Bride Song (Poem)

In time for Valentine's Day, I'm re-posting a poem I wrote a few years ago that expresses my Love for Yeshua/Jesus the Christ.

Happy Valentine's Day!

~ ESA
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You gaze upon me, such Love in your eyes

Calling me “Beloved,” but what have I done?

I am hated, a loser, a thing people despise

Do I deserve such Love from someone?

~Let me look through your eyes, my beloved

~Let me look through your eyes and know

~What's within me, that you discovered

~Let me seek the Love that you sow

 What do you see with your vision so wise?

I feel lifted; my poor sight undone

A Light deep inside as I look through your eyes

A new journey has now begun

 

~Let me look through your eyes, my beloved

~Let me look through your eyes and know

~What's within me, that you discovered

~Let me seek the Love that you sow

I look through your eyes at the others

Before they were sinful, adrift and just wrong

Now I see the same Light within them

They’ve been the same as me all along

 ~Let us look through your eyes, my beloved

~Let us look through your eyes and know

~What's within us, that you discovered

~Let us seek the Love that you sow

 I share your Love for all others

I reach out my hand without shame

I’ve learned they are sisters and brothers

And God loves each of us the same

 ~Let us look through your eyes, my beloved

~Let us look through your eyes and know

~What's within us, that you discovered

~Let us seek the Love that you sow

  

I sing this Song to the whole world

His Love extends far beyond me

Hate or anger need not be hurled

A better life there can certainly be

 

~Let us look through your eyes, my beloved

~Let us look through your eyes and know

~What's within us, that you discovered

~Let us seek the Love that you sow

  

For the Feast, guests are excited

The Spirit’s mission is done

Bride and Groom at last united

Now they are truly one

 

~Let us look through your eyes, my beloved

~Let us look through your eyes and know

~What's within us, that you discovered

~Let us seek the Love that you sow

  

Brother / Sister no more divided

Basking in the eyes of the Son

Heaven sings; all are delighted

The Promised Kingdom has come

 

~Let us look through your eyes, my beloved

~Let us look through your eyes and know

~What's within us, that you discovered

~Let us seek the Love that you sow

Coin Toss

Those with US coin currency in your pocket have seen the various backings on quarters over the last decade. Between 1999 and 2009, the US Mint released new quarters, a few each year, through banks within the State represented on the back.

I remember waiting for the initial release. It wasn't long before the shiny new quarters were in my possession, as I lived on the east coast, where the first coins were released. As the releases continued year-after-year, however, it took more time to see them in the local cash registers.

But they did get there.

This is not to share the story of the US quarter, but as an illustration of how much our lives are integrated with others. Those quarters would not arrive locally unless carried beyond the State borders in which it was issued. It may have been held in many purses and pockets between the initial issue of a bank and your hand.

There is no doubt that several of these quarters are now outside the US borders as well. There are banks all around the world that exchange US currency, and countless international travelers that may hang onto a few coins as souvenirs, much as my dad had done in his international travels.

Think how many lives this quarter has touched in its journey, and how many more it will touch once it leaves your hand. We never know where each coin goes. But we do know one thing.

Our lives are interwoven together.

Even as a quarter passes hand-to-hand,

Blessings can travel over many a land.

~ ESA

Divisions and Fear

Someone once asked me what I value most in this world. My response was, "Seeing other people cross dividing lines and work together.

There are many in this world who would divide. We are divided by geography, income, politics, religions, genders, lifestyle, cultures, and languages. Some thrill at diving people and putting each in our place.

But are we not all one - humanity? Do we not all have the same color blood running in our veins? Do we not all live under the same sky, where the moon and sun touch our lives?

I've even seen fellow Christians bicker among themselves over who has what right.

People quote the bible as an excuse to draw lines. "If you're not with me; you're against me!" or "Christ came to divide sheep and goats, so I am called to do likewise!"


Say WHAT?!?

