Looking Ahead

From the words of American-born philosopher, Pema Chadron:  “Be kinder to yourself, then let your kindness flood the world.”

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Waiting in life’s shadows, another year

Thinking conscious thoughts, ready to embrace

Setting aside more time for daydreaming

Leading to tomorrow’s energized space

 

Allowing positivity to shine

Sowing today’s seeds, filled with future hope

Reaping lasting harvest of inner peace

Looking ahead through New Year’s vivid scope

 

Finding humor’s lessons in life’s darkness

Focusing on single tasks, without more

Filling each day with heartfelt gifts of joy

Witnessing blessed year, coming ashore

 

Creating reservoirs of lasting light

Passing each on to others taking flight

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Moving Forward (Haiku Series #210)

Now Ready

Life’s mirror reflects

Past sorrows filled with heartache—

Today writes new page

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Pass to Another

Positivity

Lights candle in one more soul—

Love and kindness glow

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Opportunity

Hopeful and ready

Discovering more than one—

Life’s next open door

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Bob Kerrey Quotes

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Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.

We’re not the worst thing we’ve ever done in our lives, and there’s a tendency to think that we are.

Bob (Robert) Kerrey (born 1943) served the state of Nebraska as Governor and later in the United States Senate.  He was a decorated veteran who served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam era.  He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1970.

Life’s Better Way (Haiku Series #137)

Impression

Sounding like Eeyore

Winnie-the-Pooh listens in—

Stop this gloomy talk

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Renewal

Negative self-talk

Pessimistic attitude—

Life needs makeover

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Crossroads

Look into life’s lens

Allow bright sunshine inside—

Turning a new page

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Power of Words

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Words used every day

Little or much to say

 

Used in positive ways

Conveying life’s essays

 

Mindful, powerful voices

Daily, humble choices

 

Impacting other lives

Celebrate with high fives

 

Disciplined purpose speaks

Positivity seeks

 

Sharing tender kindness

Truthful, without blindness

 

Careful to help and heal

Offering a square deal

 

Words paying it forward

True and straightforward

 

Thoughtful expressions said

Weaving with tender thread

 

Replace evil with good

Words plain and understood

 

Honest lyrics in song

Carried through all day long

 

Life unfolds from our text

Watchful where words go next

 

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This poem was written several days before January 6, 2021.  Its intention was to praise and encourage the positive power of words.  The events taking place in Washington, DC on January 6 showed the negative power of words.  How will our future words speak?

Walking with Jesus

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Selected verses from Psalm 122 bring inspiration for this poem.  America, as a nation, needs healing and reconciliation.  The two verses of Scripture take us on a journey from where we have been to where we wish to go.

From Jeremiah 6:14:  “They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.”

Praying for peace in our city

Loving Jesus takes center stage

Welcoming peace into all hearts

Hearing love of God over rage

 

Listening to cries of anguish

Walking with Jesus protects all

Showing empathy for neighbors

Sharing His peace at every call

 

Stepping forward with trusting words

Treating these wounds with Jesus’ care

Saying “peace, peace” with conviction

Lifting hands high, love fills the air

 

Standing and feeding His lost flock

Replacing discord, Jesus comes

Proclaiming a new dawn today

Following Grace-filled, beating drum

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From Isaiah 57:19:  “Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the Lord; and I will heal them.”