On the Election of Barack Obama (or Yes I forgive You)
Not even the newscasters
Reporting the results
Had the right words.
Nor the professional commentators.
No one seemed to know
What it all meant.
Still there was emotion.
Bishop T.D. Jakes tried to explain.
Representative John Lewis gave it a shot.
And Vernon Jordan got a word in.
But those of us who knew --- knew.
It was the light in Jessie Jackson’s and my mother’s tears,
It was all welled up in Oprah’s eyes
behind the green she wore at Chicago’s Grant Park.
America had finally had the fortitude
To say “I’m sorry!”
In a way that was unique,
Unexpected, unrehearsed.
And we accepted in a 13 minute speech
Given by our own African son of many soils.
And because of this
We can move on.
We can now rekindle the dream…
(or dig it up if it has been buried too deep)
For our excuses no longer carry validity.
They have been caught up,
Wiped away in a hurricane of change.
(Who was it that said “The revolution will not be televised…”. It was!)
And this morning, just one day out
I awakened to the sound of
Birds chirping, humming a melody.
I thought I heard …
“Yes we can. Yes we can!”
The door to service now opened wide
Grab your share of this “magnet“
Leading to the confirmations
And blessings of the Holy One.
The door, the window,
the possibility,
the hope,
the dream,
the inspiration.
America, if you did not know before
Now you have a glimpse of why immigrants
Flock to your borders, your shores.
They have all seen the potential
You have for greatness.
And everyone wants a slice.
And the pie is huge…
Still those who are deprived of entrance into this oasis,
This melting pot of possibility
Sometimes turn around disappointed,
While others become filled with anger, rage,
Wanting revenge for denied access.
America,
On the morning after the apology we say
“I accept!”…
We accept your apology
Your call for service, for shared sacrifice,
Promising the greater good.
And we watch in wonderment
As you position yourself to receive
Your gift of divine destiny
Allowing you to humbly lead
All nations spiritually, just
As you have dominated the world materially.
We accept
The anointing you have placed on our co-religionist—
The Jews, the Hindus, the Muslims, the Christians, Zoroastrians, the Baha’is and all those who profess to know and love and honor God.
We accept
Those who meekly come to your grace,
Seeking love, shelter, guidance and a better way.
Poet Robert Hayden once wrote
“In that great getting up morning…”
In that great gettin’ up mornin’
And surely he intimated this very day
Or at least that is what this feels like to me.
A Great, Great Gettin’ Up Mornin’!
So yes, we celebrate
The unshackling of the chains,
The unraveling of the semi-invisible walls of hate,
Radicalism, diversion and division,
And instead we bathe in this new day
“Immersed in a sea of purification” as we
Let the calming waters of tolerance,
Mutual respect, unity, love and fellowship
Embrace our brown, black, white, yellow and red skins.
So–
As one
We move on …
We serve on …
We unite on …
And yes we can …
We love on…
Finally allowed to get back to the dream … of a King.
2008 © Loretta Crosby. All Rights Reserved.
Note: This is version 2, revised. Formatting lost.
08 November 2008
05 November 2008
On the Election of Barack Obama ... A Poem
On the election of Barack Obama or Yes I forgive You
Not even the newscasters
Reporting the results
Had the right words.
Nor the commentators.
No one seemed to know
What it all meant.
Still there was emotion.
Bishop T.D. Jakes tried to explain.
Representative John Lewis
Gave it a shot.
But those of us who knew --- knew.
It was in Jessie Jackson’s and my mother’s tears,
It was all swelled up in Oprah’s eyes
behind the green she wore at Chicago's Grant Park.
America had finally had the fortitude
To say “I’m sorry!”
In a way that was unique
Unexpected, unrehearsed.
And we accepted in a 13 minute speech by our own native son.
And because of this
We can move on.
The door to service now opened wide
Grab your share of this “magnet"
Leading to the confirmation
And blessings of the Holy One.
