Behold this woman named Mel ...

Sometimes you have to be apart from people you love,

but that doesn't make you love them any less.

Sometimes you love them more.

Nicholas Sparks, The Last Song

Melanie, on the surface, is a gentle and polite young woman.  She has long curling blond hair and a delicate face graced with simplistic beauty.  It is in her gentle eyes that I first began to sense that there was much more under the first impressions.

Women are complex creatures, and Mel is definitely multifaceted.  Raised on a farm in Ohio, she attended college in California, and did social work in Chicago.  She has a deep reverence for seniors that is equally bestowed upon animals.

One of her many gifts is working with Mother Nature.  She creates exquisite floral arrangements that are uniquely designed as well as displayed.  She has ten green thumbs that make quick work out of any yard or garden using color, dimension, and a natural grace to the requested task.  She has an inner sense that connects people with their own style and space.

In relationship with Andy, her husband, Melanie is tender, loving, and kind appropriately tempered with humor and strong will.  In friendship, Mel is giving, undemanding, thoughtful and supportive.  She is an excellent natural cook being very health conscious with grains and veggies. She is a 'sister of the heart' and someone who could never be replaced.

Before  imagining her as some piece of fluff or delicate flower, allow me to bring balance to her creative feminine side.  Dear sweet Mel can drive a tractor, tinker with engines, and address electrical wiring.  She has a strong physical strength residing within her slim built frame. 

This last January on the 20th (I'll check that date with Andy),

I had the priviledge of witnessing the birth of their daughter, Juniper Rose (yes, named after my daughter).  Mel's labor persisted all through one day and half way through the night.  The strength of her determination and physical endurance indeed were remarkable.  Although I have given birth to the total of four, watching the birth of this beautiful and healthy babe moved me beyond all imagination. 

As a mother, Melanie is captivated by the miracle of her little child.  She is open to learning, overcomes the imperfections associated with motherhood, and blankets this child in love.  She is a Mama Bear to this baby cub, and I sure wouldn't want to mess with her!

Without being irreverent, I could almost visualize this young woman as a Madonna.  Like some women have been categorized in history,  Melanie presents as a gentle spirit of this world and of that which hovers beyond.  She is a special blend of sweetness and the salt of the earth.  I honor her own birth and celebrate her life as distance has made me love her more.

Loving Maddie ...

 

 It is so rare ...

to find a person,

with a soul, a heart and an imagination;

so rare for characters as ardent and restless

as ours to meet and to be matched together,

that I hardly know how to tell you

what happiness it gives me to know you.

Hector Berlioz

There is criticism in reference to the next generation, but I think that is always the case.  We do our selves a favor by remembering that much of what we read is reporting on the negative or extreme behaviors of only a small percentage of the next generation.  I have the privilege of being around the other percentage of the next generation and I know the future is safely being placed into their out stretched and willing hands.

And so Maddie is turning 21 while on a summer college mission trip traveling through foreign countries I will personally never see.  She is well prepared as she has built in compassion, curiosity, and an open heart. 

One might not notice her in the group as she can be rather reserved, but her deep rich brown eyes would hold you still.

Her thick dark curly hair frequently hides her intriguing beauty while her glasses tend to hide the intensity of her thoughts lurking behind those eyes.

Maddie is attending college on an athletic scholarship, and her intelligence is readily noticeable.  She is mature beyond her age although playful in spirit.  Her intensity is not just about learning, but more about understanding.  She desires to dig deeper, beyond the surface to discover the roots to any of life's behaviors.  She seems to have a diligent desire to truly understand any given situation either to enhance it or to remove it.

Reading books is a shared interest Maddie and I have.  She is eager to share what she has discovered and whether or not she agrees. Much to my delight, she has also shared her poetry with me which reflects the depth of her feelings and her yearning to understand all of life.  Her choice in words and phrases builds a lovely cadence to support her emotions and observations.

Chances are good you will never meet Maddie, but you can be assured that it is safe to place the future in her most capable hands.  There are many more like her in this new generation, but Maddie happens to be the one that has touched my heart and brought me both hope and happiness when things went dark. 

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.

Nothing More

When we know love matters

more than anything

and we know that

nothing else really matters,

we move into a state of surrender.

Surrender does not diminish our power;

it enhances it.

Sara Paddison

At least 6 inches of snow awaited my arrival at the Denver, Colorado airport.  The temperature was 26, but it fell to a mere 17 degrees during the night.

For a week, I am settled into the welcoming home of my college roommate Joyce Marie.  She has recently had a bone marrow transplant and has been released to her home, but cannot be alone.  I am one of many of her friends that are participating in weekly shifts to be gratefully in her presence.

Joyce has been my friend, my sister of the heart since meeting just prior to college enrollment.  We could not be any more different from each other, but we are some how tied by heart strings. 

Today is a beautiful fall day.  Joyce's home has pumpkin decor all over it and she anxiously awaits Halloween, one of her favorite days.  I watch anticipation joyfully pass across her beautiful face anticipating trick or treat participants.   I of course will be the official greeter wearing my witches hat.

