AFC081007 Poems to my Peace (continued)

Happy Aloha Friday, Beloved. Today I am continuing with the sharing of another section from Poems to My Peace.

VII.

One morning, after an autumn rain,
she skittered across the puddles
and launched little boats
the same way we all did
when we were children.
That day she gave me
a bouquet of wheat
tied in green velvet.
I still have it in my closet.

At Stillwater Pond, with a cattail scepter,
she granted me an audience, just for fun,
and bestowed on me the favors of her kingdom.
Sealing our covenant with water,
she stepped up from her throne
and took my arm to walk with me.

As the rain clouds stumbled away,
I bade them good-bye
with an elaborate bow.
She chided me for my mock courtesy
and turned my attention
to the rainbow they’d left behind.

Stopping only to bid good-morning
to sparrows splashing by the roadside,
we went to the city together.
There we talked about
how the farmers would like the rain
and whether or not to change our plans
because the fields were wet.

===== ===== ===== ===== ===== =====

Some days are better than others, that’s a fact. When we share those days with others, they are better still. Do you remember floating sticks or those goofy little origami paper boats in the run-off of the rain? Do you remember special little gifts from friends – a note, a feather, a small stone – that you put away in a special, secret place to look at it later? We do the same with friendships, secreting away special moments and mementos so that we can recapture the moment at another time.

Friends are a special gift from God. So are the times we spend with friends. Sometimes we do silly things together, and being silly is something to treasure because it lets us be so relaxed with our selves that we become vulnerable to another person, another soul. That is one way we learn about God, by being vulnerable to His friendship. There are many other ways, to be sure, but letting Him be with us when we are just having fun in His Kingdom is just … well … WAY COOL!!

Think about it. When was the last time you and God just had a good laugh together? Some people think you have to have fun to be happy. Truth is, you have to be happy to have fun, and being happy with God is the funest thing of all!

===== ===== ===== ===== ===== =====

Not much new to report. This is a big month for our family. My sister, Merilee was born during this month in 1953. She visited us in Hawaii during this month last year. Just a few days after that, she passed away – August 28, 2006 at age 53. It’s a lot to think about. But I also remember that right now, she is having fun with God and with our Dad and with lots of people we both know and love. Thinking about her reminds me that Dad and Merilee, and Rita Alice Todd, and Charles O. Todd Sr (my dad’s parents), and Alice and Gus and Dean Lamke (my mom’s parents and brother), and many other loved ones are alive with Him right this very moment and having more fun than any of us can begin to imagine. That, also, is WAY COOL.

Make it a great weekend, and make it a point to have a great deal of fun regardless of whatever else is going on in your life. God shares your joy, shares your pain, shares your victories and defeats, your fears and anxieties, your heart’s desires, everything you do and everything you fail to do, all that you are, all that you have, and all that you ever will be. You just have to decide it’s better to share it with Him than to keep it all to yourself. That also is WAY COOL!!

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service. Pray for Peace, work for justice, live with integrity as you always do, and share the love. I’m praying for you.

Peace be with you! Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service.

chick

731AFC080307

VI.

Sometime she and I
and our favorite poet
go away alone together
to feel the sea spray
and try to copy the screech
of sea gulls who greet us in passing.
We collect shells and driftwood
and read our poems.
I read the poet’s
she reads to me
and the day swells and ebbs with the sea.

Other times she and I
dance wildly in the wind.
She always musses my hair
and cools my skin;
then she laughs at us both
and warms me with her embrace.
Afterwards we lie quietly
behind the cattails
and listen to the ducks
gossiping about duck things.

In the evenings, we like to watch the embers
and in them see all the great cities.
With brandy, pipe, and song,
we celebrate the crescent moon
and laugh away its opal clouds.

She and I go everywhere
and anywhere we want to go
just as easily as saying it.

But sometimes we just stay at home
and talk about where we’ve been.

= = = = = = = = =

Time spent with people we love doing things we enjoy together is time well spent. Even if that time is spent only reminiscing, it is still time spent together. We can spend time with loved ones even when they are absent from us because L♥ve binds all things, all places, and all persons into Unity, and Unity is the simplest expression of Peace. Unity is the integral expression of God. He is One, absolutely and eternally. Everything that comes together in Unity – “U-N-I together” – is part of that Ultimate Integrity, the most fundamental and essential aspect of Deity. When I do not need to hold my peace but am instead held in Peace, Unity transports us “everywhere and anywhere we want to go just as easily as saying it.”

