It is because I have been alone for all of my life … and I see their aloneness. Yes, we (You, and I, and They) have been surrounded by Friends, Colleagues, Family, fellow Worshipers, and Companions, both passing and lasting. Yet we have been alone, in our most intimate concerns, fears, doubts, wonderings, and apprehensions. I see Us, when we are in the company of Others, who defer to our charisma; acquiesce, to our projected confidence; still themselves, to hear our voice; encourage our humour, so that they can laugh safely, out of the limelight of prominence. And my heart hears the beat, of all of our hearts, as they pound out a message of ‘S.O.S.’ in a struggle, with an isolation that is completely alien, to the awareness of all about us. 
I recall, from my own storehouse of accumulated pain, the need that we all have, for an answer to our spoken, and unspoken supplications to Life, as we have sought some word, of comfort; some note, of acknowledgment, that Life is aware of our struggles. “Here I am,” I can now offer. “You are heard … Life is with You … You are never alone … You are forever loved.” 
This is my mission; my quest; my calling (some would say, my Compulsion); to let You know that Life knows You; hears You; is responding to You; has compassion, care, instruction, and encouragement for You. This I allow Life to use me to do … for You. When I see your name in my address book; when I see your eyes in a crowd; when I see You across a busy restaurant; when I pass You in the market; in all of my life’s moments I am sensitive to You and available for You. I am yours … because I gave myself to You long before we ever knew of each other. Our actual meeting was but a simple detail that I entrusted to Life. And here we are … in this moment … neither of us ever again alone. If we but accept the gift that is ‘Us.’ To Life I say a heartfelt, “Thank You!”
IMAGES are through the gracious courtesy of Ian Britton, FreeFoto.com
27 comments:
And it is a gift.
As You, my Darling Sandra, certainly are to Me.
Lovingly ...
You most definitely are a wonderful "gift", JM.
thank you JM for YOU.
How wonderful to accept life as a gift. It is indeed just that, if only everyone could acknowledge it as such. Life will never end. It merely moves on. And gets better.
CJ xx
You, my precious NiteByrd, bless me.
I do love You ...
Darling Joni, how your presence refreshes my soul!
You are Love ...
Dear Crystal, in you I know an ally in appreciation of Life ... in its many blessed aspects. I am grateful.
Lovingly ...
Your gift is like a beautifully wrapped present that needs to be opened slowly and grown to be appreciated over time. A treasure.
I wanted to thank you for bringing to me the music of Israel "Iz" Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole.
His song What a Wonderful World is happy and moving at the same time. I watched the video of him http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OMLoAtC9RY singing this song and the happiness of those listening. At first I didn't understand the meaning of the cheering crowd and the flag that says "IZ LIVES". When it dawned on me I then did a search and came up with the story of his life. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Kamakawiwo'ole
This life too was a beautiful gift to all of us. I have to confess I sobbed on and off for most of the day and get teary-eyed when I think of how short his gift was but then it will last for an eternity. It reminded me of this from Yeats.....
"Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand."
Oh how true!
I gently and caringly embrace your lovely sentiment, Dear Aims. For, as we have painfully had demonstrated of late, the truth that you have sweetly expressed, is deep in significance ... and wide in scope of worth.
I thank you for your kindness, and patient understanding.
Lovingly ...
I have forwarded a copy of your lovely note about Iz, to Beth. For she is the Friend was generous and caring enough to make me aware of Iz initially. I had searched for the Singer of the 'Wonderful World' medley with no success. Then Beth was good enough to send me a link to Iz.
I am happy that You too appreciate all that the Life, and song of Iz represent.
namaste, Dear Aims ...
BTW - I have been asked to present this question to you...are you a sculptor?
John-Michael,
Thank you.
Hugs,
Rose
No, Aims, i am not a sculptor (though I can easily sense the wonder and satisfactions that would be found in the exercise of that art form.) But, alas ...
You, Dear Rose, are welcome.
Your hugs are welcomed, and returned.
Life and the world we live in is a gift. As are its people. Your gift J-M is making us aware of it.
Wow, you get asked why you insert yourself into other people's lives?? I'm a little perplexed, because unless you're trying to boss them around, why wouldn't that be an ok thing... you know... while respecting some of those proper "boundaries" and all.
I am a *totally* different religion than you, but I recognize respectful discourse when I see it. Anyway, appreciate thoughtfulness because sometimes we forget to do the right thing by the people who are ALREADY in our lives.
Hope I haven't muddied the waters too much and God bless ya. (You can namaste me back and we can still be friends ;] kewl )
I guess I have always been an old soul. I have always thought that there are so many people out there who feel alone. A smile is such a blessing. Pass them along people! :-)
Well now ... Mrs C, the interesting thing is that I am never asked by the One, with whom I share a special moment or experience, why I have reached out to them. They are, in the overwhelming majority, delighted to have Someone recognize and respect their individuality and worth.
