sailing on a summer breeze

sunday sermon

The finest qualities of our nature,

like the bloom on fruits,

can be preserved only by

the most delicate handling.

Henry David Thoreau

Walden

sunday sermon

The secret of change is to focus all of

your energy, not on fighting the old,

but on building the new.

Socrates

islands and bridges

I've been struggling with building bridges. My energy healer says I can no longer be an island. I must be available for and actively seek out partnership and collaboration. I'm accustomed to doing on my own and working on my own and being on my own. For goodness sake, my blog is called The Island of Rose - that says it all. I happened upon a quote yesterday that touched my heart and only confuses things more...

Be islands unto yourselves,

refugees unto yourselves,

seeking no external refuge.

Buddha

sunday sermon

The happiness of one's own heart

alone cannot satisfy the soul;

one must try to include, as necessary to

one's own happiness,

the happiness of others.

Paramahansa Yogananda

sunday sermon

Today, more than ever before, life

must be characterized by a sense of

Universal responsibility, not only

nation to nation and human to human,

but also human to other forms of life.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama

sunday sermon

There must be always remaining in every life,

some place for the singing of angels,

some place for that which in itself

is breathless and beautiful.

Howard Thurman

Peace Rose

sunday sermon

A lifetime may not be long enough to attune 

ourselves fully to the harmony of the universe. 

But just to become aware that we can resonate with it --

that alone can be like waking up from a dream.

David Steindl-Rast

one source

I love you when you bow in your mosque,

kneel in your temple, pray in your church.

For you and I are sons of one religion,

and it is the spirit.

Kahlil Gibran

I've been drawn to churches lately. Not to religion or to the services, but to the buildings. I think I could make it a life work to photograph churches. There is something ethereal and mysterious about the hushed interiors and something both grand and accessible about the outside of churches.

One morning last week, early, I walked down to the small Catholic Church on the corner and took some photos. Graycee had just died and I couldn't sleep. Unfortunately, the church was locked so I couldn't photograph the interior, but I got some exterior shots.

sunday sermon

Even if happiness forgets you a little bit,

never completely forget about it.

Jacques Prevert

sunday sermon

The goal of life is to make

your heartbeat match 

the beat of the universe,

to match your nature with nature.

Joseph Campbell

butterflies

While researching the symbolic meaning of black butterflies, I came across some beautiful words and art...

Morning light, silken dream to flight

As the darkness gave way to dawn

You've survived, now your moment has arrived

Now your dream has finally been born

Black Butterfly, sailed across the waters

Tell your sons and daughters

What the struggle brings

Black Butterfly, set the skies on fire

Rise up even higher

So the ageless winds of time can catch your wings...

Deniece Williams

 here

 here

here

here

words

Lately it seems doors are closing for me. I'm trying to keep the faith and looking for other doors - or even windows - to open. Pondering my current situation, I remembered the words to the only poem I ever memorized...

Listen to the mustn'ts, child,

Listen to the don'ts

Listen to the shouldn'ts

The impossibles, the won'ts

Listen to the never haves

Then listen close to me --

Anything can happen, child,

Anything can be.

Shel Silverstein

from Where the Sidewalk Ends

by Shel Silverstein

sunday sermon

Ask, and you will receive;

seek, and you will find;

knock, and the door will be opened.

Jesus

Matthew 7:7

one of those days

When it is too difficult to

keep swimming, float.

Melody Beattie

It's one of those kind of days. The doors keep slamming shut and I'm desperately looking for another open door - or even a window. Sometimes it's so hard to know when it's time to act and when it's time to just keep the faith. I feel like I'm swimming upstream - with my business, with my health, with my life. It's time to float awhile...

wonder

There is a sixth sense,

the natural religious sense,

the sense of wonder.

D. H. Lawrence

come into the mountains, dear friend

Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers,

the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters,

and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.

John Lubbock

Went to the mountains yesterday with Miss J, her Dad, and grandmother. A bit chilly but so beautiful. The mountains are so grand and wise, you only have to listen to the quiet and it is all there for you...

sunday sermon

Honor your own complexity.

Mark Gerzon

Coming Into Our Own

song on my mind

Bows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I've looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way

I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I've looked at love that way

But now it's just another show
You leave 'em laughing when you go
And if you care, don't let them know
Don't give yourself away

I've looked at love from both sides now
From give and take, and still somehow
It's love's illusions I recall
I really don't know love at all

Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say "I love you" right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I've looked at life that way

Oh but now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I've changed
Well something's lost but something's gained
In living every day

I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all

I've looked at life from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all

Both Sides Now

Joni Mitchell

taken with iPhone

sunday sermon

All that I am, or hope to be,

I owe to my angel mother.

Abraham Lincoln

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers - physical or spiritual.