Some are about loosing
(weight or bad habits)
Some are about gaining
(wealth or a spouse)
All about changes to make in the year
Yet how much do I control
What happens to me?
Surely my choices are factors
In the matter
But I truly believe
All things considered
That the most important change I can make
In a year
Is what comes from my heart
And works itself out
in the way
I treat others
(And that is including
myself)
© 2016 Julie Clark
Start small
With steps towards
Good and beauty
Towards life and healing
Otherwise
You may find
Discouragement and
Disillusionment
Tagging, unwanted
Along
You may find
You don’t have
All you need
Lose hope
And not finish
Start small
You will add
Piece by piece
To what you have
Wondering where did
It all come from
Whether it be word
Or color or brick or paint
It won’t matter because
It will be there
To fit into the place it goes
And you will see
Unfolding before your eyes
(Maybe not exactly as you thought!)
The dream, the plan,
The drawing, the house
The life
finishing in all it’s glory
© 2016 Julie Clark
I.
We are given the raw materials
Of our lives
As on the First Day
Out of the chaos and void
Life began
What will we do with
The darkness and light
Will we separate it into a
Smooth transition of colors
As in a rainbow?
It will be anything
But smooth
Full of fits and starts
Smudges and blackouts
As if we can erase
The messes we have made
Yet stepping back
With the whole of life
In view
Of the one who falls
And is trampled under foot
Yet rises again
Painfully struggling
Forward
Into the light
Into the Love
That calls each by name
We see
The darkness is part of the canvas
Entwined with the light
Creating patterns and contrasts
Always erupting in colors at the end
The struggle of life emerging
If we only focused on
The fire scarred trunk
And did not step back
We would miss
The strength and substance
Of the ancient tree
Still green in all seasons
II.
The artist
The gardener
The teacher
The builder
The writer
The dancer
The musician
All participating in
Taking the chaos
And creating something
Useful or
Something just
Beautiful
Adding to the
life that began
When the light
Was separated from the darkness
© 2016 Julie Clark
If I listen
I will hear a variety of
Chirps, tweets and caws
Outside my window
The motors become background
To the symphony
If I listen
If I look
I will see the flowers
In the trees
The vibrant colors
In the garments swishing by
The mouths turning into smiles
If I look
If I smell
I will catch the aroma
Of spices in the air
The curries being prepared
The jasmine and frangipani
Dominating the fragrance of the path
If I smell
If I taste
I will savor the fruit and yogurt
In the lassie
The spices in the biryani
The ginger in the strong
Milky tea
If I taste
If I touch
I will feel the texture
Of the rich colorful fabrics
The weight of the children
In my lap
The cool tiles on bare feet
If I touch
© 2016 Julie Clark
I.
If only we could laugh together
With pure joy
If only we could play together
Running free
If only we could trust
and let go
If only kindness
Was at the top of our list
Instead of the unmentionables
Which I will not mention
Because you know,
They are blasted over us
Over and over until
We are numb
If only we were as
The little child stood in our midst
Clapping his hands
In glee
A smile that is wide and open
As the ocean-free
Forgiveness will bring us back
Home again
Given and received
And wipe away every tear
Root out all the bitterness
So the tender root of joy
Can push up it’s head
II.
Longing for Peace
Reconciliation, forgiveness
Starting fresh again
Prince of Peace – Come
Show us your ways
Teach us your paths
Help us to walk in the way
Of peace
A humble road
Admitting we have
Done wrong
Asking for forgiveness
Giving it
How we bungle these things
With pride, fear
Protecting ourselves
Our interests
Lay down these weapons
Lay them down
III.
How many tears
Can the oceans hold?
When will this violence
Cease?
What will stop the cycle?
More violence is not the answer!
Have we not learned that, yet?
It only prolongs and increases
The destruction and death.
We must wake up!
All must do the work
Of the farmer
Go back to the basics
Sow the seeds of peace
Tears of repentance
And forgiveness
The courageous ones
Will walk towards their enemies
With hands empty
Save for peace
This earth does not belong
To those who devour it
But to the Meek
The gentle of heart
The tide will turn
Wait for it
© 2016 Julie Clark
Can a people be free without enslaving and exploiting others? I believe they can. I believe there is a path. Many wise teachers have gone before us and exhorted us. Let us listen to their voices, their pleas. How do we live the words, “Treat others the way that you would like to be treated.”? It is not impossible. It is something we can do step by step, person by person, until whole communities and perhaps nations can live with this ethos.
I remember when I was still quite young, 20, a teacher who was an expert on revival came to teach a class I was taking. I asked, “How do we get a revival started?” His answer: “First draw a circle around your two feet and pray that God would revive everything within this circle.” Wow, I was not expecting that answer! So simple, so profound. Start with me.
As I celebrate the 4th of July, I want to consider how I can promote freedom and justice for all people, starting with those around me who I can treat well, neighborly, kindly and with compassion. May we all join our circles together and bring the changes needed within and without our borders for this kind of freedom without exploiting others.
The waves are breaking
Foaming on the shore
The sun is sparkling
White on the water
The tide is singing
As it reaches for more
You could sit here
And let the constant wind
Teach you
Or a protective little dog
Who hates to see
his pack separated
Unity, perhaps –
No one should be left behind
Stick together
It’s better,
Safer for all
The waves might be saying
I’m coming back for you
Are you open?
Are you ready?
The wind relentlessly blowing
Louder than a whisper
More of a roar
I’m taking in deep breaths
Of sea air
I’m hearing the call:
Come with me
I am ever present, ever moving
Though you do not see me
But you can fly on this current
If you let go
See the kites?
© 2016 Julie Clark
This world is breaking
My heart
I can hardly breathe
Let alone write a poem
Something with a message
Pointing toward hope
This world is breaking
My heart
Not the first time,
Not the last
I am not the only one
Most are in anguish
This world is breaking
My heart
Who can we turn to
Who has words of life
Who has love
Stronger than death
© 2016 Julie Clark
Lifting our eyes, just in time to see the eagle soaring towards us and then turning away.
Silently above us, searching for fish.
It caught one down the beach and began to break it’s fast.
How many times have I only caught a glimpse?
How many times have I missed it all, head down, worrying some problem in my mind, not present to the moment?
Yet, the eagle is there, as are all the other messengers, whether I see them or not.
But, what joy, when I am expectantly scanning and searching for those messages sent my way.
Today it was an eagle and a seal and an extremely low tide.
It was meeting Michael from DC with his two young boys who reminded me of my grandsons.
It was Debra with her hairless dog making us laugh.
It was Munira, fighting cancer, out for some fresh sea air. We blessed her and prayed for her healing. She said God sent you to me today – the first day of Ramadan.
It was connecting with strangers who become friends, building community in our neighborhood.
I came across this Poem/Blessing in my morning meditations today. He is saying, in a lovely way what we need to hear today. I sometimes use this website to awaken my soul in the morning. http://www.northumbriacommunity.org/offices/morning-prayer/
Go peaceful
In gentleness
Through the violence of these
Days.
Give freely.
Show tenderness
In all your ways.
Through darkness,
In troubled time
Let holiness be your aim.
Seek wisdom.
Let faithfulness
Burn like a flame.
God speed you!
God lead you,
And keep you wrapped around His
Heart!
May you be known by love.
Be righteous.
Speak truthfully
In a world of greed and lies.
Show kindness.
See everyone
Through heaven’s eyes.
God hold you,
Enfold you,
And keep you wrapped around His
Heart
May you be known by love.
by Paul Field
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