‘Dedicated to Bobby S’

You oftentimes are the youngest child

Therefore in a larger family

No one really listens to your point of view

You watch and you listen as the years unfold

All that goes on in front of you

You try to fill in the gap

Since no one asks you to lead the way

Hard times come

And they are in the rear view mirror

But somehow you cannot forget all the details

Your siblings each have their power

They display it sometimes with force

But it oftentimes was without maturity

So there were casualties

Relationships were wounded

Sometimes broken

And while no one was looking

You held each detail in your mind

Because your heart was so big

It could hold all the fragments

Of the brokenness of the family

Sometimes mended

Sometimes not

But even though you

Sometimes were pushed aside

Often times ignored and punished

Because too much was on the plate

You seemed to understand something

That the others were missing

Because deep in your heart

You live in the dream

Of love and friendship

Of honor and respect

You could not control

All the decisions that divided

And so you were in the shadows

Learning and absorbing

The lessons in each trial

But what you became was fierce

Your love was groomed by watching

The deficit in others

Which you wanted to make up for

But it was not for you to do

So you learned a greater trait

You learned Wisdom

You learned to listen

And to wait

To see the truth

And to live with a broken heart

But you became strong

You have become a strong tower

And your children take refuge in you

Your love made pure by adversity

You stood under its weight

And bore it with strength

You learned to wait

To take the high road

Your days of peace are ahead of you

You’ve earned your degree

The world is yours

May peace be your guide

As you inspire your tribe

_____________________________________________________________________________

The Sarah Hale Folger Project seeks to contribute to humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. Please contact me here on my blog or through my website at http://www.TheArtUniverse.com

Sarah Hale Folger is a Creative Consultant, Artist, Singer and Educator. PLEASE make sure to subscribe to my blog today so you never miss the next thing happening in the world the way I see it! Please feel free to comment, share and please, subscribe to my blog. Thanks You.

