Homeless Soul

         

  

 

There is no Them.

There are only facets of Us.

John Green

This morning I watched a man wander down our street.  He wore black clothes decorated with soil in the fabric and highlighted by rips and tears.  His crown was a faded black stocking cap, pulled down over long and stringy gray hair.  His face, an unnatural color,  was not clean shaven and deep creases were the medals he wore.  His torn shoes reflected his long time in battle.

A neighbor's car pulled to the side of the road.  A retired gentleman from three blocks down got out and approached this poor tired soul.  The man extended a coffee and a McDonald's bag filled with food.  The wandering man shook his head definitely declining the generous offer.  The neighbor encouraged the elder man to accept the food, but whether tired, hungry, or poor, the wanderer was not inclined to accept the food. 

I am proud of the neighbor who wanted to help, and I wonder about the tired old soul.  I speculate if he was off medication that would permit him to remain tethered in this world.  Was he schizophrenic or paranoid or simply a homeless soul. 

As hours of my day passed on, I continued thinking of the wandering man.  Where was he now and where would he go?  Might he be a Master from another realm invoking compassion is our very souls?

Hidden Silences

One of the tasks of true friendship

is to listen compassionately and 

creatively to the hidden silences. 

Often secrets are not revealed in words, 

they lie concealed in the silence 

between the words 

or in the depth of what is 

unsayable between two people. 

A BOOK OF CELTIC WISDOM 

~John O'Donohue 

Anam Cara 

No matter how diverse a circle of women, an unseen bond secures the circle. Over time, each woman in the group experiences the opportunity to articulate the silence dwelling within her heart. Even when fear holds words captive, the women offer understanding and encouragement embracing any unspoken declaration.

When we are separated from our friends, time passes, and life moves on. Then we find ourselves joyfully visiting one or all of our friends and the conversation seems to pick up right where it left off.

There is something endearing about looking into the eyes of a 'sister of the heart' and experiencing a special knowing that silently passes between you. A voiceless communication transpires securing the bond of the relationship.

In a circle of women or in the presence of a dear friend, one does not always find appropriate words. Women capable of listening with compassion to what is not being said is a greater gift than being 'silver tongued'. Even if the women do not totally understand each other, their simple presence brings comfort.

Having a place to sit with our hidden silences is priceless. When we feel totally accepted there is a restoration of spirit. We have newly found courage to move forward once again.

The Door of This Home

May the door of this home be wide enough

to receive all who hunger for love,

all who are lonely for friendship.

May it welcome all who have cares to unburden,

thanks to express, hopes to nurture.

May the door of this house be narrow enough

to shut out pettiness and pride, envy and enmity.

May this threshold be no stumbling block

to young and strained feet.

May it be too high to admit to complacency,

selfishness and harshness.

May this home be for all who enter,

the doorway to richness and a more meaningful life.

The Siddur of Shir Chadash

This writing is offered to encourage you to experience nature with an open mind.  Being out in nature, in a sense for some, is like being welcomed home.  It is a place where all burdens can be temporarily set down upon the ground or blown away in the wind.  The distractions of animals ease your mind into calm.  Other aspects of nature such as snow, flowers, little buds on bushes or leafing trees stir a sense of rebirth within your spirit.  Breathing in the crisp air, you can feel refurbished while your body physically stretches itself with rekindled energy.

Nature nurtures ...

Part of the Whole ... Albert Einstein

A human being is a part of the whole called by us

"universe," a part limited in time and space.  He

experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as

something separated from the rest ---

a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness.

This delusion is a kind of prison for us,

restricting us to our personal desires and to

affection for a few persons nearest to us.

Our task must be to free ourselves from

this prison by widening our circle of

compassion to embrace all living creatures

and the whole of nature in its beauty.

Albert Einstein

It has been said when we are feeling depressed, we need to turn our attention to service of others.  By reaching outside of our own comfort zone, we release some of our own stress and bring compassion to another.

Could life really be that simple?  Rather than building our personal walls of fear to keep people out, we can open our hearts while embracing others with compassion.  Understand that personal boundaries are important, but have we carried this too far?  As a culture have we grown too isolated within our surrounding community?

By connecting with others, we begin to see and feel the spirit of each other learning diversity.  We are not all the same, but we are all worthy of love.  We all want to be heard, loved, and respected.

If we present our self by reflecting our true spirit, others have the opportunity to respond in kind.  Engagement then is readily available.  As we open our self with respect to hear a new message our compassion grows as everyone has a story. 

Granted, there are those who are difficult, who challenge us and who will not engage in loving kindness.  It would not be in our own best interest to subject our self to repeated hurtful situations;  but it is helpful to remember that there have been times in our own lives that we have been difficult as well.  Just as we do not want to be judged, others do not want to be judged either.  Silently offering forgiveness, healing and peace to those who are difficult, we then can return our attention to others wanting to experience healthier encounters.

The emphasis here is to appreciate all peoples.  We are a part of a whole that experiences pain and suffering,  joy and hope, and birth and death.  Let us look into the eyes of each other to discover the spirit residing within hidden by fear of exclusion.



The Best Remedy

The best remedy for those who are

afraid, lonely, or unhappy

is to go outside,

somewhere they can be quite alone

with the heavens, nature, and God.

Because only then does one feel

that all is as it should be and

that God wishes to see people

happy amidst the simple

beauty of nature.

Anne Frank

1929 ~ 1945

A storm passed through last night, bringing thunder, lightning, and plentiful rain.  It also brought Trudy our Tuxedo cat and Hannah our Golden Retriever into my bedroom.  I felt like Noah in the Ark!  It is cloudy today, but the temperatures have dropped considerably.   Much to my liking, it is now sweatshirt or sweater weather.

Seasons change just like our lives, and it is vitally important that we make healthy choices along the way.  Transitioning is a given no matter what our age or circumstances and the more gracefully we flow with the ebbs and tides, the better off we will be. 

When we find lack in our life, we can feel better by reaching out to others.  By giving instead of receiving, our sense of purpose, self-esteem, and attitude begin to soar.  Schools, nursing homes, and hospitals easily embrace volunteers who can sing, or read, or bring in a trained pet, or just to visit.  A local library may be needing help or perhaps a new mother could use a little encouragement.   Bring your neighbor some muffins or cookies or offer a ride to a community event.  The opportunities are endless, and when we feel compassion, we begin to feel connected again. 

To receive everything,

one must open

one's hands and give.

Taisen Deshimaru

Fall is a perfect time to meet friends at a park or take a neighbor on a walk.  Everything in nature will reach out to us and the presence of God in all things will fill us with hope, love and praise.