The other room

Heaven is the other room in my house.  Hidden by a veil of flesh, it's prone to be seen only if seeking it.  If one is listening, trills of laughter, swells of song, and feathered wings filter through the walls.  Joy of the unspeakable kind shimmers in the air.  My girl is in this room....so near and so far.  Someday, too, I'll step into that room.

Angel Land

Look

Look, Mom, It’s Angel Land

There’s the trumpet stand

Gabriel ‘s right beside the band

Do you hear? Those brilliant notes so pure?

My voice will blend, now I’m quite sure.

Look, there, down the brilliant street

There are millions kneeling now at Jesus’ feet

Can I hurry? Will you let me go?

I’ve waited years to be the first to know

How I’ll feel when He hugs me so!

See that field out behind the throne?

Made for dancing, all grass no stones

I’ll dance. Then, dance back to the throne

He’ll know my steps are for Him

He can’t wait to see them!

See? Why! His hands are reaching

I can feel Him- That’s my name He is breathing

Mom, I’m to join the throng

That sings the blood washed song!

I’ve always imagined how I’ll sing along

Watch! My feet want to lead me

They seem to know I’m finally free

Muah! He’ll stay with you ‘til you can be

Right beside me in the choir

Then, You and I will praise Him higher

Where Were You

The writing that follows is a result of survival.  It is to God because I had all of these emotions and He was there.  Until you are  in the grip of grief for the loss of a child.....there is no fathoming this type of emotion.  Remember....I was once carefree and had two of the most wonderful children on the planet.  it changed in a second.  I want to begin to pull up the feelings which I had because it may help someone.  Do not feel pity but feel love and offer strength, love, hugs, and company to those who are hurting.  You are the Savior in Flesh.  He stopped the Sting but he needs you to fulfill the comfort.

Where Were You

Where were You-I nearly drowned
(No) I couldn't see You with waves crashing all around
Where were You-My days stayed dark
I never knew it was You shadowing my heart

I couldn't see
I couldn't feel
I only knew pain TOO real
I could not express
But now can confess
I am only here because You drew my very breath

Where were You
   Heat was blazing
   Body shaking
   Heart shattered, strewn as glass
Where were you
   Footsteps heavy
   Faith unsteady
   Soul sinking, fading fast

 ...
I'm only here because You knew my every breath
I'm only here because You drew my very breath

Thanks to You because You still lead me daily through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

This Ain't the Movies, Folks.

Life is shorter than we imagine.  It is brilliant and bright.  And then, it is black.  No special effects or ominous movie music give us a warning of what is to come.  Power failure that one can't imagine.  As final as the chop of a guillotine.

Perhaps, you've heard the news of a friend who lost a loved one.  It gives you a quick reminder to love, really love those in your world.  So, do it.  Say what you need to say.  Say it.  Don't hesitate.  Share time and life with them.  Cut out the distractions.  There is no promise of another chance to experience their presence, their laughter, their words.

Work out your differences.  Or agree to to disagree.  But, let not one thing keep you separated from love.

Go where you want to go.  Say everything that you want to say.  Do everything you want to do.

Don't play it safe.  Play big.  Play until you can't breathe.

It's what I'm trying to do and why I am doing what may cause some to think I'm brave or crazy....depending on your perspective.

Oh.....remember we don't get to say when it's quittin' time.

Touching Happens
Lesson Four

Touching, bumping, elbowing, stepping-on, leaning into, falling against....it all happens.  And, occasionally, someone sits on someone.  Can't be helped or avoided.  It is a fact of life which exists when in close proximity to others in a moving vehicle.

What could be learned from this fact? hmmmmmm

Be nice.  Be polite.  Say and mean the words "I'm sorry"  Laugh and get over your pride.

Help someone if they're off balance.  Ask them if they're alright.  Offer your seat if it seems that someone can't stand without bungling into those around them.

And touching another human being isn't a bad thing anyway.  We're traveling together so we may as well feel connected.  Right?

I witnessed a co-worker lose his footing and land across two seats.  Luckily, there was no one in those seats.  Otherwise, there would have been someone reclined in their laps.  He was embarrassed and got up quickly without looking around. 

I chuckled for days.  Not because he was embarrassed.  Just because it was funny.  A normally dignified and got it together guy lost his balance and looked foolish for a minute.  I guess I was just laughing at his humanity which he had a really tough time accepting at that moment.

All of us look foolish.  All of us get embarrassed.  All of us fall, trip, misstep, or any number of things.  We get into other's space or bother them when this occurs.  

Can we accept their apologies or offer assistance?  Laugh and keep it simple?  Cry and keep it real?

We're together.  Touching can't be avoided. 

Your Stuff

Lesson Three

Your stuff is just that....your stuff.  Keep it in your seat or under your feet.

The seat beside you is for a person, another soul who needs to rest.  If your stuff is taking up extra space, there is no place for their respite.  The stuff which may be important to you is only in someone else's way.  Move it.  

Never, never, ever act like you are not seeing a person who needs to sit where you have placed your "stuff".  How arrogant to imply the importance of stuff over a fellow traveler!

Stuff can smell.  It can cause danger or injure another.  It may make unnecessary noise which agitates or angers another.  Be careful as to what stuff you bring with you onto the bus.  If it is too big, it will not fit inside your own seat or floor space.  Leave it behind.  No one should fall over your stuff.  

No matter how proud and thankful you are to have your stuff.....remember it is YOUR stuff.   The rest of the travelers may not want to talk about it or look at it.  Respectfully, keep it to yourself.  

Stuff.  

Something

That 

Usually

Fills

Falsely

TOGETHER

Walk onto the bus.  Ride up the ramp onto the bus.  We're on the bus.  Together.

Odor and aroma. Together.  Loud and quiet.  Together.  Hungry and fed.  Sad and happy.  Healthy and hurting.

You are probably getting the idea of one space and many bodies.  We went riding down the road all carrying our thoughts, opinions, pain, hope, and dreams with us.  All of us entered the bus as individuals trying to get to our own personal destination but we went together.

Some of us managed to allude any feelings of togetherness.   Eyes down.  Looked out the window.  Seated against the wall as far as possible.  It didn't change anything.  We were all together.

We all stood the risk of exposure to the same illness or accident.  We all had the opportunity to learn a valuable lesson from someone on the bus who may have been survived the crisis we were in now.  Each of us could look up and smile at someone hurting or be smiled at by someone who had hope when we had none.

No great incident may occur to unite us.  But, if circumstances threw us together, anything that happens  will only happen to us, together.  And, no one outside of this group could understand completely if we were to share our together story.

If I'm in sharing space with you, my hope is that we wring every together moment from that space.  That time and space may never come again.

I want to never miss a together, again.