her daughter seated on her lap.

It reminded me of when I was a little boy sitting atop my mother’s knee…and how the world became a magical place…when she would read to me.

I smiled thinking how, like me, this girl is in for a wild ride…just because of the time her mother took…to introduce her to the wonders…inside the pages of a book.

She’ll learn how a mouse can run up and down a clock…she’ll meet a storyteller named Mother Goose…she’ll learn how a cow can jump over the moon…and what to do with three mice on the loose.

She’ll learn about three pigs…their houses…about some scary brothers Grimm…she’ll learn about a boy who kept crying wolf…and all the trouble that followed him.

She’ll learn a monkey can be curious…how our need for heroes will never end…she’ll learn to say good night to the moon…and how a spider and a pig can be friends.

And the day will come when from her mother’s knee…it will be time to say goodbye…The day she’ll take what her mother has taught her…flap her own wings…and fly.

I imagine every time she opens a book…opens to its wonder, its laughter…its mystery…she’ll smile remembering where it all began…atop her mother’s knee.

So on this day and every day remember…its never too late to start reading…

for inside each book a magical world awaits…

and herein lies the beauty of reading a book…

because…it’s also never too late.

THIS MAY SEEM ODD

*I wrote this 8 years ago but in lieu of recent events it seemed a good time to give it voice again.

 I’m going to reveal a fact about myself some of you may find odd…

It’s that I am not religious…but I do believe in God.

My God has given me a brain, a heart, a soul and encourages me to use them…

She knows unless I use them often there’s a good chance I will lose them.

And my brain and heart and soul are telling me my feelings aren’t absurd…

as the line between the God I know…and some religions…have been blurred.

Blurred by men and women who take God’s words and in His name create…

a religion they think is absolute…and thus discriminates.

Then other men and women create different religions….here’s where things get odd…

as we end up with a myriad of religions and just as many Gods.

And my God is okay with that….if it helps people find peace and love and grace…

but She has witnessed from the beginning of time…this hasn’t always been the case.

He’s seen the world He created become segregated an oftentimes He’s bereaved

by unaccepting and unforgiving religions and the un-Godly things that they believe.

She’s not quite sure what went wrong…but she knows it’s a little odd

when people use their religion and hate others…and do so in the name of God.

I certainly don’t have all the answers…even my God knows I’m flawed…

but let me introduce you to my non-religious God.

Before I begin let me apologize…although my God can be quite gracious…

She has a lot to say…and He can be loquacious.

My God does not sit upon a mountain top…or on a throne high in the sky…

She is not waiting to judge me…the moment that I die.

My God resides within my heart…He helps to calm my soul…

He walks beside me on my journey…but lets me be in control.

My God advises, supports and helps to guide me down my path…

I certainly stand in awe of Her…but I do not fear Her wrath.

My God believes in faith…and His prophecies aren’t grim

because He has as much faith in me…as I have faith in Him.

My God believes in hope…She’s not the voice of doom

for is it not hope in the seedling…that allows the rose to bloom?

My God believes in charity…He knows the key in how we live…

is not how much we take from life…but…how much we give.

Most of all may God believes in love…She knows love lights the way…

and She cares not if I am straight…or bi…or lesbian…or gay.

My God does not discriminate by the color of one’s skin…

and He certainly doesn’t care if I am young or old…or tall or fat or thin.

My God does not see differences in man or womankind…

She loves each person equally…in that way…my God is blind.

My God does not choose vengeance…He hasn’t the capacity to hate…

It is some men and women, through their religions…who judge and desecrate.

My God’s heart is replete with sorrow…Her soul is filled with shame

when people degrade, and maim and murder…and do so in Her name.

My God feels agony…I know how he abhors…

when people use Him as a reason to fight…and call it a Holy War.

For my God knows no war is holy…and she wishes they would cease.

She prays for the day we use Her name and live in Holy Peace.

No matter what people call their God…I know my God is sad

when they praise Him for the good in life…and blame Him for the bad.

My God is oftentimes confused and certainly perplexed

when people think She controls what happens in this world and the next.

My God understands good and evil are both a part of life…I think this makes Him wise

He knows everyone can find happiness…and he knows everybody dies.

My God has given me the ability to decide what is right and what is wrong

She expects me to make mistakes..for she knows my journey’s long.

But there is nothing in this world that would bring a broader smile to my God’s face

than knowing everyone He has created tries to leave this world a better place.