= = = = = = = = =

New things: We finally got rid of my old 1993 Ford Astro Island Van. Crucita talked the guys a Mid-Pac Auto Center into giving us (literally giving) five-hundred bucks for the poor thing. Once that was over, we drove off in a 2007 Mazda B3000 White Pick-Up with a real nice Duo-Sport package. Thanks to the astute management of the Minister of Finance (a/k/a Crucita), it’s totally paid for, so we’ve nothing but the insurance to pay for. Part of the promotional deal we got in on was Free Oil Change and Filter every 6 months or 5000 miles as long as we own the vehicle. We’re pretty happy about all the blessing associated with this change! PTL!!

Tim has relocated, but is still in Portland. He seems to be doing alright, and we thank God for that. Your prayers on his behalf are working, so please keep up the good work! I hope that one day soon he’ll know and understand what we read in 1 Cor 8:6 and Roman 10:9-10

Cherie and Tommy, Willie, Charles, and Miranda are all also doing well. We get reports 2-3 times a week on William’s transformation” after spending 5 weeks with Gamma and Papa-Chick. Our expectation is that his folks will be able to sustain that.

Crucita’s year is off to a rough start. When she and the other teachers returned to work it was to find out that the schedules for the students – not just her students but ALL students – were not ready yet. Of course this caused quite an uproar and there were lots of people upset. The person who is the registrar had two difficult realities to deal with: It was her first experience in this job and the Hawaii Department of Education has implemented a new registration system totally unlike what was used before. Like we often say in our household; “It’s like trying to paint an accurate picture of a camel while riding it at full gallop through a sand storm at night.” The likelihood of full success is rather small. Nonetheless, Crucita is determined to focus on what is best for the kids and, after them, for the parents. We thank God daily for your continued prayerful support for her mission there.

Life in our Parish at St. Catherine’s is one of the best gifts God has given us. We’ve kind of taken the summer off what with Willie being with us, but we are eagerly looking forward to returning to our ministries as Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers, and of course our Religious Education class for sixth graders. We’ve had some wonderful kids go through our classes!!

As you know, I can go on and on, and I really should not. So, let me close by saying, “If you haven’t sent the Old Dufus a note lately, take a crack at it and just let me know what you’ve been up to lately, OK?

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever — at your service.

chick

730072707AFC

This is the Aloha Friday Card for Friday, July 27, 2007. It was delayed because of some significant computer problems.

V.

Here:

At the center of somewhere
we stand
enraptured, gazing,
fluidly immersed
in all of each of us,
facing towards and away
from any direction.

Now:

Loving each other
for two limitless times
we hum along endless threads
encording ourselves forever
into the umbilical
of the Golden Eternity.
= = = = = = = = = = =

In the unity that comes with PEACE there is no observable separation between “here-and-now” and “then-and-there.” Our experiences are no longer four dimensional, but are instead adimensional, that is, unlimited by space or time. This, therefore, is a description of a metaphysical relationship similar to that expressed in Ecclesiastes 12:6-12:7 in the Old Testament, from the KJV:
“Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”

Or from the NIV:
“Remember him*—before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”

All of the above phrases such as “silver cord,” “golden bowl,” etc., are also metaphors for the human body. The “silver cord” is the spine, and the “golden bowl” the head and so on. These metaphors speak of life and death. The golden bowl suspended by the silver cord was a symbol of life; the snapping of the cord and the breaking of the bowl, a symbol of death. The pitcher . . . the broken pulley [wheel]: another pair of metaphors for life and its ending. *In this passage the Writer “Qoheleth” instructs the reader to be mindful of God before calamity falls.

In V. above, the “silver cord” is replaced by the endless umbilical reaching to the Golden Eternity which replaced the Golden Bowl. It is selfless mutual love that unites Peace and Life eternally. Selfless mutual love characterizes the Peace that is the essence of Eternal Life.
Quotes from Wikipedia and NAB.

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever — at your service.

chick

729AFC072007

Happy Aloha Friday. Part 4 of Poems to My Peace. Like the picture? That is the star Sirius; seriously, it’s Sirius. To my eye, it appears to be golden in color. It is the brightest star in the sky.

