Soul journeys

Two years ago,
the day after her great grandfather's funeral,
she was born.   The text arrived at 4:34 am.
Yes, I had my phone's sound turned on.
can I come?
It is 4 in the morning mom, go to sleep...

a new soul landed in my world,
sleep would wait, I drove two hours
held her in my arms, while mama slept,
not really, she could not sleep either,
as daddy cleaned up the rest of the midwife visit.

Her brother would meet her soon enough, for now
he slept at Oma and Papa's.  
When he saw her he  raced
 across the room  held her in his sparkling eyes

love shone.



gkn Feb. 23 2019

X tian church?!

When I grew up church was more than a building,  when we talked about church we talked about community, about people we knew, and cared about and loved.

Today I am reading about a church, not my church,  the church of some, whom I call family, and by whom I am named family.

Today I am reading about a church, not my church, that is debating whether those who call me family can do that and be full participants of the community.
Whether people I love can love their families, (however they name them, however they love them ) and invite their families to be full participants in their christian faith community.

I was talking to a daughter, about a church, a faith community that celebrated the life of a servant leader, she was talking about the gift of this persons life, and the gift she was able to share by participating in the celebration of his life.

I was celebrating with a daughter as she shared about  her children's involvement in a church that welcomes them.    I told a friend that I am so glad all of my children are involved in faith communities, I told her that I was grateful for the support my grandchildren and children had as a result of the churches they were involved in.

I no longer call a church home, I no longer say my church.  

I pray with deep faith in gods of love that my children's children will never have to question, if they chose christianity, or any faith tradition...

I pray they will know and the institution which they desire to be a part of will know...

that  they are are sacred and welcomed and celebrated because they are...not because of who they are or how they love,  but because they are.

gkn Feb. 2019

Meanwhile

I have been home for four days now.  

four days of sunshine, yes sunshine in cold,

boots, mitts, coats, hats required, 

no more sitting on rooftops with tea 

and a sunrise,  but   but  the hot tub, white clouds, 

full moon, floating by in the darkening sky

it was cold, yes, it was cool getting there, 

the robe kept me warm, in a way, 

like the shawl before sunrise over the mountain, 

chilly and  well worth the view.

Four days of being home,  quite a change it

is true, different friends saying hi,  different teens

wandering by,  and the language sometimes 

more misunderstood, than the one 

I was learning day after day,  but  but

the sky oh so blue, and the sun shining through

is a sign of the cold, so refreshing, so clean,

my breath can be seen, the haze barely 

present, the ancient sites buried,  reminded again

of the lands I live on, note the ancients here too.

A vacation, a gift, to explore with some others, 

a culture so old,  the land so revered,  museums abound

sacred sites can be found, if I open my eyes, 

back here at home,  Christian Island is there as

I walk by the Bay, but     but    is it closer to me,

or do I just see something changed from before

did we open a door, when we looked at the floors

archeological digs, four civilizations deep,  

who has walked on this land, I call mine.

 Can this be? 

Diego,  Kahlo artists well known,  spoke to me in 

loud voice as I noted the choices they made at a risk,

what dare I see, what hope challenge new 

expressed in their work,  there are artists here too,

they tell truths to me but    but    what do I hear

some challenge my views,   Diego so clear and  

Kahlo inspires,  and connections they grow 

the work it lives on in this country, my home, 

inequity present based on race, health and  wealth,

to name just a few, how does hope live with you? 

I went on vacation, took a five hour flight, less than a 

day and a night, went to Mexico city, spent somedays in 

museums, ate food, walked in parks, took pictures, 

wrote stories, laughed and played with new friends,

went to mountains, and hiked   but     but something

happened to me, my vacation a classroom, filled

with joys  and with challenge, new windows flew open,

warm sunshine  and clouds,  I am reminded of

truths, as I live in the world, others live with me too, 

" Meanwhile the world goes on." 

 

gkn February 2019

 quote from Mary Oliver Wild Geese 

A day with Nacho

Another day, another hike sacred
mountain, companions, paintings,
space, symbols,                          caverns
hiding places

bright yellow blossoms, lime
petite white,  orange, scents
around each corner,                       surprise
my attention

changing light,the other side
of the mountain, a breath,
hike a little                              higher
the view, breathe

nopale fields, a village,
an ancient 16th century church
a path down                                zocalo
to food

a market, fresh fruit, again
nino bananas, tangerines,
savoured, while                      we walk
towards, tlacoyos

a taxi, same price
as combi he tells Nacho,
our familia                                      amigo
companero

homeward bound, around
mountains, through
small towns                             strolling
earthquake damaged church

next ride a combi but
first I am looking for ice cream
Nacho says, our eyes                        search
for a sign, helados

the combi riding student practises
his English “you are from?”  my life
enhanced by  his                                      dreams
of snow and snowboards

a market, mangos,
mint for mojitos, avocados
a pastelleria, three sweet               samples
to test, join our travels

we have arrived back home,
in Amatlan,  climb
cobblestone                                             animals
                                                                        welcome home.


gkn Feb. 2019

Feb. 1 in Amatlan

"Dawning knowledge, inner flame, heartfelt daring silent name,
vast expansion, focused deep, centred living Now!"

Another day has arrived in Amatlan,  I slept well last night.
Once again acoss the valley and over the mountains, the animals, the church bells,
the loud speakers, the sounds of village life greet us.
Tea and reading with my beloveds, a quiet day to reflect to be here in this place.
Our wonderful hosts are off for the day.   I want to write about this place.

I want to write about this sacred space.
I am overcome again
and again by the need to simply be
to bask in the mountain's energy.

It is difficult for me to slow down enough

 to not pick up pen and ponder, what shall I write,
how can I explain it,  what shall l say,
and I remember Billy Collins ( the US poet) saying I sit
and stare for 23 hours a day
for one hour I write
( at least that is what I remember him saying.)

It is difficult for me to slow down enough

for  words to flow over me,
to enter me, refreshing, recalibrating
to be shared sparsely,   to be held as life energy,

to live into daily
challenge and delight,

It is difficult for me to slow down enough

Another day has arrived in Amatlan.

gkn Feb. 1, 2019