In our sweet little house on Whidbey Island
I pause to ponder the joy and bright sadness
of this holiday season
Old & new memories woven into one precious life
loved ones near and far together
in person, online, and forever in Spirit
In this season of waiting & preparation I am called
to the soul’s work of ultimate things,
open to the coming of Life now and on the horizon
A shout out to all anam cara— THANK YOU!
What a blessing to have soul friends who offer
spiritual care & guidance for the journey
Our art and the sacred are closely related
—a co-creative receiving and expressing life
that are one and the same act
I smiled again first thing this morning
Yes, praying before I rose from bed
I drew from a deep place of inner peace
Not every picture of me smiling appears genuine
But when based on benevolence, stirring joy within
I can radiate hope and freshness—and so can you!
Carol and I were invited to plant daffodil bulbs
with a host of folks at Pioneer Presbyterian.
In spring blooms will be plucked to form a cross.
I admire these older people and this sweet ritual that lies at the heart of their faith community-
Answering the call to a larger experience of life
With the days growing shorter
in the season of my earthly life
I am grateful for elders who inspire and delight
Some friends invited me on a walk yesterday
into a lovely sanctuary of trees
at the heart of a woods that surrounds their home
We bathed in the richness of life found in nature—delightfully reminded of the grace
that is always within and around us
Called in our older years
to give hope to the next generation
all hands & hearts reaching for fullness of life
Two days after meeting with nine others
in a later-life wellness circle I’m still feeling the thrill of our sharing from heart to heart
A simple format around a lit candle a couple songs, two poems, and ten stories and for two hours we filled a room with life, love & laughter
The spirit of hope and wholeness is a mystery
about a power I can not explain but a single
heart-to heart gathering can speak 1,000 words
NOTE: if you are interested in learning more about a Later-life Wellness Circle just let me know.
On a fall walk with Mellie in New Brighton, Minnesota
a white squirrel appeared, paused, and scurried off
The very next day the same squirrel showed up again
pausing to gift me with a lovely photo op
More than a picture White Squirrel gave me a sign
to attune & seek harmony with the seasons of my life
