Singing the Sacred

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Enough said!

Consensus Rather Than Competition

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." -- FDR

Our country is seething with fear, and we seem intent on destroying all that we don't understand. The unknown is always a source of stress, but not all stress is to be avoided. A seed doesn't become a tree without the stress of change and growth. A society, like a plant, either grows or dies. I'd like the people who are at the ends of their lives to stop attempting to drag society backward because of their unwillingness to continue growing.

One great thing about the societal changes that have transpired in this era of equality and revisiting of all the values that had come before is the new understanding of management. Where leadership used to be based on fear, it is now seen as more effective to manage through team building. Team building requires open minds in all  parts of the team. I hope this is simply the tip of the iceberg of what future generations of organizations will experience.

Even our understanding of The Almighty has been affected by these changes. We now see ourselves as partners in the master plan of the universe, maybe not equal partners, but, nonetheless, partners with strengths that matter. I would love to see all scriptural references that allude to "fear of the Lord" to be reworded to read "awe of The Almighty." Maybe then, we'd all be more invested in doing that at which we excel than in avoiding making the honest mistakes necessary to the learning process.

Fear paralyzes me; awe inspires me. I am in awe of the knowledge and skills of many people; this makes me want to learn how to be part of their teams. When confronted with those from whom I fear ridicule or punishment, I spend much of my energy trying to hide my failings and protecting myself from harm. I don't believe that fear is the best way to run an organization, much less a universe; therefore, I don't believe that fear is meant to be the driving force of humans.

Even pets and work animals perform their best when approval of those to whom they're bonded is their motivation for success. Isn't it about time that we humans stop treating each other like less than animals? Isn't it time that we seek to build teams through consensus rather than continuing our mindless competitions?

Savoring the Sacred

What is it that makes ground sacred?
Is it the experiences that occurred in that place?
And what good have the experiences done us,
If moving away will the moments erase?

What we take time to savor completely
Will become a permanent part of us.
Wherever we share the truly sacred,
There becomes a bond of trust.

I would rather we create more heaven
In our hearts and in our homes;
Spreading it to others will guarantee
That we're never completely alone.

If home is where the heart is,
Do we share our souls with our hearts?
And in sharing our positive energy,
Do we, our own Divine spark, impart?

And does this make us all family
In a more meaningful way than birth?
And doesn't this make sacred
Everywhere we share on this earth?

Home and Heaven

Perhaps it is a gift that my parents gave to me;
Every summer I can remember, I was set free.
I spent time with every relative that our family claimed;
Some of them couldn't even remember my name.

This taught me that home was not in one place;
It was anywhere where I was, by family, graced
I've lost far more homes than many, it is true;
Something my children were dragged through.

But perhaps I am blessed by this experience;
I've never had a home's permanent sense.
Perhaps if more people saw home as state of mind,
We would not, to geography,  be in such a bind.

Could it be that Heaven is what we create on earth?
And could Israel be more than one's place of birth?
And could Mecca be wherever one might choose to pray?
Would this make safer ground for all our children to play?

One with the Universe

I am so grateful to have been exposed to art;
I often feel sweet music playing inside my soul.
The ability to express Divine Energy is a gift;
Art, like the sunrise, must have this as its goal.

When I wake before the household,
I've always had a sense of peace.
Getting to work before the others
Helps my sense of centering increase.

Before I face the challenges
Of dealing with people and the day
I must find time for deep silence;
Some would say that I pray.

Sitting alone in the morning quiet,
I never hear a Holy Voice,
But I do invite The Holy Spirit
To help me make my day plan's choice.

Watching the sunrise on the harbor
I have a sense of oneness with the earth,
And in the silence before getting busy
I feel The Positive Power of The Universe.


I used to like to go to high mass;
This was when I was a child.
It was the only place that I felt peace;
Our family home was always wild.

The service I enjoyed attending,
Was sung in beautiful Latin song.
I felt I was lifted into Heaven;
There was no pressure to sing along.

God's voice was in another language;
It was my escape to another realm.
I never questioned The Almighty Power
Of The Great One at the Helm.

But this and all earthly things are illusive;
Temporary manifestations of Divine Energy.
My fond hope for the universal hereafter:
An eternity that is stress and language-free.

Simply Sailing Away

How much patience it takes for folks to grow old together,
Where both of the couple need extra time for everything.
When a couple doesn't exercise patience when they're young,
How will they cope with the frustrations that old age brings?

I saw a car drive up; an older woman was driving;
Her man could hardly lift himself out of his seat.
He hobbled to the trunk for a walker while she waited;
When she stood, she couldn't straighten; he appeared weak.

They took a walk to the harbor, for what I'll never know.
I wonder if they may have been checking a sail or power boat.
Do they spend time dreaming of sailing to distant harbors.
If I see them drive up again, I'll have to take closer note.

I imagine that they must love each other dearly
To be able to help each other through their pains.
I wonder how many memories are their connection,
And, through their union, how much they've gained.

Delivery from Death

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all know our time to die
And draw our loved ones around us to say proper good-byes?
Jesus had a big feast and invited all his best friends;
What a wonderful opportunity for them to all make amends.

He knew that it was Judas' ordained job to him betray,
Yet he did not, to Judas, have an angry word to say.
Perhaps Judas, in his heart, knew he was forgiven,
But he could not face the scorn of the other brethren.

Many years ago, I buried a much-loved mother-in-law;
Her death, for many months, the doctors foresaw.
We were not allowed to acknowledge our imminent loss;
Never having said good-bye has come at quite a cost.

One of the most beautiful gifts we can give one another
Is permission to find their eternal peace with another.
At death, this can enable the passing of positive energy,
And allow a loved one's soul, while living, to break free.

When our dear friend died, he wanted a deathbed party;
It took three days  for his body to let his soul be.
When my brother-in-law was leaving his earthly place,
His family gathered to say good-bye with loving grace.

When I suspect that loved ones are very near death,
With absorbing the essence of them, I become obsessed.
How wonderful it would be to able to plan a parting meal,
So we could, in each others' eyes, see the afterlife revealed.

I have not lost the most precious of my family that was ill,
And after much suffering, my spirit is rather still.
With one, I felt the need to prioritize more time,
Another needed to, at last, out of my protection climb.

My mother-in-law is still alive, and not just up above;
My children seem to have her well of boundless love.
This has been a year of my death and resurrection;
I am eternally grateful for my family's and friends' protection.