So there you have it…although long-winded…why I don’t think it odd

That I put less faith in any one religion…and more faith in my God

LITTLE BITS OF HEAVEN ON EARTH

 Have you ever found a little bit of Heaven on Earth?  It’s not as crazy as it sounds…moments that might not seem like much at first…but have the power to astound.

Finding a little Heaven on Earth has always been an easy task for me…I’ve been blessed to find it often…with friends and family.

It could be as simple as watching our children playing in the rain…splashing through puddles in the street…or on a moonlit walk under the stars with the snow crunching neath our feet.

It could be seeing the sky and its ever-changing shades of blue…or in the beauty of a grandchild’s smile…you know is meant for you.

I found it just the other day…on a walk as we watched the rising sun…and again on the beach that same evening…just before the day was done. 

I try to enjoy these little bits of Heaven…knowing they will be brief…like the light reflecting in a dew drop that’s found its way upon a leaf.

Of course, finding Heaven on Earth is personal…discovering its beauty…its symmetry…is going to be a little different for you…than it is for me…

But isn’t that what makes it special…how we each view our Heavens on Earth a little differently…I imagine if we could ask our Creator…this is the way it’s meant to be?

Which is why whenever I discover another little bit of Heaven…I take a moment to thank the Creator who designed it…and for creating, in me, and in each and every one of us, the ability to find it.

THE PHOTO NEVER LIES

 

When I look at a recent photo of myself…I admit to sometimes feeling dread…because the photo that I’m seeing doesn’t match the picture in my head.

In my head I am much younger…on this my heart and mind agree…

while the man in the photograph…is much older…I’m not sure he’s even me!

In my head I can easily tell myself I am still that once young guy…

but that doesn’t work with a photo…because a photo doesn’t lie.

A photograph is proof that I’m no longer that budding baby boomer…

It’s also proof that our Creator…has a sense of humor.

Why else would she let my ears continue growing…I’m surprised people don’t stare…mine are as big as a garage…you can park a small car in there.

And to add insult to injury…the photo proves this to be true…She’s decided my nose for some unknown reason…should keep on growing too.

And looking at a photograph…this fact I must concede…my nose and ears look even bigger the more my hair recedes.

No matter how young I feel…I could use a cardiogram…every time a photo reminds me just how old I am.

But the Creator has left me a loop hole…which I havre found engaging…

My eyes have gotten worse and worse…the more and more I’m aging…

So here’s my solution to this problem…(try it before you scoff)….

Every time I see a photo of my old self…I take my glasses off.

And through the haziness of my vision…

when I see myself in a photo someone took…

I am always pleasantly surprised…

at how much younger I now look.

THE THINGS THEY NEVER CARED ABOUT

Through the years of watching our children and grandchildren grow…they never left a doubt…as to those things that were important to them…and those things they never cared about.

They never cared if we were old or bald…or short or tall or fat.

They never cared about our physical flaws…(Boy, were we glad of that!)

They never cared if our house was small…or if the ceiling had a crack.

They never cared if the lawn was mowed…or that there was no grass in the back.

They never cared how much money we had…if we drove a Mercedes or Jaguar…

They never cared if there were scratches or dents…or parts missing from our car.

They only cared that we loved them…and that we somehow found a way

to show them that we loved them…each and every day.

They cared if we were honest and fair…that we were accepting, generous and kind

They cared that we nurtured their hearts, their souls…and helped to improve their minds……

They cared that we spent time with them…and the last time that I checked..

They cared if we treated them with tenderness…with humanity…and respect.

How blessed we’ve been to watch our children and grandchildren grow…

and of this we have no doubt:

They taught us more about life and how to live it…

by the things they never cared about.

 

HUMAN?

 

Look out over our planet…no doubt you will see…a collection of people in all shapes and sizes…it’s called Humanity.

We are all called Humans…but you don’t have to look very far before you begin to wonder just how Human…we Humans truly are.

If we are to call ourselves Human…I’m sure anthropologists would agree…

then one quality we must all possess…and share…is our Humanity.

If we are to call ourselves Human…then we must all do our part…to act with love, compassion, generosity, benevolence…with a kind and tender heart.

Again, on this point I’m sure anthropologists would agree…without acceptance, kindness and love for one another…there can be no Humanity 

Until as a species we can look into our hearts…until we can find and share our Humanity….

We must find a more appropriate name to call ourselves...

because Humans…we will never be.