It is always someone 'on the sidelines' who is, perhaps, impressed with, moved by, or (by nature) is uncomfortable with openness, that asks me what my motivation is. There is seldom (really rarely) a disapproving note to the inquiry. Mostly a desire to understand behavior that is somewhat outside of the usual course of daily practice. And I am always comfortable with the asking.
As to this "*totally* different religion" thing. I am somewhat at a loss to know how my being an ordained Southern Baptist Deacon makes for any dramatic challenges in appreciation of "respectful discourse." I have found that such an appreciation in common to all of the faiths that I am aware of.
I readily accept your prayer for Gods blessings ... with sincere thanks. And (as explained [at some length] on the side-bar to the right of this article) I express my Spirit's honoring of your Spirit when that 'still small voice' of my Spirit whispers that respect to my awareness. (Which is all said in that one beautiful word, "Namaste.")
I thank you for your visit.
You have spoken of a most interesting point, dear Beth. If we accept the Truth that our Souls are eternal in nature (which I am quite comfortable with)... then it is a particularly lovely that you have allowed your Self to be 'in touch' with your eternal "old Soul" to the degree that you are sensitive to the hungers and needs of the folks around you. This endearing quality, in You, surely is one element of who You are, that is so endearing. And I am so glad that you have given me opportunity to bring it to mention.
Lovingly ...
John-Michael, please accept my apologies if I have offended you in any way. It would be most rude to barge onto someone's blog and start an argument, and what I *meant* by my comment was to *defend* you against what I perceived was an unfriendly line of questioning.
I meant more just to say that most EVERYONE (regardless of their outlook on the world) needs a friend, and wondered what was with these folks who were thinking they could kinda boss you around with the questions... if that makes sense.
Kind of like in our family when your grandmother asks you sweetly, "Are you allowed to eat that?" what she's REALLY saying is, "You're a chubby fat girl and you'd better put that pizza down! And I think you're ugly, too!"
See? I read too much into your blog post and went off on a tangent. We all see through the glass darkly (etc. etc.) and when I hear words like "questions," I think way deeper than what's typed, you know? I was translating all the stuff you DIDN'T TYPE and getting all *mad* at these people LOL!
Doggone it if it didn't turn out that you meant what you typed, and ONLY what you typed! The joke is on me!
I had read your sidebar and since I frequently (not always) tell someone God bless ya, I didn't want you to be offended when I did, so I was trying to clarify that when I went ahead and SAID God bless ya, it wasn't me trying to rodeo someone in for the LORD (you know the type) and that you can say Namaste to me back and we're kewl with it.
Bleh.
That backfired too!
Can we start over? But first, I have to say I'm sorry again, but with honestly good intentions to say a *good* word for my new friend.
I LOVE that you put yourself out there - so open and unafraid. You are truly a special person and much braver than I.
Can I share a 'not-so-secret' secret with you, my Don Mills Dear? The honest truth is ... Fear is my constant companion. I am ALWAYS concerned that I will be misunderstood, misinterpreted, or that I may intrude of offend in some unintended way. But I have accepted Life's challenge to Be the individual that I am ... with my complete compliment of failings, ineptitudes, awkward and clumsy efforts, and, yes, Fears ... and refuse the crippling forces of my known limitations (including severe tendencies to introversion) ... for the sensed benefit of Whomever I may, in some unknown way, in any particular moment, serve. This has become something beyond choice. It is now cast in indelible ways on my Being. This is why I am.
And, my Dear, who you are ... is of great benefit and sustaining encouragement, to my Soul. That is a Truth! You bless me. And I love all that is who you are.
My Dear Mrs C ... please rest easy. There is no need for apology (though I do appreciate your sweet kindness in offering one.)
I was but a bit at a loss to understand the root of your comments. And was in need of trying to address whatever the germ of your thoughts might have been. So, if I sounded, in any way, offended ... please know that I was not. I was, simply (and I do have the ability to be quite 'simple' at times) confused.
namaste
Dear John Michael, please forgive my lack of presence here of late. I am slowly trying to get to each of my very dear supporters and to visit their blogs regularly but as much as I LOVE to do this, it requires a precious commodity - time. So I do my best and am always so glad I did because I get to see such wonderful posts as these. Your poems are so very special and beautiful. Please keep sharing these with us as they are a gift, as are you. Love to you my friend Jen B xxxxxxxx
Precious, Darling Jen, my Soul's immediate response to your sweetly considerate and generous message ... is a soft... gentle ... and enduring embrace. In that is all that words can never say. I love You.
Admiring adoration ...
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