High on Happiness

Posts Tagged ‘Hope’

Sometimes a certain bend of light makes all the difference.  Falling just so, it pierces jaded hearts.  Eyes that were glazed see again; minds that were closed open to the truth.

The angels never stop painting the world with their hope.  Everyone can be saved from isolation.  A whispered word can lead toward home.  A sliver of song can mend a shattered soul.

The petal of a rose, a feather on the wind, a waft of a sweet, remembered fragrance—anything will do.   Hope takes endless forms.

Sometimes,  a certain bend of light makes all the difference.

It was a particularly clear night and full of magic.   In the heavens, high above the treetops, the creatures of the frost world could see the pearly glow of the legendary ring of moons that surrounded their world.

Mothers and fathers woke children from their beds and led them outside to see the sight, for it appeared only rarely and this might be their only chance.  “Remember this,” the parents would whisper.  “Remember this always.”

“What is it?” the awe-struck children would ask.

“We do not know,” the parents would answer.  “Some say it is the home of the gods who call us into being and bless us with their love.  Those who are lucky enough to glimpse its beauty are said to carry hope in their hearts all their lives, even in times of great darkness.”

And the children held their parents hands and leaned against their warm bodies, watching until morning came.  And although most of them would never see the ring of moons again, their hearts were filled forever with its glowing, pearly light.

“Every now and then,” she said, gazing out the window, “a moment comes along that makes all the rest of them worth it.”

The day had been gray, that heavy, relentless gray that numbs your mind.  Now and then raindrops splattered the windshield as we drove along.  The rhythmic thump of the windshield wipers only added to the monotony and we wondered if would ever end.

It was like those seasons of depression you go through sometimes, colorless and dull.

But then, just as afternoon was turning into evening, the sun broke through and the hills outside the windows gleamed with a brilliant gold.

It would fade as quickly as it appeared.  But for this one fleeting moment, we were revived.  Its beauty rescued us from the gloom and reminded us that beyond the clouds, the light endlessly shines, and if you just keep going, it will break through.

“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!  ~Goethe

The New Year begins!  Both the curtain and the bar are raised.  And we come leaping into this gift of new hours, fresh dreams in hand, full of hope and daring.

Let our faith be firm.  Let us bring to this New Year the best in us: Hearts brave enough to be vulnerable, lips willing to speak our truth, hands eager to reach out in kindness, souls ready to serve.

Let us be alert for goodness and beauty and find them in every hour.  Let us fly our dreams like flags before us.  Let us reach for the stars and climb whatever mountains may appear.  Let us not take no for an answer, but cling instead to our passion for the endless possibilities.

And may the Illimitable Yes that is Love and Peace and Joy sing its song through us all our days and fill us with its grace.

You wrote yourself indelibly on our lives, oh quickly fading year.  You tried us, and tested us, and made us stronger.  Against the backdrop of your seasons, we loved and laughed, said our hellos and goodbyes, poured new learning into our hearts and minds, gathered fresh bundles of wisdom and grew our souls.

And although there were times of darkness and heartache, although we mourned and were afraid, in the end, we found ourselves braver and truer somehow, more determined, surer of ourselves and of our meaning.  Even in the darkness, you wrote poems on our hearts and filled them new understanding and compassion.

You brought us gifts of beauty and unfolded pathways of hope.  Your hours opened to us new wonders and discoveries that thrilled our minds and let us see the depths of our potential.   You brought us moments of triumph that let our spirits soar.

Now, as you take our yesterdays to the temple of times past, take with you, too, this deep red rose as a token of our heartfelt thanks for all the gifts you gave, for all the love you taught us, for all the joy.

Farewell, 2011.  Farewell.

Shadows fall across paths of everyone—you, me, the lady down the street.   All of us have our hours of darkness, of pain, of loneliness and doubt.

We’re weak then, when the color is cut from our worlds.  We find no solace even in our fondest memories.  And hope only leaves a bitter taste in our mouths.

I understand; I have walked my share of miles through the places where light is gone.  And I can tell you this about shadows: Behind them is the light. And whatever stands between it and you cannot keep it from you forever.

Say to yourself, “This is only a shadow,” and hold a comforting pillow of peace in your arms.  Shadows pass.  And even in the darkness, you are known and infinitely loved.

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A few feet away, the first ice is forming on the edges of the creek.   The last thing you would expect to see is a dandelion.  Yet there it was, smiling for all it’s worth.

And how it touched me, this one, sweet, cheery beam in the midst of autumn’s subdued colors, singing its joy regardless.

Here was spring’s last laugh, a bright coin of hope to tide me through winter’s coming days.

And although the snows will come and the frost etch the window panes, her laughter will remain in my heart.   And I will hear her gaily singing, “Remember me!  Remember me!”

Even here, on this plane where confusion runs rampant, or despite it, the Great Yes unfolds itself in perfection.   Sometimes it is easier to see.  Sometimes it appears before our eyes as portraits of paradise.

But always, beneath our stories and partial perceptions, it is here.

It’s the song of silence that rests between sounds and the vast, ineffable ground from which all matter rises.  It rides on our laughter and folds itself within our tears.  It emerges as stars and hope.  It shines in the face of each trusting child.

It pours like an endless waterfall into our parched hearts whispering its eternal song:  Be at peace, my children; you are loved.

Because you kept going when going was rough, even though your chances seemed small,

Because you held onto hope when nothing but hope remained,

Because you gave your best, even when you doubted its worth,

Because you kept trying, even when no one believed in you,

Because you shared your laughter out of love, and your songs for the simple joy of singing,

Because you felt the Great Yes beating in your heart, even in the darkness,

Because the world needed you, more than you’ll ever know,

Because your beauty and valor made the world a better place,

Now yours is the triumph, and yours is the crown.

Be glad, and lift up your arms in joy.

In the comfort of friends, life takes on meaning.   Joys shared are joys brightened.  Shared troubles lose some of their sting.

Friends give lie to the illusion that we are separate, that we walk through life alone. They assure us that we matter and that our hearts are tied to other hearts that know that how we love and know what we bear.

In their company, we unfold our wings and dare to fly.  When we fall, they are there, telling us to rise again.

They encourage us to hope, and when our own hopes fade, freely lend us some of their own.  They support our dreams—even the outlandish ones.  They still our fears with their presence at our sides.

Friends are the mirrors of our souls.  Through their eyes, we glimpse our own beauty and understand that it is true.   And so we love them, reflecting their beauty to them in return.

And thus we prosper and flourish, comforted and gladdened.  We become more real and our lives become more precious, all through the grace of good friends.