Joyce is living in the moment.  She remains present and fully involved in what stands before her.  She has surrendered to life cushioned by love.  She marvels at the colored leaves, breathes in breaths that she wasn't sure she would have, and celebrates the gifts of life that remain with her.  Her positive outlook on life and her ability to embrace whatever is coming before her, totally fills my spirit. 

Life can be as simple as we make it or as complicated as we choose.  Today, in the warmth of the sun my heart is filled with love.  All of fall embraces me ... dancing colorful leaves nudged along by a gentle breeze, snow dabbled on top of the distant mountain tops, and pumpkins decorating neighbors porches and front yards.  It is as though Joyce and I are huddled together in a pumpkin patch, pulling in the rays of sunshine, settled on top of mother earth, and just being...without want or expectation.  Nothing more.

Love is all that matters ... then peace and calm follows.

'Stay Close' ...

Dreams are like letters from God.

Isn't it time you answered your mail?

Marie Louise von Franz

Falling asleep came easily for me last night, but in the middle of the night, I abruptly woke up.  As I generally keep track of my dreams, I settled back down into my pillow and allowed my self to recall what I had been dreaming.  

Out of all my friends, my college roommate has known me the longest.  She is near and dear to my heart, especially now as her body tries to accept a bone marrow transplant.  She has been on a healing journey for numerous months and successfully rid her body of leukemia.  She is a very strong and determined woman who maintains an attitude of hope, faith, and good cheer. 

When we communicated yesterday, I told her that I would 'stay close' to her as I possibly could, meaning through prayer, energy, love, and light.  A spirit must have overheard me and took me at my word, as I found my self present with my dearest friend in the middle of the night in the space called dream time.

Dreams have been a fascinating topic for me.  I have researched dream time for years and have made numerous presentations on this very subject.  I work well with my dreams as well as the dreams of others.  There is an abundance of information and experience that can be learned from these inner visions, but one must stay balanced by understanding symbols, who the people in the dream represent, and what the message beneath the surface is trying to explain to the unseeing eye.  Even with all of this, dreams are not easy to understand.

I settled back into a restful position and did some deep breathing.  I closed my eyes and tried to re-enter my dream, keeping my senses alert so that I would comprehend all aspects of the message.

The atmosphere was like gauze with heavy swirling colors.  I could not literally see this dear sister of my heart, but I knew she was there.  I recognized her just as easily as if I had been in her presence and simply closed my eyes.  I felt disturbed by the varying dark gray colors that kept swirling in this gauze-like area that seemed to indicate that she was quite uncomfortable.  I could feel my calm begin to slip away as everything seemed to be out of balance. 

Suddenly I understood.  Earlier, I told her from my heart that I would 'stay close' and apparently this is what I was meant to do in this space called dream time.  I silently called out to her and told her that I was with her.  I covered all of the floating gauze with gentle healing colors.  I spread light throughout the entire scene and found a little cubby hole to drain all of the darkness from her body, heart, and soul.  I found myself humming to her and sending her energy, love, and light that would support her wherever she chooses to go. 

It was at this point that I woke up, feeling as though I had just had an extremely peaceful and calming visit with my long time friend.  I realized that I had been given this 'picture' of how I can best help her.  It is a vision to be played over and over again during my meditations or simple thoughts of her during the day.   I will memorize this scene committing it to memory so that I can 'stay  close' to her as I possibly can ... wherever she may journey.

A Sister of My Heart

It is not length of life,

but depth of life.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

When I was a senior in high school, I traveled to a college that I hoped to attend.  While there, I met another perspective student by the name of Joyce Marie.  Instantly, we became interested in each other.  We promised we would get in touch if accepted.

Joyce Marie and I became not only very good friends, but eventually roommates as well.  I could write a volume about our experiences, our similarities, and our differences, but I will save that for another time.  What is important to know is that even though I am just a few months older, she is my oldest friend.  Although our lives took us in very different directions, and there were some years without contact, the two of us remained important to each other.

I cannot speak for this dear sister of my heart, but for me, no matter what life dealt out, I knew that she would always help me.  Unfortunately, she was put to the test many times throughout my life, and never once did she judge or turn me away.  In fact, I am one of many that has been helped by this dear friend.  She has never known a stranger and there is never a limit to how hard she tries to make a person's life better. 

Today I fly out to be with Joyce Marie for a week.  The length of her life has come into question and so I must focus on the depth of her life and what all it has meant to me.  I want to be present with her even if it is in silence.  I want to memorize her radiant smile and fall into her sparkling wise eyes.  I need to hug her and cover her with comforting love, energy, and light.

It is my belief that we are all spiritual beings having a physical experience.  It is my sense that we have all lived prior to this existence and that we will live after it as well.  So if I am squished by a bus tomorrow, there will only be an interlude before we all come together again.  So let us hold joyful celebrations honoring our loved ones who are simply called ahead.