The door, the window,
the possibility,
the hope,
the dream,
the inspiration.
America, if you did not know before
Now you have a glimpse of why immigrants
flock to your borders, your shores.
They have all seen the potential
you have for greatness
and everyone wants a slice.
And the pie is huge
and those who are denied entrance to this oasis,
this melting pot of possibility
sometimes turn around disappointed,
but sometimes they become filled with hate,
wanting revenge for denied access.
America,
On the morning after the apology we say
“I accept!”…
Your apology
Your call for service, for shared sacrifice,
promising the greater good.
Your divine destiny to lead
All nations spiritually just
As you have dominated the world materially.
We accept
The anointing you have placed on our coreligionist—
The Jews, the Hindus, the Muslims, the Christians, Zoroastrians, the Baha’is
and all those who profess to know and love and honor God.
We accept those who humbly come to your grace,
seeking love, shelter, guidance and a better way.
The words of poet Robert Hayden come to mind.
He wrote, “In that great getting up morning…”
and that is what this feels like to me.
So yes, we celebrate
So–
We move on …
We serve on …
We unite on …
And yes we can …
We love on…
Finally allowed to get back ... to the dream of a King.
© Loretta Crosby. All Rights Reserved.
05 November 2008 10:01 a.m.
Not even the newscasters
Reporting the results
Had the right words.
Nor the commentators.
No one seemed to know
What it all meant.
Still there was emotion.
Bishop T.D. Jakes tried to explain.
Representative John Lewis
Gave it a shot.
But those of us who knew --- knew.
It was in Jessie Jackson’s and my mother’s tears,
It was all swelled up in Oprah’s eyes
behind the green she wore at Chicago's Grant Park.
America had finally had the fortitude
To say “I’m sorry!”
In a way that was unique
Unexpected, unrehearsed.
And we accepted in a 13 minute speech by our own native son.
And because of this
We can move on.
We can now dare to dream…
Our excuses no longer carry validity.
They have been caught up and
wiped away in that “wind of change”.
Our excuses no longer carry validity.
They have been caught up and
wiped away in that “wind of change”.
And this morning, just one day out
I awakened to the sound of
Birds chirping, humming a melody.
“Yes we can. Yes we can!”
I awakened to the sound of
Birds chirping, humming a melody.
“Yes we can. Yes we can!”
The door to service now opened wide
Grab your share of this “magnet"
Leading to the confirmation
And blessings of the Holy One.
The door, the window,
the possibility,
the hope,
the dream,
the inspiration.
America, if you did not know before
Now you have a glimpse of why immigrants
flock to your borders, your shores.
They have all seen the potential
you have for greatness
and everyone wants a slice.
And the pie is huge
and those who are denied entrance to this oasis,
this melting pot of possibility
sometimes turn around disappointed,
but sometimes they become filled with hate,
wanting revenge for denied access.
America,
On the morning after the apology we say
“I accept!”…
Your apology
Your call for service, for shared sacrifice,
promising the greater good.
Your divine destiny to lead
All nations spiritually just
As you have dominated the world materially.
We accept
The anointing you have placed on our coreligionist—
The Jews, the Hindus, the Muslims, the Christians, Zoroastrians, the Baha’is
and all those who profess to know and love and honor God.
We accept those who humbly come to your grace,
seeking love, shelter, guidance and a better way.
The words of poet Robert Hayden come to mind.
He wrote, “In that great getting up morning…”
and that is what this feels like to me.
So yes, we celebrate
the unshackling of the chains,
the unraveling of the semi-invisible walls of hate,
radicalism, diversion and division,
And instead we bathe in this new day
letting the calming waters of tolerance,
mutual respect, unity, love and fellowship
embrace our brown, black, white, yellow and red skins.
the unraveling of the semi-invisible walls of hate,
radicalism, diversion and division,
And instead we bathe in this new day
letting the calming waters of tolerance,
mutual respect, unity, love and fellowship
embrace our brown, black, white, yellow and red skins.