IV.

Her embrace is so complete
that I am lost in wonder.
As she moves against my senses,
I am numbed by her magnificence.

In her dark eyes
there is the twinkling
like the only golden star
in a summer dream night;
that one star that
winks at you
and seems to know your name.

I know the same of her.
It is a secret name
written on the hearthstone
in the only house
where I’ve never been alone.

Thus knowing, I have no need to know.
I am free to share with her,
naked and unashamed.
——— ——— ———
When surrounded by Peace, the World seems less intrusive, and the demands it makes are seen as foolishness when compared to Peace. The feeling of a special calling to consort with Peace is very reassuring and comforting. The sense of recognition that characterizes this meeting arises from deep with my self, a place deep in my heart where I have never been alone because Peace is always there with me regardless of whether or not I am aware of her Presence. Even that awareness is unnecessary because the intimacy we share is so complete that there is nothing to hide away, nothing to hide from, and nothing to hide behind.

========= ========= =========
Well, as I write this, Willie and Crucita are winging their way to Phoenix. I believe the PC description of his visit would be “It was an interesting experience.” We’ll be better able to advise Tommy and Maria, and beyond that Willie’s teachers and so on, about his future opportunities to learn.

Tommy and Maria are looking forward to his return, but even more so is his younger brother Charles. There’s a good, strong bond between those boys. Miranda Marie, of course, is too young to pick up on the difference, but I’m sure William will be glad to see her. He truly does miss his family.

Just to let you know, the MBN continues to grow. Several more members have been added to this mailing list, and it is my hope that each of you has extended the reach of the MBN by including other persons within your own circle of loved ones.

Here is part of an essay on Peace. Some of you might even recognize it as part of something else.

Surpassing Peace

The mystery that arises out of the sharing of life and love is both wonderful and terrifying, a really, really big and deep mystery; or, so we think. The solution to that mystery is exquisitely simple — which is probably why we soften discount it and try to find something else to explain it. The solution to this mystery of what makes life tick is “Everyone makes choices, and there are no inconsequential acts.”

Every time I hear that, even if I’m the one saying it, my head goes, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, but what’s the REAL answer?” I want to see into the mind of God (the male perspective) and I want God to see into my heart (the female perspective), and I think both of those things can happen if only I knew how to do WHATEVER it takes to get those things done.

Thing is, neither of them is doable by me. If I COULD see into God’s mind [a] I wouldn’t know what I was looking at, and [b] that’s just not survivable. God DOES see into my heart, but he sees all of it, not just the stuff I think he should be looking at. The best I can do is to choose Him rather than me. If I am full of myself, there’s not enough room for Him and the choices I make will be my choices, not His. If I empty myself, I lose my identity (which in worldly terms is the ultimate sin), but HE becomes my life. So what’s the guideline then? How do I choose God and not myself?

That hits the nail on the head, Beloved. It’s love; not exactly what the Beatles were talking about when they said, “All you need is love,” or (even worse) Lennon’s “Imagine there’s to heaven,” but like what St. Paul said, “Peace that surpasses all understanding.” That comes only from unconditional love — AGAPE love. Humans cannot achieve that level of love perfectly all of the time, and when we do, it’s really more of an accident more often than not; we forget to be selfish. Still, when it happens, it’s so wonderful!! It’s like God answers our prayers.
…….. To Be Continued.

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service.
Chick

728AFC071307

HAPPY ALOHA FRIDAY EVERYONE!!
Here is part iii of Poems to My Peace.

III.

I joy to look at her
but my eyes are too habit-bound
to see her as she is.
I see her with my fingertips,
and touch her with my eyes.

My heart leaps up
inside my chest
eager for the warmth
of her sweet, moist breath.

Then she comes to me, and
even before I speak her name,
she knows my needs
and makes me whole.

In silence we share
the simple secrets of our soul.
I turn to say I love her
and as she blushes
her eyes deepen into shadows
that dwarf my dreams.

