Love in the Neighborhood

The Hood,
The thought occurred, afterward a long and lazy walk through my neighborhood with my beautiful and eager dogs, what exactly is a neighborhood anyway?
Can you count the times you have heard or read stories about someone's experience living in the hood.  I am not talking ghetto.  I am talking about real live neighborhoods.
It seems technology has impacted so many aspects of our life and I see how this has affected our little 29 home hood.  It use to be when our neighborhood treasurer and his wife collected the dues each month there was a connection to what was happening in the lives of the residents.
"Mr. Hill fell last week and is having a hard time getting around"....or "Susie's daughter is graduating from high school next week"...these were known facts throughout the neighborhood when conversation was made in passing.  This also prompted the "grapevine" method of everyone knowing who was in need or who needed congratulating!
Are these days gone???  Our association now has agreed to paying their dues online and so now, well, there's no grapevine(:
And then I ask, if I am to "love my neighbor as myself" how do I do that? Really, do I know my neighbor???  This stopped me in my tracks.
Honestly, how am I a good neighbor?  Well, I try to keep my dogs quite so they won't bother folks, and I try to keep my yard up and not looking like a jungle (although some may say it does).  I do try to have neighborhood picnics as president of the association but is that all I could be or do?
What about trying to keep the line of communication open and actually spend time getting to know my neighbors better and if they are in need?
I think that's a great idea, I think I will do it!  How about starting with a minimum of 5 neighbors?  What one thing can I learn about their lives, that maybe is different from mine?  Perhaps given the opportunity I may see life from a different perspective and then learn also something about myself?  Then maybe, once I know my neighbor, I may begin to love not only my neighbor but also love myself even more!

Solace in Earth

The rain falls gently upon the lush green landscape.  I sit by my window witnessing the sounds, taking in the fresh crisp clean moist mountain air.  All the colors unfold as Mother Earth is renewed.
Wild geese visit the stream nearby, robins sing and chick-a-dees too, look, look, the Earth is ripe for us to take part in it's dew.  We drink from her vessels, her blossoms abound, daffodils, crocuses, and tiny buds new.  It's early in the year we are alight, what is this springtime we are in with such delight?
Mother Earth is changing with each passing full moon, shall we continue to see her in this beauty we all have found?  I pray for her daily as we take from her girth and I take solace in her when needed from the world  I can't imagine a time where we will not sit with no one knowing where this is their place.  She has given us so much, NOTHING can take her place!

The birds are singing out my window,
What a lovely melody to hear.
A song of praise for a new day?
Or just a gift for little ole me?
Doesn't matter either way, it's all harmony.
In sync with the rhythm of all that is.
In a universe so vast,
A strong heartbeat I resonate with.
I'm so grateful for this gift!
I think I'll join in and sing my song,
Joy, joy, joy, thank you birdies, I am blessed!

Throughout the Ages

Experiencing Heaven on Earth

During these troubled times we are living in, which in essence is history repeating itself, I cannot help but wonder how or what the message is that we are being called on to see.  I believe there is always a larger force than me and my small world  in operation that has reason for events to occur in the manner in which they do.  I question what I may learn from these events and how I can become, or evolve into something other than I am in this journey called life.  A more evolved and better me.
What I am beginning to see, as with so many of the worldly events that occur throughout time, is how we are being called to action.  We are being called just as Dr. King voiced to take a look deep within ourselves.  Who are we really and are our actions in service to others a way to begin to see ourselves.
When we walk this earth without regard to the gifts we have been given, a lush green planet full of wonder and awe, rivers flowing, skies of blue, starry nights, rich soil and the abundance of food, and the love around us, we become stagnant.  Our souls are held in bondage, we cover up with all the layers of greed, and forget the abundance that is right in front of us.  We lack the freedom that is inherit within us and we forget to see and hear the beauty and sound of riches that surround us.  We become self-centered and feel lacking.  In that lack we become fearful.  Fear drives us further away from who we truly are and from each other.
The Celts in their wisdom identified the soul's need to flourish and recognized how our bodies which are made of clay walked the landscape to feed itself, the soul, through opening our senses to the rhythm of the life we feel, see, and hear.  That is why we have eyes, ears, and skin.  And that we find ourselves in the face of others to identify who we truly are.  When we become vulnerable, when we are willing to risk, when we are willing to look for the love we seek in each other knowing that each person is looking for the same, truly.
When my mind overpowers my heart and I operate out of anything other than the heart(Love) then I am in sin and away from my true self-my God self-Love. When Love overpowers my mind I experience heaven on earth!  I believe we all can inherit this earth, while not easy, with an open heart, we truly can walk more peacefully.

Raindrops At My Window

Raindrops At My Window

Raindrops are falling at my window,
this early morn in November.
I hear the rythm of its sound,
and my mind escapes the world around.
Yet I'm reminded winter harks and I must prepare,
for the rain turns to snow I'm aware.
The leaves are falling silently and life dies down,
returning to the earth and giving to the ground.
And in this stillness I do hear,
the pitter-patter of life so near.
Raindrops at my window,
a sweetness always to remember,
this early morn in November.

Sisters

Three Sisters Be

All along we all knew this time would not be for long,

but just a while to come together even for a day or two,

and we proved once again we were strong.

For once again to feel the love we've shared for so long,

to tap into that source of strength no others can see,

the awesomeness of 

 Three Sisters Be.

Our fellows at each our side they came too,

because they know a sister's love,

is a bond that cannot be broken in two.

To feel this love is somewhere to belong.

It's all a part of a long life shared, a dance, and a song,

it's heard throughout the land, the miles apart we live,

even sweeter than the taste of honey

and more than words can ever be spoken.

To be a part of 

Three Sisters Be

Is truly a gift indeed!

Waiting

Waiting for snowfall...

Waiting for light...

Waiting for spring....

all through the night.

Waiting for good news....

Waiting for sight...

Waiting for miracles...

something more bright.

Waiting for the darkness to fade away...

Waiting for the dawn of a new day...

I've been waiting and waiting...

for you Lord to show me the way.