So–
We move on …
We serve on …
We unite on …
And yes we can …
We love on…
Finally allowed to get back ... to the dream of a King.
© Loretta Crosby. All Rights Reserved.
05 November 2008 10:01 a.m.
So, do you have any reflections / comments to share on this event? Post them here!
05 July 2008
Buying Into Other People's Philosophies and Ideologies
Take What You Need and Leave the Rest
While sipping (hot) ice tea, I started the day with a short prayer. Actually it was one of the Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah that I memorized many years ago.
O Son of Light
Forget all save Me and commune with My spirit.
This is the essence of My command, therefore, turn unto it.
Then I decided to fire up the computer and listen to what Marianne Williamson had to say for today in her online A Course in Miracles program which is featured at Oprah.com. Each day she gives a rendition of the workbook exercises for the 365 day course which she started on 1 January.
Today she spoke of calling on God’s name throughout the day as a sort of mantra that would dissolve problems away by forcing you to focus on just God and his goodness.
The other thought that came was from a tape I had heard of Stephen Pierce when he talks about how he gets rid of the “noise” that make up our non-productive thoughts everyday. Pierce says he just says, “Stop!” or “Delete!”. Other gurus say things like “Next” to quiet the constant flow of negativity that our minds have been programmed to fed us everyday like clockwork.
In thinking of these different approaches, I decided that the ideas are good ones to calm the noise, but of course, as a child of God, there appeared to me to be something extra--and perhaps more potent--that we can use as children of the Father.
So I would suggest that instead of just saying “Stop” or “Next”at the appearance of a negative thought, why don’t we use more powerful words, holy words that have power inherent in them.
Some say the most powerful words are Hallelujah and the Names of the Prophets.
So today I started using “God is Most Glorious” which is the translation for the Arabic “Allah-u-Abha”. And, at first I thought I would be able to think other “constructive” thoughts in-between my “God is Most Glorious”, but my mind started playing tricks on me by telling me that these other thoughts were urgent things that I needed to take care of before I said the next “God is Most Glorious.”
The solution: delete all other thoughts besides your mantra until your brain starts to understand that you are serious about keeping negative thoughts out of your mind.
So far it has been a good day and I have experienced great piece while those around me have been coming apart with unruly and irate customers.
Anyway that is the thought for the day. Repeat the Holy Words whenever you can and let it sink in, because truly, God is Most Glorious. Greater is God than every great one and He can solve all problems with out missing a beat.
While sipping (hot) ice tea, I started the day with a short prayer. Actually it was one of the Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah that I memorized many years ago.
O Son of Light
Forget all save Me and commune with My spirit.
This is the essence of My command, therefore, turn unto it.
Then I decided to fire up the computer and listen to what Marianne Williamson had to say for today in her online A Course in Miracles program which is featured at Oprah.com. Each day she gives a rendition of the workbook exercises for the 365 day course which she started on 1 January.
Today she spoke of calling on God’s name throughout the day as a sort of mantra that would dissolve problems away by forcing you to focus on just God and his goodness.
The other thought that came was from a tape I had heard of Stephen Pierce when he talks about how he gets rid of the “noise” that make up our non-productive thoughts everyday. Pierce says he just says, “Stop!” or “Delete!”. Other gurus say things like “Next” to quiet the constant flow of negativity that our minds have been programmed to fed us everyday like clockwork.
In thinking of these different approaches, I decided that the ideas are good ones to calm the noise, but of course, as a child of God, there appeared to me to be something extra--and perhaps more potent--that we can use as children of the Father.
So I would suggest that instead of just saying “Stop” or “Next”at the appearance of a negative thought, why don’t we use more powerful words, holy words that have power inherent in them.
Some say the most powerful words are Hallelujah and the Names of the Prophets.
