November 24, 2009 at 9:49 pm (Uncategorized)
Tags: communion, connection, meal, Thanksgiving
Dine with me
take out
the heirloom silver and place
connection’s fine china so you canTalk with me
let me savour your words
delicate morsels
flavored to my favourite tastes and
Sing with me
let me drink your soul’s vintage
rich swirls
intoxicating my heart and
Laugh with me
let me indulge in your joy
a welcome temptation of
sugar-kissed desserts thenRest.
May each of you be filled with all you love this Thanksgiving!
October 22, 2009 at 8:18 am (Relationship)
Tags: connection, love
Photo by JoLisa
What is the message here within
the longing angst
mystery of purpose being
identity in question
dangling strings of connection
lost without touch
Self-discovery learning success but really what
is it all without a shared soul
of wordless understanding
expressing together the heartbeat of communion
the greatest collaboration
full senses overflow in a rush trickle rush
slow steady drip of life to each other
Peace.
September 14, 2009 at 7:18 am (Uncategorized)
Tags: coffee, connection, existence, morning
Because of my recent weekday morning stint as guest blogger for Rebecca Plants, I’ve gotten into the habit of spending morning time outside…even if only for a few minutes.
This morning the slightly cool air in the early morning lured me out to our backyard deck with my coffee. The sleepy sunshine waking itself and the plants up as it brushed against the colors and textures of the morning. I meant to write, but was too seduced by nature’s wake-up process to do anything other than just watch.
Then I saw the steam rising from my coffee mug and it totally captured my attention. The light mist rising against the backdrop of the midnight blue inside of my mug*, visible only because of the cool air as it expressed a joyful dance of existence.
Reminds me of the beautiful Zulu greeting process: one person says Sawubona – which means “I see you“… and is acknowledged with the Zulu response for “I am here.” (For an amazing description of the broader meaning of all this, see this wonderful video clip:
http://www.globalonenessproject.org/videos/orlandbishopclip2
)
Think about that for a moment — in essence, it’s saying because you see me, I am here.
Or from the other perspective, you are here because someone else sees you… really sees you.
Think of the gift someone gives you when they look you in the eye and pay enough attention to truly see you. What if then we return that favor, share that gift?
What about, though, those days where we just feel invisible? How can we really see someone else if we can’t even find/see ourselves?? Perhaps it’s in seeing someone else, really seeing someone else, paying attention to them, to their feelings, to their soul… perhaps it’s in that that we can regain ourselves?
Today I see you. Today I thank you for allowing me to exist because you see me. Today, like the steam from my coffee cup, because of you..I am here.
Jan 2010 update: See this related post by Peg Mulqueen. She sees you too.
[*mug created by my wonderful nieceling, Kristy]
February 23, 2009 at 7:56 pm (Uncategorized)
Tags: connection, friends, inspiration, music
Music. Let’s talk about music. Listening to my iPod, of course, as I write (Carter’s Chord, “Song of Blue” is on right now). I prefer my life with a soundtrack — to fully express and experience each moment. Sometimes the music IS my life, sometimes just background accompaniment quietly adding depth.
Yet music isn’t just a solitary thing. It can be an amazing connection between people. Here’s a song that explains me. Here’s one that makes me think of you. Listen to this one – it’s my offer of comfort (Faith Hill, “Wish For You”). Or this other one to make you laugh (“…I’ll check you for ticks….” Brad Paisley’s “Ticks”). Or celebrate with me, crank up “All This Beauty” (the Weepies).
My friend Kat is writing a book about the switch from silent to sound films. Imagine for a moment your life as a film without sound. Then add the music of your life sound and feel the starburst of energy, technicolor, surround sound. A cold lonely rainy walk in the park becomes a balmy sun-kissed day at the beach with your dearest friend(s).
Take away my desserts (trust me, that’s a big deal!), take away my tv, but don’t take my music. Give me intertwining harmonies and any instrument blend that includes piano, and I can survive anything. Take it away, and I’m lost. Music connects me – to you, to myself, to inspiration, to expression.
Take for example the day I was missing my Canadian friends Kat and Leah and sent them an iTunes playlist of carefully-selected songs from a new fave artist (thanks Jo and Lisa!), Kasey Chambers. Only to find out that I couldn’t send playlists from US iTunes to Canada iTunes users. For the first time since meeting those friends last year, I felt truly disconnected. Cut off because I wasn’t able to share the music of that moment and words themselves just weren’t the right expression.
Remember the mix tape from years ago? You knew it was a big deal if a love interest made you a mix tape, right? Let’s bring back the mix! Bring it back into our relationships…with our friends (Canada/US communication glitches be damned!), our lovers, and just as importantly, with ourselves.
My friend Rebecca (of Rebecca Plants:
http://www.rebeccaplants.com
) got me back into making mix “tapes” (CDs) and for that I will forever be grateful. Thank you Rebecca!
Go on… try it… start mixing, for those days you’re so angry you could spit, or too full of gratitude to find the right words for prayer, or too hurt or sad to cry, or just numb inside and desperate to feel. Let music flip that switch for you. Let music celebrate with you, laugh with you, cry with you, and most of all… let music inspire you.
