Eternity

To clarify "eternal" just a smidge ...

Once the river of time has rounded her final bend,

and the last star in the sky has brightened its last night,

and every child who may ever be conceived

has been given ten thousand names ...

we will have just begun.

The Universe

www.tut.com

For some reason, thoughts of eternity rattle around in my brain.  We hear politicians refer to a future global war having the potential to wipe everyone off the face of this earth which causes great anxiety.  Eckhart Tolle encourages us to stay in the present moment, not in the past and not in the future.  To "BE HERE NOW" (the title of one of his very interesting books).  Without delving into detail, I do believe if we practice being in the now, we will avoid future disaster.



Once the river of time has rounded her final bend ...

Time was created by man to bring order to life.  The sequences of nature, however, are not regulated with a giant clock in the sky.  Nature seems to have an intimate connection with Divine Spirit, trusting everything will fold in its proper way.



and the last star in the sky has brightened its last night ...

Stars have been known to man forever and I sense nature knew them long before man.  We become aware of stars as children and stars continue to cause us 'wonder' throughout our lives. 



and every child who may ever be conceived has been given ten thousand names ...

There are many people who still believe that we are born, we live, and then we die. Nothing more. While others believe we are born, live, die, and then go to heaven.  There are others  who believe we live many lives and have an existence before our life and after our life. 



we will have just begun ...

If we entertain these ideas, we can easily become overwhelmed or anxious, but these very ideas give me hope and a happy heart. 

Balloon of Hope

She thinks of the prayers as balloons and sees them squiggling up through the atmosphere just the clouds, trailing string.  Balloons of hope.  A prayer is nothing if not a balloon of hope.

Anita Shreve, The Last Time We Met

Prayers can be of many forms, but I had not thought of them as balloons before.  I like the brightly colored image however, and the buoyant ascension into the sky.  Rarely do I think of a prayer on a super jet speeding up through the clouds.

One country music star claims "My best gifts have been unanswered prayers."  This reasoning makes me cautious and mindful of my intentions for my self as well as others, as I truly do not know what is the best for any one. 

I guess this is why my intentions sent into the higher realm for all situations to be considered take form of love, light, and energy.   I send love, light, and energy for the person to use in whatever way they deem appropriate.  The beholder can decide to get stronger to live or to transition.  I clearly do not want to manipulate or control any outcome that is not mine to make.

Maybe balloons can be messengers and symbols for hope.  Balloons will take on a little higher meaning for me now.  I will feel immediately uplifted when I spy one in the sky! 



Rewards Will Come

 

When one door closes,

another opens;

but we often look so long

and so regretfully upon the closed door

that we do not see the one which has opened for us.

Alexander Graham Bell

Years ago, I was the director of a private agency by the name of OPEN DOORS.  This facility was given this particular name as I was committed to opening doors to those who were not able to do so on their own.  I assisted others, especially women, in stepping through doorways they couldn't personally see. 

OPEN DOORS was a message to all peoples for all situations.  No one was ever turned away, although some were referred to other resources.  The key to moving forward was clearly in seeing options.  If a person cannot see choices, they remain a victim.  Even when limited, if there is choice, there is motivation to take the next steps.  Movement creates necessary action to reach a better place. 

Once we make a decision, we feel better and no longer feel stuck.  Our self-esteem can be restored and hope brings the possibility of a brighter future.  I have been privileged to be present in the lives of others as they pass through a new opening.

Let there be no mistake, we must be prepared to walk through an opening door alone.   We must take our own steps and find our own way.  When we allow awareness and insight to guide us, in time, rewards will come our way.

Santa Claus, Symbol of Hope

Christmas at my house is always at least six or seven times more pleasant than anywhere else. We start drinking early. And while everyone else is seeing only one Santa Claus, we'll be seeing six or seven.

- W. C. Fields

My earliest memory of Christmas is pretending to be intrigued by the age old stories of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and Frosty the Snow Man as I held my little books in my lap.  I was not allowed to help decorate the tree as I apparently did not do it 'right'.  So as my sister and mother joyfully decorated the tree, I remained alone on the couch . 

My eyes would wander over to the wooden manger with all of the statues of animals, shepherds, wise men, Mary and Joseph, and of course the baby Jesus in the manger.  The star that was placed by edge of the roof always held my attention.  There was an unexplainable significance in the star always remaining just out of my reach.

Every Christmas Eve my family attended church services.  As a small child, I did not feel much of a celebration with the birth of Christ knowing that he would soon be crucified.   My imagination, however, was always captivated by the brilliance of all the candles filling the church.  This fascination with the flickering flames of light continues today.

Santa Claus was important to me, but not because of any glamorous presents and toys.  He brought a sense of magic I desperately needed in my life.  It was difficult for me to stop believing in him and to face my emotional isolation.  I was 13 years old when I finally released my childhood fantasy of Santa.

As an adult, I began to shop for wooden Santa Claus figures.  I have accumulated quite a collection, purchasing one per year.  I have kept them in a cabinet for many years, always displaying them at Christmas time.  Each Santa holds unique meaning for me and individual placement is given great care. 

Every Christmas, my children received presents from Santa, and the gifts were signed with distinguished penmanship.  I created a specific signature for "Santa"

which I continue to use to this day.  As grown adults, I believe that my children continue to enjoy the random surprises found in their stockings that "Santa" continues to fill.

The child in me still watches for Santa Claus as

I realize that no matter how old you are or what he is named (Santa, St. Nick, Father Time) he is a symbol of hope.  Every year, my lips break into a smile every time I hear, "Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!"