Blog Archives
Did You Ever Really Live?
It’s not how much you get
Nor how much you give.
A more important question begs an answer:
During all your endeavors, did you ever really live?
Working hard for wealth,
Recognition, or simply trying to be,
You paid a heavy price in time, stress, and aging
Because nothing comes for free.
We all work and struggle for our children,
Hoping they’ll accomplish more than we.
We want them to have a better life than us,
Yet nothing is for free.
Life teaches hard lessons.
Can knock you to your knees.
Never giving in but getting up
Is but one of a successful life’s keys.
We were put here for a purpose.
Many may not understand.
To do our best during our test,
Maybe lend a helping hand.
Some are doctors, lawyers, brokers,
Paupers or kings wearing a crown.
Others were musicians, writers,
Or poets of renown.
It was given to you freely.
It’s therefore yours to decide,
But one last thought I’ll venture
If you will abide.
You’ve worked so hard for others,
Please don’t die with your music still inside.
The Sound of Silence
Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I Am God.”
Do you know what silence sounds like?
Did you know that music is a series of sounds separated by silence?
In this busy world, it is almost impossible to hear the sound of silence.
However, I treasure it above all else.
Imagine a magical, serene time totally void of any sound on your ears.
One’s mind completely relaxes, and one can visualize waves breaking on a distant, sandy shore – without sound.
From deep within our mind, a new, pure thought emerges in this blessed silence.
It would have never arrived in its present form because of the noise, clutter, give and take of everyday life. Instead, it would have arrived all covered in bandages from injuries caused by the extraneous, outside world. It would be confused, lacking clarity, and without peace.
The idea is to intentionally become more aware of the Sound of Silence.
God bless your journey!
Meditation or Visualization
Lying among wild flowers in a high country meadow, my nose is enjoying their fragrant smells mixed with that of spruce and pine trees.
I inhale and exhale deeply for several breaths and then my breathing settles down to normal as I lay quietly, enjoying the smells, warm sun on my face, and bird sounds.
My consciousness is aware of the quiet calmness, absent any noise of everyday commerce such as traffic, horns, sirens, trucks, etc.
My head is turned sideways, and a slight but tiny movement catches the corner of my eye. My eyes focus and closer examination reveals a beautiful red-and-black dotted small rounded body moving along a narrow leaf towards the stem of a large wildflower. It is a little ladybug moving along with determination. As I focus closer, I see little white specks on the flower stem, and some of them are moving slowly. Now I could see and understand the destination of this little bug. She is going to dine on her favorite prey. I turned my head back and looked at the robin’s egg-blue sky for a few minutes. Then I closed my eyes.
All was well and in harmony. Everything in my world that should be balanced was indeed balanced. All the equal and opposites were equally blended. At this point in time, all was beautiful and perfect in my world: No fuss, no hurry, no cares, and of course, no worry.
Since everything is perfect and good in my world, there is nothing left to do except take a nice nap.
Happy and safe travels on your journey!
High Country Meadow
He Lives!
He walked among us over rocky pathways
Many long years ago.
The message He brought was the one He taught
To free us and let us know.
Numbered among transgressors,
Beaten and scorned with shame.
He shouldered false accusations bravely
And never placed the blame.
Not happy with His suffering,
They sentenced Him to death.
They nailed Him to a cross
To draw His last earthly breath.
He was buried in a sepulcher
Which was hewn in stone.
Women prepared His body for eternal rest
And left Him all alone.
Just as the prophecy had foretold,
The stone was rolled aside:
Three days later, our Savior arose
To ascend and forever to abide.
The ultimate sacrifice for our sins –
A price we could not pay –
Was paid in full by our Savior.
Each year, we celebrate this act on each Easter Day.
Happy Easter, Everyone!
W. Foster Welborn
Old Warrior
Born of the people,
Learning to live off the land.
As a boy, he learned a warrior’s ways
And grew to be a man.
Strong Bow hunted Tatanka, the buffalo,
With both bow and lance.
He guided his horse among the headlong rush,
Killing meat to feed the people when he got a chance.
He had wooed and won a pretty maiden’s hand,
Who became his wife.
They lived and loved while moving freely on the land,
Following a nomad’s life.
He danced with fellow warriors,
Circling the fire around.
War drums beat the rhythm,
And many moccasined feet beat tattoos on the ground.
That was when he was young and powerful,
A mighty warrior to behold.
He was fast and furious back then, many moons ago.
Now he was gray and old.
Strong Bow sat on his aging war horse atop a hill.
His shoulders slumped forward with his head hung down.
Cold winds blew around him,
Making the only sound.
The old warrior’s face smiled lamely.
It was a good day to die,
And soon his spirit would depart,
Taking wings to fly.
Cold wind knifed through his buckskins
Into his old body both weak and frail.
Strong Bow closed his eyes and softly sang his death song,
Having reached the end of his trail.
(Note: The above poem is a result of my thoughts that were evoked by this artwork.)
wfosterwelborn 