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The Shortest Distance

Written by: Jana Moon
Published on: December 25, 2022

I’m sitting in the living room as I write to you. The Christmas tree is twinkling. Simon kitty is on the back of the comfy chair rubbing my ear and cheek as hard as he can while purring his happy song. The little holiday carousel is going ’round to its charming little tune. Everyone is napping but me.

I have a cup of peppermint tea, my laptop, and you on my mind.

I hope your holiday is lovely. I hope it’s peaceful, joyful, restorative, jolly . . . whatever it is that fills you up and gives you that little, quiet, internal smile. Those are the most delicious smiles.

Sometimes families have a hard time at holidays. It seems to be a time folks are most vulnerable to hurts both intended and accidental. And it seems a time when many are stressed enough to wound someone.

I hope you can find a way to keep your bearings. To sail smoothly through without hitting an iceberg or harpooning a shipmate.

But if you hit rough waters, remember that forgiveness is a trustworthy sextant. It is the shortest distance between hell and heaven.

Someone asked me the other day about forgiveness. How was it that I could forgive something that had such a negative affect on my life? I answered that I wanted to and also I kept in mind that while I enjoyed the change in the person, I didn’t trust it. And that is my human struggle.

Sometimes you think of what you should have said later; what would have been more true, more accurate.

Had I thought more about it. I would have said something else. I would have said I forgave that person because I love them and because I wanted to. I wanted to be in relationship with that person, and I know that person only did the things they did because of their own human struggle. It wasn’t about me. It wasn’t even about them. It was about painful feelings they didn’t know what to do with.

I think it’s important to learn what to do with our painful feelings. That way they don’t spill onto people we love.

I hope you have good ways of dealing with your painful feelings. And I hope you can forgive yourself and others when feelings get overwhelming and aren’t handled well. It’s going to happen every now and then. Or a lot. But it’s not what really matters.

What matters most is relationship with those we love.

I’m writing because it’s Christmas; a time for families and friends to gather together. Because I want your holiday to be joyful and peaceful for you.

In the Christian tradition this is the celebration of Christ’s birth. The beginning of a life that ended with sacrifice and eternal forgiveness. Why? Because of love and the desire for relationship.

Forgiveness is a precious gift.

Blessings!

 

 

Categories: Bright Meadows, Sweet Words

Walking in Snow

Written by: Jana Moon
Published on: April 22, 2022

Down soft white blanket
covering the land
sends me walking
late afternoon in
frigid temps not seen
in almost a hundred years.

fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh

Stillness breaths me
expands my ribs
enlivens the bones of my soul
and dampened sound
relaxes my mind.

fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh

Nothing left to sense
but chittering sharp bird calls
soft dove coos and
geese honking at a distance.

fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh

Water trinkles a gentle song
echoing in the creek
its melody for lyric avians.

fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh

Crisp drops of air
silently mark the time.

fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh

Categories: Splashing About, Sweet Words

Puzzle Poem #1

Written by: Jana Moon
Published on: April 13, 2022

From my morning solitary letter tile crossword I draw these little poems, just for fun. We all need at least some little fun each day, and rituals that calm and take us into that inner well of quiet joy are life-giving. It will be fun to see what these little poems become. They shall be in any case; just as I will. Yes, these related words appeared in the puzzle from blind draws, none put back. All used.

That jitter of youth vies for position,

in the verdant dale,

in tents cast along the vein of gold.

Time jets across the earth and eyes

unable to hold the gaze

sense telomeres wear

to frazzled end.

Bright pavilions turn loden.

In this valley of Spring,

quo the oxen tires.

Categories: Splashing About, Sweet Words

Wise Tree

Written by: Jana Moon
Published on: April 11, 2022

You are old
You have lived and let go
Allowing deadwood to fall away
As you sprout in fresh new directions
You shade the place I lie
Looking up at your elder branches
Your baby leaves
And all the lives ringing in your limbs
Winds have bent you
Storms broken you
But you live on
Strong from swaying
Rooted firm and sure
You shelter and teach me
Your student adores you
Grandfather Tree

Categories: Splashing About, Sweet Words

Haiku on a Cold Day

Written by: Jana Moon
Published on: April 10, 2022

 

Snow falling softly

Out the window a bird calls

Come to me my love

Categories: Splashing About, Sweet Words

a little asleep

Written by: Jana Moon
Published on: April 9, 2022

If to wake to love we need an other,
the awakened need no one.
So I stay just a little asleep,
to convince you
I need your kisses on my skin.

Categories: Splashing About, Sweet Words

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