Do you really believe that is what Jesus / Yeshua wants? Did He not tend to the Roman centurion and the Samaritans as well as the Jews? Did He not reach out to everyone who crossed his path, and tell a beautiful story of blessing for the one that stepped across a dividing line to help a fellow human being?

Christ asks that we love each other and work together - not divide ourselves, fight, and hate each other. That is the teachings of the adversary.

Once, I attended a healing Mass with my husband and in-laws. My mother-in-law is Protestant, and thus cannot receive communion in the Catholic church. When the priest saw that she did not come up, he approached her after finishing the line. She refused demurely. When asked why, she explained that she was Protestant and not allowed. To emphasize, she put her hands before her mouth.

The priest pulled down her hands, put the Eucharist in her palms and said firmly, "That doesn't matter." There were whispers all around us; many had plans to report this priest to the church. But I Bless this priest for what he had done. He crossed that line to extend Love.

Fear divides us from our fellow human beings. We fear them, whether we see that as despising them, hating them, or cutting ourselves from them. We are running as fast as we can in the opposite direction, even when we don't admit it to ourselves.

Fear can also be used by others to keep us quiet, obedient to their greed and desires, and have us fight each other. Fear is used to divide us. Fear is used to keep us from saying or doing something to change things - especially when things should be changed!

Why?

Because, division is the antithesis of what humanity is actually growing towards and what we can be. There is a statement that practically screams from my being when I see how much fear has crippled what we can be.

We can achieve far more together than the sum of our individual efforts.

Together - as one.

When we are divided and running in so many different directions, we fail in that.

How much can we do working together? Even as recent as one generation ago, we walked on the surface of the moon.

But we can do much more. When people work together, they erase the dividing lines. They unite in heart and mind and create something strong and lasting.

We create a better world, a brighter world.

We come up with solutions to life's problems, with no loss to any, no answering to corporate greed that sees the poor masses beneath its notice.

We bring Peace into our lives and our world. 

We bring Love to live in our lives and the lives of every one of our sisters and brothers.

We are all one, though fear tries to tell us differently.  Let Light shine to dissolve the fear - and bring us a better world.

~ ESA

Bride Song (Poem)

You gaze upon me, such Love in your eyes
Calling me “Beloved,” but what have I done
I am hated, a loser, a thing people despise
Do I deserve such Love from someone

~Let me look through your eyes, my beloved
~Let me look through your eyes and know
~What's within me, that you discovered
~Let me share Love your heart does sow

What do you see with your vision so wise
I feel lifted; my poor sight undone
A Light deep inside as I look through your eyes
A new journey has now begun

~Let me look through your eyes, my beloved
~Let me look through your eyes and know
~What's within me, that you discovered
~Let me share Love your heart does sow

I look through your eyes at the others
Before they were sinful, adrift and just wrong
Now I see the same Light within them
They’ve been the same as me all along

~Let me look through your eyes, my beloved
~Let me look through your eyes and know
~What's within us, that you discovered
~Let me share Love your heart does sow

I share your Love for all others
I reach out my hand without shame
I’ve learned they are sisters and brothers
And God Loves each of us the same

~Let me look through your eyes, my beloved
~Let me look through your eyes and know
~What's within us, that you discovered
~Let me share Love your heart does sow

I sing this Song to the whole world
His Love extends far beyond me
Hate or anger need not be hurled
A better life there can certainly be

~Let me look through your eyes, my beloved
~Let me look through your eyes and know
~What's within us, that you discovered
~Let me share Love your heart does sow

For the Feast, guests are excited
The Spirit’s mission is done
Bride and Groom at last united
Now they are truly One

~Let me look through your eyes, my beloved
~Let me look through your eyes and know
~What's within us, that you discovered
~Let me share Love your heart does sow

Brother / Sister no more divided
Basking in the eyes of the Son
Heaven sings; all are delighted
The Promised Kingdom has come

~Let me look through your eyes, my beloved
~Let me look through your eyes and know
~What's within us, that you discovered
~Let me share Love your heart does sow

__________________________________________________________________

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: As the author, I release these lyrics for free use. If any musician wants to use or publish this, please feel free to do so.

