Simple words

Simple words

That’s all they were

And yet they hit the inner cords

Words affirming

Words of learning

Words to spark a fire burning

Sticks and stones

May break my bones

But words can also hurt me

Yet the other hand,

Is just as true,

Words strengthen more than planned

Simple words

That’s all they were

And yet they set me free.

To really see.

I wonder what life would be

If we all could really see.

Bullet wounds and cracks,

Knives sticking out of backs.

What if we could see our hearts,

Instead of just statistic charts.

What if we could see the pains

That locks us up, as if in chains.

What if,  if when we could see,

We worked together to be free

I wonder what life would be

If we all could really see;

Joy and peace, and love

As the sunshine from above.

What if we could see our souls

And all the treasure each one holds.

What if we all could really know

The happiness that each day shows

What if, with that knowledge

We made a difference, made a bridge.

To choose to help instead of hurt,

And to share all that we have learnt.

What a different place this'd be

If we all could really see.

Peace admist a storm

"Peace above the storm" - It was one of my top selling books in the summer of 2010. I offered it pretty much at any door that didn't turn me away after presenting the cookbook - why? Because this is a world of chaos - the assumed opposite of peace.
I say assumed opposite because I am started to question if they are really all that different at all.

Can you really have "peace" without a storm? If life was full of only good times and absolutely nothing was wrong - would we even know what the word "peace" means?  Its through the storms and the rain that we learn to appreciate the sun, and its going through the hard times that we can learn to appreciate the great. Storms are a regular part of life - but peace can be too. Maybe looking at life through a lens of comparing and contrasting, black and white, is where the trouble is. What if I learned to enjoy the hard times as much as the good?

What I am not saying in this notion is that we need chaos in our lives - no. Sadly its just a part of life. But what we do need is peace, and need to know how to recognize it and where to go to get it.
So often when life is going great I start to forget the source of my Joy - but when my source has run dry due to my lack of attention that is when I start paying more attention.
See, storms are kind of like an alarm - its not like I want to hear that beeping screeching thing go off - but I do want to be notified of the rising smoke levels in a room. I don't want hard times, trials and set backs - but I do want to be reminded of my final goal and told when I am straying.

If I were to rename my top selling book I'd call it "Peace amidst the storm" - because too easily in life we don't recognize peace until we loose it in the chaos. But to be able to dance in an impermeable bubble in which one can be at peace no matter the atmosphere outside. There's a revolutionary concept. So often I think I pray the "wrong" prayer (If there is such a thing) - instead of begging to get better or pass a class, maybe I need to focus more on praying for peace, no matter the circumstances. Also in some way I think I am developing an appreciation of sorts for the not so great circumstances - its the only way to strengthen my bubble and my faith.

"I need a trusty compass" said the captain, "One that will keep its needle steady no matter how hard the ship is being tossed"