Posted on by Lesley · 4 Comments

A. W. O. L.

Dear Blogging Friends,

I’m sorry I haven’t been around for a while and will probably not be for the next two to three weeks, or so, as we’re preparing for a house move. I’m thinking of you and missing you, but I’ll be back as soon as possible.

Love to you all,

Lesley xxx

. . . and remember –

In Spite of War

In spite of war, in spite of death,
In spite of all man’s sufferings,
Something within me laughs and sings
And I must praise with all my breath.
In spite of war, in spite of hate
Lilacs are blooming at my gate,
Tulips are tripping down the path
In spite of war, in spite of wrath.
“Courage!” the morning-glory saith;
“Rejoice!” the daisy murmureth,
And just to live is so divine
When pansies lift their eyes to mine.

The clouds are romping with the sea,
And flashing waves call back to me
That naught is real but what is fair,
That everywhere and everywhere
A glory liveth through despair.
Though guns may roar and cannon boom,
Roses are born and gardens bloom;
My spirit still may light its flame
At that same torch whence poppies came.
Where morning’s altar whitely burns
Lilies may lift their silver urns
In spite of war, in spite of shame.

And in my ear a whispering breath,
“Wake from the nightmare! Look and see
That life is naught but ecstasy
In spite of war, in spite of death!”

Angela Morgan

Posted on by Lesley

This unknown time

Follow your own vision.
From Bryan at Visions of a People’s Dharma

Visions of a People's Dharma

I no longer want to involve my being with endless chats of maybes and possibilities.

Nor debate opinions, or so-called truths, whatever they may be.

Or stories of her, him, and it, dancing in endless drama.

Or seeking what isn’t and never will be.

Nor do I care to listen to empty commitments, made from an empty existence, attempting to force change.

Or pretending to care, or not care.

I want to spend my unknown amount of time,

embracing exactly what is in my moments, seeing my vision, not yours or others.

Not running, or chasing after, changing it, manipulating it, forcing it, or pretending it.

Just, A Human, Being,

Being.

Bryan Wagner

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Posted on by Lesley · 10 Comments

Prayers for Peace and Wisdom

Let us know peace.

For as long as the moon shall rise,

For as long as the rivers shall flow,

For as long as the sun shall shine,

For as long as the grass shall grow,

Let us know peace.

— Cheyenne Prayer

Earth teach me stillness

as the grasses are stilled with light.

Earth teach me suffering

as old stones suffer with memory.

Earth teach me humility

as blossoms are humble with beginning.

Earth teach me caring

as the mother who secures her young.

Earth teach me courage

as the tree which stands all alone.

Earth teach me limitation

as the ant which crawls on the ground.

Earth teach me freedom

as the eagle which soars in the sky.

Earth teach me resignation

as the leaves which die in the fall.

Earth teach me regeneration

as the seed which rises in the spring.

Earth teach me to forget myself

as melted snow forgets its life.

Earth teach me to remember kindness

as dry fields weep with rain.

— “Earth Teach Me to Remember,” John Yellow Lark,

Fill us with the Light.

Give us the strength to understand, and the eyes to see.

Teach us to walk the soft Earth as relatives to all that live.

— Sioux Prayer

Oh, Great Spirit who dwells in the sky,
Lead us to the path of peace and understanding.
Let all of us live together as brothers and sisters.
Our lives are so short here,
Walking upon Mother Earth’s surface.
Let our eyes be opened to all the blessings you have given us.
Please hear my prayers, Oh, Great Spirit.
Oh, Great Spirit
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world,
Hear me! I am small and weak,
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty
And make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made
And my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand
The things you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have
Hidden in every leaf and rock.
I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,
But to fight my greatest enemy
~ myself.
Make me always ready to come to you
With clean hands and straight eyes,
So when life fades, as the fading sunset,
My Spirit may come to you without shame.
All my Relations!
By
Yellow Lark of the Sioux
Posted on by Lesley · 6 Comments

A Grateful Day


5 Mins

A Network for Grateful Living is a global organization offering online and community-based educational programs and practices which inspire and guide a commitment to grateful living, and catalyze the transformative power of personal and societal responsibility.

We hold grateful living as an engaged mindfulness practice, grounded in both wisdom and science, which supports our ability to see the wonder and opportunity in every moment, and motivates us to act boldly with love, generosity, and respect towards one another, ourselves, and the Earth.

Gratefulness.org

About Brother David