Peace is more easily identified by doing the opposite of what The World professes as the way to get things done. I find Peace more easily when I do not search using worldly ways. I am filled with Joy when I anticipate reunion with Peace. When that unity occurs, I realize I have (again) found that Peace that surpasses all Understanding, and that is a very fulfilling state. In fact, it is actually, truly, factually awesome, astounding, humbling, awe-inspiring, splendid, breath-taking, utterly remarkable, elegant, and overwhelming all at once. When that Peace descends into my being, I become a mere speck in the eye of the cosmos, but a speck that is blessed to receive the loving gift of peace and the peaceful gift of love.

Peace be with YOU Beloved!

=====

William will be with us just a few days longer. It is been an interesting Odyssey for all three of us. He is eager to see his “mommy and daddy and Charles and Sissy” again. For Maria, his mom, this has been a difficult trial; it’s the first time they’ve ever been truly separated, and it’s been a long separation – about five weeks altogether.

Tim seems to be cranking along well enough. Whenever we speak with him he seems very UP and declares things are going well.

Crucita will be returning to her duties as SpEd Department Head around July 23. This will be the year that puts her in line for tenure, so we’re hoping it will be relatively calm.

The kittens have not quite adjusted to having a 4 y.o. in the house, so I suspect that if they could read calendars, they would be looking forward to July 19!

Haven’t heard from you in a while, so if you get a chance, drop a line and fill me in.

See you in the MOON!

AGE QUOD AGIS
chick

727AFC070607

II.

When I want her
sometimes she
eludes me
and I stumble;
but,
if I wait enough to ask
she comes to me
in some disguise
to help me once again discover
her own divine delights.

If I feel like singing,
she becomes a song.
If I feel alone, she is aloneness
and we are again the same.

The only token of my love she accepts
is the freedom she’s always had.
No other gift could cost me more,
or bring us so much joy.

===========

Beloved, there are days when I am impatient for Peace. I want rest, solitude, and interior and exterior quietness. And I want it NOW!

Often it is delayed. I am not ready. I trip over my own impatience. It is not Quietness that brings me Peace. It is Peace that brings me quietness. I do not hold my Peace. I am held by Peace. I may not recognize the presence of Peace at first, but when I yield to Peace everything succumbs to her embrace.

I cannot force Peace to stay. I can only know Peace as long as I allow myself to be held by Peace. I am not a prisoner of Peace nor she of me. Only balance at the center suits us both equally well.

May Peace be with you as well, Beloved. Don’t fight to move toward Peace. Fall back into her arms with total trust.

Aloha nui loa.

chick

726AFC062907

This summer marks the fortieth year since the completion of Poems to My Peace. I originally started writing this collection because I wanted something I could pick up and always enjoy reading, something that I would always understand from the point of view of the poet because I WAS the poet. I also wanted something that I could change if I felt like it, and over the years, I have made tweaks and transpositions here and there.

The poems are addressed or are written about “My Peace.” My Peace is referred to in feminine terms, so some readers have assumed they we about a woman. Not so. Maybe about the Feminine Side of Chick Todd? Maybe, but probably not. A handful of other “insightful psychological insights” have been offered, but they miss the mark. I just think of Peace, Justice, and Liberty as all being female because they are so much better than their opposites Anarchy, Indifference, and Captivity.

There are nine sections to Poems to My Peace. This is the first one. Over the next several weeks I will send one with each Aloha Friday Card* and then wrap it up with the meaning behind the nine parts. Hope you don’t find it too boring or self-serving. Forty years is an interesting milestone — The Period of Trial — so I decided trotting them out for a look-see again might be in order. The nine sections don’t have titles, really, just Roman numerals. That said, here we go!

I.

She is walking though my mind,
a dulcet chord of happiness
sounded on the heart of nature.
All the seas, and sounds of leaves,
float out from her, rising
in warm and thick glissandos.

She moves the tides with smiles
and turns the mountains hoary heads;
a reddish-golden flux of life
stunning our soul
with lapping heartbeats.

She tastes of sandalwood and laurel.
Her voice exudes colors of dawn
and the softnesses of moonlit streams
are her eyes.

Now she leans against my arm
and all my senses leap to greet her.
She is my Peace, and always will be.
==========================
*Some of these pieces are “designed” on the page with italics or special spacing that won’t show up in these Care2 Cards. For that reason, I MAY send those cards from my juno.com address. Same rules apply — everyone gets a Bcc and a message. We’ll see how it goes.

Love you all!

PEACE.

chick