Photo by Pok Rie on Pexels.com

Have you ever sat by the sea

Watched the waves come in and go out

Sometimes with such force

They feel like a threat

What is it that holds them back

The sea knows when to come in

And when to go out

I would call it intuition

But that’s impossible

So what is it that makes it so

The moon and sun

The winds vacillate

In all directions

The force that drives forward

The remnants of the wind that curl back

Ebb and flow

A rhythmical pattern of coming and going

Or decline and regrowth

That’s what these days yield

Insight and blindness

Love and hate

Hope and despair

Lost and found

But what this is becoming

Is a trailblazing expedition

Like Louis and Clark

Only we are unwilling participants

Who did not sign up for this

But we have no choice

We have been yanked from our beds

Thrown into the wagon

Sent on a perilous journey

To the new wild west

There are things learned on this path

That cannot be learned in comfort

Things that reveal themselves

Through pain and shock and horror

When there is fear you cannot run

There is no hiding place

Even those who travel in luxury

Cannot dismiss the deep seated angst

But we press on each day

With no end in sight

Facing our inner demons

Or casting them on someone else

Blaming and shaming

Anything to avoid feeling truth

That we cannot escape this prison

And it is not just a bad dream

And we cannot predict the future

No one leading us knows the way

We are losing lives on the road

And it becomes more meaningless

Because we become more numb

Everything we knew to be true is gone

Strangers move away

Eyes are filled with fear and anger

Judgement is high

Trust is gone

We can see it coming

The great divide

There are so many of us

We are forced to go on different sides

We are separated further away

The great divide splits our civility

Which way should we go

Which is the safer passage

No one knows

But some say they do

Or worse yet just say

The other side is misleading

They warn and threaten

When all we the people want to do

Is get safely to the other side

Even though we don’t know where we are going

Some say we will never go back home

Others say we will live on the other side

In a different way

The longer we stay on the path

The more I feel mislead

And new feelings are beginning to change me

I fight the power of them

Because it does not feel like me

But like someone thrust into war

Forced to fight a battle not of their own

But survive you must

And then I remember

The greatness of the trees

I remember that the sea knows when to come in

And when to go out

And when I think of those I love

Who got swept to the other side

And my heart longs to go home

I look around with my old eyes

Those that come from my heart

The ones who understand

Not with words but deep inside

The intuition of survival

More than that the purity

Of beauty and innocence

And I wake while others sleep

And I think for myself

Guided by My heart

Which has learned everything it knows

By absorbing Nature

In all her wonders tis the wisest

She has seen every generation of man and beast

Has watched and learned and participated

There were once dinosaurs who walked here

Their shadows are the clouds overhead

Casting on the plains around me

And we are here now

For such a time as this

It is our destiny to solve the riddles of the day

We will never know the truth in others

But we can know it in our hearts

And then I get it and I choose

To take a moment everyday

As many moments as I need

To remember what I know

In my heart about this life

And it’s knowing that comes

Without words or debating

Without reading body language

Without fretting the haves and have nots

No it is where true freedom lies

Inside my heart

I’ve been making the mistake

Of letting my mind lead my heart

Now I choose to shift this

I will let my heart lead me

Nature will be my guide

Breathing deeply sitting under a tree

Observing the wildlife around me

And I will learn the lessons this time will teach

About loving and giving

About where true peace comes from

About humanity

Flaws and all

And it will start with gratitude

Because every day I wake up and get to start again

Is a gift

For me and for you

This roller coaster ride

I don’t have to ride

I can be content just knowing

That the tide comes in and goes out

Just like it did yesterday

And nature speaks to me through this

She knows something about time

That it heals all wounds

So I will set up my sail

The wind will blow

It’s time for me to learn how to sail

And feel the power of the wind

It knows where to take me and you

I’ll run with it, crab through it

And go against it

My heart will know the way

Even though its lonely

And we are not together

We are destined now to be

Separated for a time

But not forever

Not even in death

Something tells me

It is better to hope

Than give up

And I can do this because

The seasons come and go

And come back around again

In this fast paced world

We must wait, is it a gift

We’ve stopped, we’re watching

Now let’s listen to our hearts

That’s where love’s grown

_________________________________________________________________________________

The Sarah Hale Folger Project seeks to inspire greatness in humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. Please contact me here on my blog or through my website at http://www.TheArtUniverse.com

Sarah Hale Folger is a Creative Consultant, Artist, Singer and Educator. PLEASE make sure to subscribe to my blog today so you never miss the next thing happening in the world the way I see it! Please feel free to comment, share and please, subscribe to my blog. Thanks You.

Photo by Hassan OUAJBIR on Pexels.com

In this time of confinement

We are forced to be released of our normal routines of escape

Our addictions, our anxieties appeased

Those outlets we regularly used

To escape our troubles and our fears

Those crutches we thought we needed forever

Have been broken

We left home to relieve our stresses

Turmoil and pain

Of jobs and marriage troubles

Of loneliness and self doubt

We grew so entrenched in our behaviors

Like a well worn path

We walked it daily, weekly, monthly

In casinos, bar rooms

Gyms, theaters and stadiums

Filled with vices and camaraderie

To escape the truth about who we are

This is a wake up call

And it will not be released until

We have discovered the truth

About what really matters

About our part in our own pain

Why should we point the finger

And hold onto prejudices, pride and pain

The anger expressed by

The need to control everything

And everyone around us

To keep the illusion alive

The place in our minds that helps us to feel safe

To sleep at night

To function in the day

So what is the truth

The truth is we are so lost and must be found

We’ve been stripped of our rights

But now we can see clearer

That we have never been free

As long as we hold on to hate

Unforgiveness, lust and pride

Do we believe in God

Or do we believe in routine

Have our hearts been seared

With so much judgement. resentment

Anger and fear

Expressed in gossip, jealousy

And crimes against humanity

I wonder what these 7 deadly things mean

To those burned out on the church

Who have lost their faith in humanity

We think we have protected ourselves

By hanging on to our own philosophies

Religion and politics have torn us apart

Here are the tenants of self destruction

Not to mention destruction of families and friends

Each one has more than the literal meaning

But here they are plainly stated

Envy is the desire for others’ traits, status, abilities, or situation.

Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires.

Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body.

Anger is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath.

Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness.

Sloth is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work.

So where is the map to lead us out

Written so long ago

Still stands the test of time

The 10 Commandments

1. You shall have no other Gods before me.

2. Don’t make an idol.

3. Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain.

4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

5. Honor your parents.

6. Don’t murder.

7. Don’t commit adultery.

8. Don’t steal.

9. Don’t lie.

10. Don’t covet.

______________________________________________

Must stop and pause

Just one moment to think

These are more then just words

Lets break this down extemporaneously

You shall have no other Gods before me

I have always believed myself that there is a God

Like many I became disillusioned

By church, hypocrites and humanity

But to find him I do so in nature

Every day I can, I rise to greet the awakening sun

When it rises so does hope inside my heart

You never know what a day will bring

Disappointments and troubles

I am humbled by the Almighty Creator

I find in the rising and setting sun

In everyday moments

In finding love and forgiveness

But we live in a fast paced world

It’s spun out of control

Routines are set

We are all control freaks

Trying to eek out another day

Getting our needs met

So intense is our stress

That we have abandoned God

It has become acceptable

To not believe

So we put ourselves first

At the very least

We neglect our Creator in favor

Of satisfying our own immediate needs

Therefore we have lost our peace

Which comes from one place only

It is the blanket that warms those

Who are in the presence of God

Don’t make an idol

What does it mean to worship

“The feeling or expression of reverence

And adoration for a deity”