So today I started using “God is Most Glorious” which is the translation for the Arabic “Allah-u-Abha”. And, at first I thought I would be able to think other “constructive” thoughts in-between my “God is Most Glorious”, but my mind started playing tricks on me by telling me that these other thoughts were urgent things that I needed to take care of before I said the next “God is Most Glorious.”
The solution: delete all other thoughts besides your mantra until your brain starts to understand that you are serious about keeping negative thoughts out of your mind.
So far it has been a good day and I have experienced great piece while those around me have been coming apart with unruly and irate customers.
Anyway that is the thought for the day. Repeat the Holy Words whenever you can and let it sink in, because truly, God is Most Glorious. Greater is God than every great one and He can solve all problems with out missing a beat.
29 June 2008
Sipping Ice Tea
Sipping Ice Tea on Hwy 29/74
An Inaugural Poem Launching New Sipping Ice Tea Blog
Don’t know if you can hear the jazz in the background
But right now I’m headed to Kings Mountain, sipping ice tea
At 8 am in the morning
Just because that’s what I do.
Yeah, headed to a nine to five
Which is just barely keeping me alive
And I love this music,
Horns blowing out words
That need no interpretation.
Sipping ice tea
Cause the less I do
The more I be.
Coffee beans got no hold on me.
Piano jingling behind that horn
Is much more pleasing to me.
When this 29/74 road gets
too familiar for comfort
that’s when I’ll make my move.
When the ice is all melted down
is when I’ll walk into that call center door
and declare my freedom
to be an
EXPLO-RAN-AIRE!
No, not a millionaire, but an explo-ran-aire
cause I don’t really need the money
and its pursuit would only clip my wings,
hold me back.
I want the freedom
Of breathing new air,
Meeting new trees in the wind.
24 June 2008 (c) Loretta Crosby. All Rights Reserved.
An Inaugural Poem Launching New Sipping Ice Tea Blog
Don’t know if you can hear the jazz in the background
But right now I’m headed to Kings Mountain, sipping ice tea
At 8 am in the morning
Just because that’s what I do.
Yeah, headed to a nine to five
Which is just barely keeping me alive
And I love this music,
Horns blowing out words
That need no interpretation.
Sipping ice tea
Cause the less I do
The more I be.
Coffee beans got no hold on me.
Piano jingling behind that horn
Is much more pleasing to me.
When this 29/74 road gets
too familiar for comfort
that’s when I’ll make my move.
When the ice is all melted down
is when I’ll walk into that call center door
and declare my freedom
to be an
EXPLO-RAN-AIRE!
No, not a millionaire, but an explo-ran-aire
cause I don’t really need the money
and its pursuit would only clip my wings,
hold me back.
I want the freedom
Of breathing new air,
Meeting new trees in the wind.
24 June 2008 (c) Loretta Crosby. All Rights Reserved.
07 June 2008
HS Graduations... New Beginnings...New Challenges
Hey,
Later today we will have a cookout celebration at my sister's home in her honor. She deserves it. Cousins from surrounding counties and states have already showed up to be a part. Coming from a family of eight siblings, graduations have always been a big deal in our family and we continue the tradition of acknowledging the graduate with a special gathering each time.
All my life I've struggled with only two things more challenging than people's acceptance of the color of my skin, and that has been my being a woman and the constant threat of poverty. I'd venture to say some of the challenges have led to others on the same list, but I have no time to go deeper into any specifics of that here. I've a celebration to join.
Wow, an online journal. Maybe I'll get it done now.
Today in Gaston County, NC my niece is graduating high school. The sun was beaming down in the bleachers at the small Bessemer City High School. The graduating class was under 90 students. My niece graduated with honors and some scholarships. She plans to attend UNC at Greensboro in the fall.
Later today we will have a cookout celebration at my sister's home in her honor. She deserves it. Cousins from surrounding counties and states have already showed up to be a part. Coming from a family of eight siblings, graduations have always been a big deal in our family and we continue the tradition of acknowledging the graduate with a special gathering each time.