- ESA

From Me to We

A few months ago, someone suggested I change the way I think and pray. Each time I would use the words "I" or "me", I should use the words "we" or "us". This change brings about a few things.

First, I acknowledge my connectedness to others - to everyone. There is not a thing that I do that does not affect at least one other, usually several others - and always more than I will ever realize. This includes my thoughts, as thoughts guide our actions and our responses - conscious or not. Thoughts can even affect others indirectly, whether we realize this or not.

We are none of us alone
What we send out
Into the lives of others
Comes back into our own
- E Markham

When I change "me" to "we", I eliminate the "me/you" mentality. Instead I am left with the awareness that whatever my impact on another - good or bad - will likewise impact myself. Who in their right mind would want to harm themselves? Thus this kind of thinking should lead to love, compassion, empathy, kindness and generosity.

Further, by thinking "we" instead of "me" I work towards what will be beneficial to us all, not what is beneficial to me alone and the rest are on their own. If I pray for Love, Guidance, Help from God - I do it not just for myself, but for all.

This works both ways. When I hold grudges against someone, I am holding my own guilt like a dark shade of bias and prejudice before my eyes. Thus is why Christ instructs that when we forgive, we are forgiven - by thinking in terms of "we", I either condemn myself when I condemn another or free both of us together.

I will admit, though, this change is a slow process. There are many times I still use the words "I" and "me" and think within the boundaries of my own skin. It's not easy to change, but it is possible. It's amazing how far-reaching thoughts, words or actions can be sometimes when I do hold "we" in mind, rather than just "me." Where I may not be able to do something alone - there is nothing WE cannot do when we work together.

When we work together
Something wondrous happens
We accomplish far more
Than the sum of our individual efforts.

- ESA

In the NOW

There exists a sweet moment when my mind and my being are completely in the NOW - in the moment, connected with all that is around me and aware of what flows through me.

It's a moment when my heart is open to Love and open to loving all that is around me.

My head isn't thinking about what will be, isn't making plans, isn't looking back on the past but is only observing and taking in what is here in the NOW.

My awareness extends beyond myself to touch all that is there - the tree, the grass, the bee dancing among the blueberry flowers, the people waking up in the apartments, the ones driving by in their cars, the child struggling on the grass as she learns to ride her two-wheel bike... and the overwhelming feeling/understanding that God is there touching/within/with/through all of these and more. It's a connectedness beyond words.

Sadly, I can only catch rare glimpses of these moments and my mind is distracted and pulls me away - to a thought, to a memory, to a worry, to respond to the greetings of a neighbor walking by. But at the same time, I know God is still there, even when I am unaware.

Such sweet moments,
More precious than pearls.
And they happen anywhere in the world.

- ESA

Erasing Lines

The world as we have come to know it is a large, vast place full of wondrous variety and diversity. But sometimes the nature in human beings to classify, to list -- to pigeonhole comes out in us all. With this we draw lines - circles, boxes, squares. We separate ourselves and create a we/them dichotomy that creates alienation, segregation, separation, war, feelings of loftiness and even hatred.

There is a poem, I often quote:
They drew a circle to shut us out.
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout!

But Love and us had the wit to win,
We drew a circle that took them in.
- Original by Edward Markham

In the late 1960's, humanity saw something that it never saw before, pictures of our world as seen from a vast distance: one blue-green world with white lacing; no borders marking countries, no name tags on cities. This is an image that stuck in the minds of many who had the fortune of being around in those days -- we're one world.