We are created with a need to do this

It’s what drives us to feel love

Without which we are empty

A deity is a supernatural being

Considered divine or sacred

If we were in fact created by God

Then wouldn’t that make him

Our father

And wouldn’t he want to

Spend time with his family

I know how painful it is

For me to miss my family

It actually eats away at me

Strips me of my happiness

When one of my kids or grand kids

Calls me or I visit them

I am filled with joy

A peace I cannot express

Without which I am empty

I can get jealous of the times

They spend without me

When I have not seen them for a while

I feel the pain of rejection

Even though it is not their intent

How must God feel

If in fact we have ignored him

Gone about our lives

Not included him in it

I do not miss church

Honestly humanity got in my way

Of seeing God

But my heart still craves him

This is why I rush to nature to find him

What if everything has stopped

As it mostly has

And we are given this opportunity

To stop, spend time with him

What if we turn off our TV’s computers and phones

And sit in silence and listen to

The the sound of our own hearts

STOP

WATCH

LISTEN

Remove the distractions

Look deeply into our hearts

And find the truth

About ourselves

No more he said she said

No more pointing fingers

Lay your heart bear

And take one piece at a time

Sift it through with God

Like anything we value

When it gets dirty

Clean it

Since we cannot do this alone

We must do it with God

Feel him reveal to us our truth

Ask for forgiveness

And ask him to take it away

Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain

To use a name, such as God, without proper respect

Abuse, misuse, pervert

I hate name calling

How many times I have been frustrated

And spouted Jesus Christ

Or God Dammit

And aren’t we made in the image of God

If you believe

And wouldn’t that make it just as bad

To name call each other

Venom spews out of mouths unclean

That stem from hearts impure

Polluted by anger

Rightfully so

Humans have become so self serving

Putting themselves first

Kill or be killed mentality

That vile words are flowing

But you cannot have both

Clean and dirty water

We have become brackish

Like cancer cells

The negative has spread

And made our hearts bitter

We need a cleansing

Especially now when there truly are

People who have hurt us

Accountability will bring healing

But how will we handle the frustration

If we never get justice

There usually is not real justice

It’s just an ugly truth

How will we learn to accept this

We must practice patience

In this time

Of our confinement

Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy

This is so much more than a day

It is a rest

It is a time to slow down

So we won’t forget or neglect

The One who made us

The ones we love

The hugs and kisses

The smiles and play

Let the children show us

They act out when they are ignored

They try to get attention

When they feel scared of confused

They want to see our eyes watching them

So they know they are here

Mommy, Daddy, look what I made

Creators just like God

Playdough and paint

Creations to be celebrated

But we forget

There is no time

So much to do

Work, work, work

Take something to numb the nerves

Get caught up in the drama

Your eyes will glaze over

When the finger painting

Done with so much care

Is presented and not celebrated

The soul looks for ways

To be seen and known

I am here

Does anyone see me

And God is no child but

He is here

Do we see him

Are we too busy

Honor your parents 

Great respect, High esteem

It cannot be just in your thoughts

But actions must ensue

Not all parents are worthy of this honor

Because they have done terrible things

Some have turned their children away

And their are so many

Who treat their children as possessions

This grieves the heart of God

But most do the best they can

In a world run a muck

They gave up so much to raise them

Wanting to build a family

Imperfect at best

But with hearts of gold

Only to be disrespected and ignored

Take the time

To find those things you can be grateful for

And celebrate them

Tell them you love them

Spend time with them

Remember they love you

And need you all the more

In a world so uncertain

Don’t hold their sins against them

Or yours will be held against you

Think on the positive

And it will grow

Point out the negative

And love dies

Don’t murder

An act of causing death, especially deliberately

Killing literally

Assassinating characters

Hate is the same thing

Prejudice

Gossip to ruin another

My heart squeezes now as I remember

The times I have been killed

Lost people in my life

By words that were untrue

How can one ever recover

There will always be scars

Always living with a handicap

When someone has killed your soul

But thank God for resurrection

Those opportunities to become

More compassionate, less naive

To what others experience as well

In prison camps

Removed from society

Chastised for nothing more

Than being born a certain nationality

Don’t commit adultery

To take anothers’ lover

A promise broken

Not dissolved by choice

Understanding of a need to separate

Sometimes because we are human

We cannot make things work

Doing more harm than good

To remain in a prison of our own making

But to stay and stray

Is selfish and shows the deficit

Somethings missing

We have lost our way

Not agreed on what love means

Breaking vows, breaks families

Sad but true

If you must part ways

Do it with love in mind

But don’t stay and play

Don’t steal

Taking what belongs to another

With no intention of giving it back

How far have we fallen

Character and integrity

Laziness

Desperation

Addiction

Makes you stop and think

What is really important

Don’t lie

Something that is not true

This destroys like no other

As it breaks down trust

Ruins lives

Excuses for obligations unmet

Crying wolf

A disgusting trait

Don’t covet

Yearning to possess or have

When it is not a mutual intention

A feeling of discontented or resentful

Longing aroused by someone else’s possessions

Qualities, or luck

Each of us was born with qualities

That when we discover them

We should develop them

When we do, we become authentic

And when we are authentically

True to ourselves

We are satisfied

And can truly only be enhanced

And appreciative of others qualities

The true reason people covet

Or are jealous

Is because they do not believe

They have something special

To offer the world

To make their mark

Each of us are given different allotments

Of qualities, talents and more

What we do with them

Will determine

If we reach our full potential

Can we do what we were born to do

Covetousness and jealousy

Robs the one who carries it

In their hearts and poisoned minds

Tis a sickness that inflicts

Reaches out with murderous intent

To kill the one through words and deeds

Who possesses what they do not

And yet want consumes them

Blinds their hearts and minds

Run as fast as you can

To the place where this sickness can be cured

Before you destroy yourself

And others

_________________________________________

This world has gone so far away

From the Garden of Eden

Even if it were a metaphor

Even if it was a real place

Imagine a world

Where harmony exists

And love is real and selfless

Where hearts lined up

With the true meaning of love

So lets bring our brokenness

Fears and sins

Lets strip them from our hearts and minds

Let this time of confinement refine us

Maybe God is saying

Come together

Right Now

Over Me

____________________________________________________________________

The Sarah Hale Folger Project seeks to inspire greatness in humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. Please contact me here on my blog or through my website at http://www.TheArtUniverse.com

Sarah Hale Folger is a Creative Consultant, Artist, Singer and Educator. PLEASE make sure to subscribe to my blog today so you never miss the next thing happening in the world the way I see it! Please feel free to comment, share and please, subscribe to my blog. Thanks You.