Who Cares - What Matters
Oh to see the
S C E N E
in the
U N S E E N. . .
In Just A Moment
makes
ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE
Go ahead. . .
L O O K
L O O K
a g a i n
and see. . .
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com
THE GUEST HOUSE
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning has a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks
WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU HOUSE
or maybe the better question. . .
WHAT HOMES YOU. . . ?
This would quantify/qualify has having a NEW YEAR’S DAY
not 17 days ago,
but each and every day, wouldn’t it,
without any of the knee jerk,
gotta’s, outta’s, should’a’s/would’a’s
better do it right away kind of RESOLUTIONS;
N O. . .
If we treated every day as a new year’s day,
a do-over,
a let’s begin again,
start over
opportunity moment,
who would ever need a resolution to do better
when day by day
and all of the moments that compose them,
we just did our best
and open door welcomed
each thing that comes a knocking
as a gift,
a precious present presence
an invitation to be better,
just a little bit better. . .
well now
what a nice how guest that would be
to greet
and you,
oh you dear friend a host;
a hostest with the mostest. . .
with the bestest mostest yet to arrive
but always warm and cozily
a doorbell ring away
Mighty fine house you’ve got there. . .
Come on in.
Sit awhile or a lot.
YOU ARE WELCOME
Holidays come and go, even our most favorite times; when they get all packed away and seems like as if they were not even here, maybe it’s then that we have a choice.
Do we keep the lights? It made them so special keeping them on; do we keep sharing them or have they been turned off, the plug pulled and not always so safely put away?
Sometimes the real season of even the most special seasons happen not when they’re going on, but when they’re needed the most and seem so far away and we get to choose if we’re going bring that season; put that season away, or continue it as it feels much more needed afterwards than even as it went on. . .
In just a moment, we decide and, and everyone either knows or benefits from our decision or not. . .in just a moment. . .
Every season coming and going brings its reality and we decide
even in that reality how strongly we will prevail. . .
SHINE ON
(boxed up or not)
Sometimes a mere 7 minute short film can make you feel more than a 3 hour movie or a 14oo hundred page book
Sometime a mere one small step is the biggest leap your soul can ever experience or
Allow someone else to ever understand. . .Some times
So. . .
If you sprung a leak, what would gush out of you? Most of the time we think it would be all the bad things, all of the things that we wanted and we didn’t get. All of our unmet expectations, our hurts, our losses, our disappointments; but. . . but what if it would really be all those things that we just couldn’t hold back, all of the things we could never get enough of and want more of, all of the things that mean the most to us: All of our joys, every answered prayer, every good thing that just couldn’t be harnessed in all of our love, all of our unconditional kindness.
If you sprung a leak, just what would gush out of you?
Well, not only would we know,
but in a moment,
so what everybody else. . .
In 1988, the great American novelist Kurt Vonnegut wrote a letter to the people of the future. Benedict Cumberbatch read this remarkably precient letter at Letters Live at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 12th December 2024 and on this very first Monday of the brand new year of 2025, somehow if seems, it feels fitting. . .
I’m not so sure we’re ready for something that was written back in 1988 for our future selves and maybe this is exactly what we need to hear or read or maybe not. . .
maybe it’ll cause us to change. . .
or maybe not. . .
I see it’s in the maybe that I worry the most. . .
HAPPY CONTINUING NEW YEAR
(now and in this unfolding future in the next 50 seconds or 50 years)
Sometimes at the end of a year you come in dragging; either being dragged by the collar by it or pulling it up a long hill long a huge duffle bag of badly needed washing clothes; with way: EXHAUSTED
A good friend, Jenny Hegland, Executive Director of The Good Listener Project sent me this poem by John O’Donohue after a recent conversation we had our our busy, sometimes exhausting lives; both of which neither of us really want to have cured, but these words serve as a healing
balm,. . .now hopefully for you as all those who are coming into a new year not all that fresh, but excited for the marathon ahead, which doesn’t begin with a sprint, but will go much more smoothly the easier we go. . .
There’s a race before us to be run. . .not swiftly. . .just surely. . .together. . .
HAPPY RENEWING NEW YEAR
. . .And JUST LIKE THAT
it’s 2024
A NEW YEAR
Whether a new year fills you with excitement or dread (or maybe a mix of both!), the hope is that when you look back on 2023
there are too many wonderful moments to count
which serve has the greatest foundation
for new memories to be
m a d e. . .
ALL WAYS Remembering that
which are gentle reminders
between old and new years of
Letting us each know in between all of the Seasons
Past
Present
Prospective
“May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
And may you stay forever young
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay forever young.”
And may you stay forever young.”
Photo in New York, by John Cohen (1962)
Here’s hoping
the New Year exceeds your expectations
and a tad past your
i M a G i N a T i O n
It’s the one pandemic that can be eliminated from this world one person at a time
I F. . .
Introducing the 2024 charity Christmas video and advert, inspired by the heartwarming John Lewis Christmas adverts. The charity single, “Send Me a Sign,” has been created to make a meaningful difference. Re-engage and Friends of the Elderly, helping to bring support and companionship to those facing loneliness every day. . .
Who knew. . .
You could make a huge difference to Someone just by reaching out,
checking in,
being YOU
IN THIS
SEASON OF LIGHTS
BE YOUR OWN PERSONAL
SEASON OF CHANGE FOR ANOTHER
I recently discovered that the inpatient unit I work at has a mailbox for Santa. Apparently, it’s been a a part of the Christmas decorations that are a huge part of bringing some normalcy to a lot of patients and their families during a most difficult time of their lives. We were recently shared a letter that appeared in the mailbox:
Unfortunately, there’s no way to figure out who placed this letter in the LETTERS TO SANTA box or who actually wrote it which is just as gut-wrenching as the letter itself because I don’t know any one who wouldn’t respond to that letter and to make this little writer’s life better.
I’m not much of a Santa, maybe you aren’t either, but I know the best of what we always have to give doesn’t come in a sack on an Eve that promises much and doesn’t always deliver what’s really needed. If nothing else, may your arms be the WRAPPING Someone needs.
Bring the Wonder to the Child in each of us that obliterates all this Season promises to banish and yearns to give
as your write your own note to Santa:
Dear Santa,
Long time no write. Sorry. I forgot how to ask for help. I forgot how to reach out. Sometimes that happens to us adults.
I haven’t been very good this year. My brain has been naughty—but there’s still a child inside of me. Bring him compassion for himself. Bring him contentment. Bring him peace. Bring this child inside of me a softer heart.
That’s what this child inside of me needs. I’ll trade you some sugar cookies and milk for a kinder soul. I would love for him to unwrap some mercy this year.
I’ll be looking for you from the top of the fence. I’ll be the one waving. I’ll be the one who looks like a 50-year-old child.
I hope you haven’t forgotten me. I need you more than ever.
Love ya,
Chuck
(Thank you, John Roedel)