Then we went back to our borders, our religions, our races, our cultures, our political beliefs, our myriad ways of separating ourselves from our fellow human beings. "We are not like them," we told ourselves. "They are so different and strange." And wars continued; prejudices still thrived. And we kept telling ourselves that our little circle was the ONE TRUE circle and all others are wrong.

The "if you're not with us, you are against us" mentality still exists today as it has for thousands of years. We never really changed, even when we saw with our own eyes that we are of ONE WORLD.

Now over four decades later, people are seeing the world through different eyes once again. The internet has allowed us to step outside of our little circles and explore what exists in others. In doing so, many have come to see "Hey, we're not so different." In fact, many have reached out and befriended others around the world, regardless of country, religion or politics. They find they share common interests and some common beliefs even if they are expressed differently within the circles they were brought up in.

Language barriers that often were an overwhelming hurdle are now simply overcome as more and more online translators make communicating with others easier. People are able to hold conversations with people anywhere in this world - in real time (if they are awake at the same time) or within mere hours - with someone who doesn't speak the same language.

We still find the old adage is true: a smile is still a smile; a laugh is still a laugh; and a tear is still a tear, regardless of where we are and what language we speak.

My hope is that this is the time when many will come forth with not pencils and mark "This is ours; that is yours," but will turn that instrument of destruction around and erase those lines!

We are all human beings. We are of one world surrounded by the vastness of space. When we continue to squabble like spoiled siblings in a household, we will fail to reach our true potential. It's only when we reach out and take each others hands, erasing the lines between us, can we discover how much common ground we really have. And it's on this common ground, we can build the foundation to a better world.

Can one person do this? No. But one person can make a start, reaching out to anyone to whom (s)he contacts. In turn, those people can do the same. Little steps lead to bigger ones.

I was born in the year man first set foot on the moon and looked back upon the Earth. Before my time is done on this world, I'd like to see it reach the point when one person looks at another, all they see is a fellow human being. One who shares the common ground of living in the same world, and may have many other things in common as well.

All one needs to do is reach out and discover them.

Stop drawing lines.
Start erasing.

- ESA

Virtual Prayer Groups

The radio station I listen to via the internet (WGTS) has this prayer group that meets once per week and prays for the petitions that people send in. Since I live and work a 7-hour drive from the station (one-way!), I contacted the radio station and asked if I could join them "virtually."

The response was, "That is so interesting, to have a virtual prayer team as well with those who join us!! We have just started this ministry and would love to do this in the future. Please check back with us in a few months and this is something we'll be working towards in the future. Thank you so much for your willingness to help!"

While I wait, planning to follow up later, I thought to post something here and maybe encourage others as well.

It may seem that virtual prayer groups are something new, but there were many times in this world’s history where families, friends or even whole communities would pray together when they were apart. For example, in a time before cell phones or even landline phones, when people crossed the ocean on ships instead of planes, they would still unite in virtual prayer. They would pick a certain time of day when the people who stayed home would pray or read from the bible, and those traveling would do so at the same time. In this way the family / friends / community would still pray together, even though they were physically apart.

During Lent, my husband requested that we read the New Testament together every night. However, when I travel on business, I'm not home every night. Some nights we read together using my cell phone. But on two separate occasions, the only time I had available to read was while I was flying; cell phones aren't permitted. So we chose a time and both read during that designated half hour – together, even though we were physically apart.

When Christ told us that when two or more get together in His name, there He would be in our midst, He did not specify that we needed to be in the same room or even the same building, town, state or country. That stipulation was only added by our interpretation / understanding of what "together" means. As God is Omnipresent, when people gather together virtually, there is no question that He can still be in our midst when we are together, even though we are physically apart.

So if you believe that you can not join a prayer group – any type of prayer group – because you cannot be there physically, think again. You do not need to be physically present, connected by phone or internet (though that's getting easier with technology), but only need to be there in Spirit and intent. Our only limitation is what we place on our belief and faith. We can truly be together in heart, even though we are physically apart.

Believe.

- ESA