I've decided to give the graduate a gift cash card and a book. The book I'm giving is titled, The Automatic Millionaire : A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich
All my life I've struggled with only two things more challenging than people's acceptance of the color of my skin, and that has been my being a woman and the constant threat of poverty. I'd venture to say some of the challenges have led to others on the same list, but I have no time to go deeper into any specifics of that here. I've a celebration to join.
Anyway,
Life is … because it is.
Till next time
Lo the Nightingale Still Sings
05 June 2008
Lo the Nightingale ... Health, Spirituality and Wellness Blog
Dear Friends,
Lo, here, alias “Lo the Nightingale”.
This year I’ve decided to try to “be more and do less”, so I’m looking to consolidate most of my blogs into this one source. And that only makes sense because--by not feeling so overwhelmed--I can possibly post something every week that may be of value to someone.
So, just a little about me as a way of introduction. I recently crossed the half century mark on my journey in this life, and most of the things I think about and write about have something to do with health and wellness and spirituality, and/or reaching that elusive state which Eckhart Tolle calls “acceptance, joy and enthusiasm”.
Still I am in a funky place right now, with things not exactly in sync in my life, as related to finding balance in my work, family and career path. I’m trying hard to release some attachments as I create a new perspective of the world and determine what is real and what is a pigment of my overactive imagination.
Earlier this year I started Marianne Williamson’s “A Course in Miracles” as found on the Oprah.com website, and have found it particularly useful on my journey to wholeness. You might want to take a look at it yourself if you are seeking self improvement, enlightenment or just a better way to view the world. It has helped me to clear some limiting beliefs which I believe have been the source of the current imbalance that I feel.
I’m also working on updating my social security disability site and other health information sites I manage. The upgrade promises to be a long and tedious project, primarily caused by my losing access to my computer and files after visiting with friends on the west Coast. But that is another story entirely.
Ok--well I need to wrap this up for now. I do after all have to get up in the morning and go to my SSDJ. (You’ll need to ask MeMe what that means as she just shared it with me the other day. She’s a co-worker of mine in a call center where we handle customer service for several affiliated companies that provide nutritional supplements and financial newsletters.)
Anyway…
Life is … because it is.
Till next time
Lo the Nightingale Still Sings
Lo, here, alias “Lo the Nightingale”.
This year I’ve decided to try to “be more and do less”, so I’m looking to consolidate most of my blogs into this one source. And that only makes sense because--by not feeling so overwhelmed--I can possibly post something every week that may be of value to someone.
So, just a little about me as a way of introduction. I recently crossed the half century mark on my journey in this life, and most of the things I think about and write about have something to do with health and wellness and spirituality, and/or reaching that elusive state which Eckhart Tolle calls “acceptance, joy and enthusiasm”.
Still I am in a funky place right now, with things not exactly in sync in my life, as related to finding balance in my work, family and career path. I’m trying hard to release some attachments as I create a new perspective of the world and determine what is real and what is a pigment of my overactive imagination.
Earlier this year I started Marianne Williamson’s “A Course in Miracles” as found on the Oprah.com website, and have found it particularly useful on my journey to wholeness. You might want to take a look at it yourself if you are seeking self improvement, enlightenment or just a better way to view the world. It has helped me to clear some limiting beliefs which I believe have been the source of the current imbalance that I feel.
I’m also working on updating my social security disability site and other health information sites I manage. The upgrade promises to be a long and tedious project, primarily caused by my losing access to my computer and files after visiting with friends on the west Coast. But that is another story entirely.
Ok--well I need to wrap this up for now. I do after all have to get up in the morning and go to my SSDJ. (You’ll need to ask MeMe what that means as she just shared it with me the other day. She’s a co-worker of mine in a call center where we handle customer service for several affiliated companies that provide nutritional supplements and financial newsletters.)
Anyway…
Life is … because it is.
Till next time
Lo the Nightingale Still Sings
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