America the Beautiful

We have such a beautiful country, don’t we?

The other day my wife and I were driving near our home when we noticed a woman walking, dressed in traditional clothing, perhaps from Africa.

Yet Africa’s not a country, did you know that? There are many countries,

thousands of cultures and languages there. And this lady was wearing some beautiful clothing, with bright colors.

And later in the day My Love and I were on our front porch speaking of love and whatever the future holds,

when a neighbor walked by with her grandson. She’s a good neighbor, and from Indonesia.

Such a beautiful country we are.

Well unless you consider…..the militias. The ugliness of far right extremists, in love with their assault rifles,

intimidating voters, spinning bizarre ideas, many hating brown or black people.

Stop the far right extremists, stop the hate, stop the lies.

Keep America beautiful,

and free.

VOTE.

Writing and Image, Copyright © 2020 ancient skies

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Hope Always Wins

As I drove by the mosque today on the way to vote, I was amazed at the fabric we have become.

Yes we were all there at the polls every faith, shape, size, and color. There was blue hair, green, red, brown and a whole lot of gray.

Even atheists whispered prayers with their pens.

And I wondered about an Asian man, his face told the story of many years,

so many weathered storms held in his wrinkles, in his gray hair. Perhaps

he had escaped from Communist China, traveling by sea, yet here he was today

refusing to be diminished.

His pen having the same value as mine.

I was never so proud to be an American.

Casting my ballot

for hope today. 

     

Poetry and Image © Copyright 2018, ancient skies

Thank You Dr. King

Thank you Dr. King for your bravery, your service and sacrifice,

for your wonderful, inspiring words, for believing

in humanity, that we can change

that we need to change,

may we never

forget

what you taught us.

      

Poetry © Copyright 2017, ancient skies

image from cleveland.com via google

No Victory Without Love

As racism surges forward, may we all run with the wind

have the courage of lions, fight with the strength we’ve been given

and always use the armor and weapons of love.

There is no victory 

without love.

      

Poetry © Copyright 2016, ancient skies

image credit to original artist/s via google

Connected

“I’m trying to understand this deep connection the people have to their forest,

she talks about a network of energy that flows through all living things.”

From the Movie Avatar

     There is something within us, deeply embedded, that makes us want to be connected. Why else would a sunset be beautiful, or mountain air seem so refreshing? Even in our popular culture, like the movie Avatar, we love that connection, or at least seeing it in others.

And we also long to be connected to people, especially our families. It’s good and natural. But many of us also love our communities, and our people. 

With nature, we may not be as connected as we used to be, but we can be connected to the creation, and to each other, as long as we respect the earth, and the value of each human being.

There is always hope.

     

Poetry and Image © Copyright 2016, ancient skies

Peace and blessings to everyone.

“When we love people, we give them hope.”

Black, White, and Brown

If you look at the white on this page I am not really white

I’m more of a light tan – and my wife is beautifully

brown. I have no idea why she loves

my pale skin, my grey beard.

And our children are a wonderful shade

of tan – proud of two races.

      

Perhaps we are all – just different shades

of brown and there are no

black and white –

only light and dark brown.

      

We are all wonderfully made,

and love

is the greatest gift.

       

Image is not of us – it is from google

Poetry © Copyright 2016, ancient skies

Peace and blessings to everyone.

“When we love people, we give them hope.”

A Word for Wednesday – Healing

We do not heal wounds through arguing, or trying to prove we are right. The word for today is “Healing”. As our world opens old wounds, and creates new ones at an alarming rate, the need for a people to be sources of healing has never been greater.

There are many different types of healing, and of course many different types of wounds. But may the One who made us, who knows all that we go through, keep us far from hate, and teach us to love one another.

May each of us be the healing that someone else needs, and may we all be made whole again.

    

Writing and Image © Copyright 2016, ancient skies

Peace and blessings to everyone.

“When we love people, we give them hope.”

Purple, Yellow, and Orange

When we get to heaven will there be purple, yellow, and orange flowers?

I sure hope so, we are indeed a reflection of infinity

and it is recorded that people of all colors

will be there, with total peace

thanking God

for each other, but I hope

we have flowers too.

      

And may all people have peace, here and now.

I love the different colors

don’t you?

     

Poetry and Image © Copyright 2016, ancient skies

Peace and blessings to everyone.

“When we love people, we give them hope.”

Turtle Island

On the west coast of Africa, the legend still persists to this day. The story tells us of a special people, with a special gift, on a small island in the Atlantic. It was during the colonial days, when tall ships searched the coastlines for victims to take away.

One day sails were seen not far from the island, and the lookouts for the people ran to tell their beloved chief. The elderly chief knew just what to do, and she called the people together. After she explained the plan they all headed for the beach and started calling the turtles. You see they could talk to the animals, in particular the sea creatures.

But their minds were too noisy and fearful, so the chief sent out a mind message to the turtle nations, after telling the others to be silent. The turtles all responded, big and little, sea turtles, snapping turtles, and even the small, gentle turtles you can hold in your hand. The plan was set in place, and thousands of turtles, snuck into their positions and hid, including many under the sand, as the longboats headed for the shore. Hundreds of sea turtles lurked silently under the waves. Meanwhile the people stayed in the shadows, along the tree line.

When the slave traders began to jump out of their boats, the elderly chief shouted with her mind and with her voice – attack! The people shouted from the tree line, with only the shadows of their arms waving. Turtles suddenly jumped out and ran towards the slave traders, and those that could bite, did.

Grown men screamed like children, and ran back into their boats. Thousands of turtles still launched themselves, biting and crawling on the men from the ship. Some ran up their pants legs. Once the men were in their boats again, they rowed with all their might. And then the sea turtles attacked, knocking the boats over.

It was a horrible sight, seeing the men swim for their lives, but eventually they did make it back to their ship, still screaming. And that is how the people won a great victory over the slave traders, and how the island got its name.

Many decades later, ships started returning to the island, but as friends. The slave trade had long since ended.

        

Writing and Image © Copyright 2016, ancient skies

Peace and blessings to everyone.

“When we love people, we give them hope.”

The Black and The White

It was extremely cold out on the trails yesterday but I could not resist the brightness of the sun, and the lighting. I took a number of both black and white, and color photographs and will share some of them with you. I was pleased with how they turned out. Today there is also a short poem at the end.

I look forward to the day when America embraces

each other, the black and the white, not really seeing color

but having the same blood we stand up for our neighbor

accepting our cultures, accepting the differences

yet alike, so that the healing will flow.

Amen.

       

Writing, Poetry and Images © Copyright 2016, ancient skies

Peace and blessings to everyone.

“When we love people, we give them hope.”