Spiritual Things Matter

This Mother’s Day, the one person that comes to mind who has inspired me to become an even better mother is, Elisabeth Fritzl. This courageous Austrian woman has astonished so many of us with her efforts to give her children some sense of normalcy in an incredible abnormal environment. Her mother’s heart gave and kept on giving, although she only received profound sorrow and pain which lasted nearly a quarter of a century. The decorations in her tiny cellar moved me to tears as it shows so clearly that she remembered the stars and the moon which once represented her freedom. She shared that with her children, as was obvious, when her youngest child pointed to the moon and asked if God lived there. Her brokenness is severe and deep. May we wrap her and her children into our hearts and remember them in our prayers…even long after this story is no longer in the forefront.

Dear Brave Soul, Happy Mother’s Day!

Slowly emerging from all that was dark
into the light - which seems so painfully bright.
Slowly, very slowly, each step must be taken -
into freedom…..as senses are overwhelmed
by the generosity of life.

Love and life will embrace you soundly
Goodness and kindness are there to lift you up.
You are a part of our life!
You are a part of our world!
Welcoming you openly -
for love will embrace you all around.

Life with all its complexities
with all its painful sorrows and tears,
cannot be explained with our,
so very limited eyes of understanding -
for only one piece of the puzzle we see.

Yet, life remains a wondrous gift to be lived
with so much love and mysteries yet to be had.
We welcome you with all our hearts!
Embracing you with so much love!
And, with many, many tender thoughts that, now at last,
peace for you and your children will flourish -
forever…holding you securely - far above.

Thank you, oh, brave and fragile soul,
for loving your children - despite it all.
Thank you for teaching them with the little that you had.
Thank you for your astounding bravery and courage.
And thank you, oh, dear tender soul,
for having truly done your very, very best!

May the sun shine tenderly on you -
May her warmth bring healing comfort to your broken heart.
May the wind whisper his eternal truths into your ears
And may you sense his abiding strength as well as his tender mercies.
May the rain fall extra gently upon your brow.
And may each tender droplet bring new rhythm to your thoughts.
May your tears flow freely that you might feel again and begin to heal.
May life bring its beauty to you -
With generosity and with grace.
May it envelope you with new truth and new hope -
That you may find your own beauty which abides richly in you.
And, may Love embrace you and your children -
As our world cradles you firmly and tenderly in her prayers.

Happy Mother’s Day, our very dear Elisabeth!

Viola M. Jaynes
Mother’s Day 2008

A personal life deeply lived always expands into truth beyond itself.~Arais Nin

Saying “yes” to Life and to all its varieties, its colors and dimensions, makes for an adventure that can never be adequately captured in any other form of expression. Whether on a canvas, on an instrument, or in a song, life can never be fully portrayed in any medium known to man because its vastness is just too great.

As hard as our film industry tries to convey the essence and emotions of life, the best they can ever hope to do is to capture their audience for only a short few hours. A lovely ballet performance can heighten our awareness of the beauty of the human life with all its possibilities to express itself, and yet, when the curtain falls, we are once again left with realizing our great limitations. A “once in a life-time” exquisite musical performance or a stunning work of art can take us into higher realms that would be inadequate to explain in mere words alone. But, at the end of such an encounter, we realize that our lives are just exactly like what we have just experienced. We soar to great heights where we gather the strength and energy for life, and then we plummet to great depths where we use every ounce of that strength that we have gathered. Thus, our life story is written with great drama, and very often that drama is created solely by us.

Life . . . what an experience it is!

I know of no one who could not put their personal life story into some form of written narrative, or a work of romantic poetry. I know of no one who has not experienced their emotions at its finest, with feelings of love and joy and happiness that can not be adequately explained. Yet, within this same life, emotions have been felt and lived at their lowest point as struggles ensue through the darkest of days trying to rise above the often angry and pitiful beast within. Our philosophers and poets have tried for eons, again and again, to convey life’s diverse patchwork of love and tears, of dreams and hopes, and of courage and fear. Often we will begin to weep when we hear meaningful words or a piece of music that is so fine that it resonates deep within us. It is then that we realize the commonality of humanity, and indeed of all life itself.

A life best lived is to let honesty be its closest kin. Music, beauty, art and great literary works, as well as other aesthetic influences, soften the heart. It is in those heightened and receptive moments that the opportunity arises to be in touch with who one really is. Nothing seems to liberate a person more than the ability to be honest with oneself, and most importantly one’s God. This liberation is accompanied by a greater ease and freedom for one’s life. Along with this freedom, we will soon find that our interactions with our fellow man become less strained and much more loving and kind as there is simply nothing more left to hide. Life and self-honesty will open the door to greater possibilities as spiritual truth begins to present itself. As Socrates said so beautifully, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” We will then stand in awe of our spiritual potential as we begin to discern the changes and growth within. The realization dawns on us that the breath of life that created all living things is the same breath of life that beautifies the heart. The beauty of life within then becomes the beauty of life without as we begin to see all things differently.

Life . . . what a gift it is! It is indeed, a valuable gift to be cherished.

Oh to Thee, my great Creator,
I surrender my heart.
Oh to Thee, my great Lord,
I surrender all that I am.
Oh to Thee, my great God
I surrender life itself!

Your Beauty alone shines forth
as Your Light illuminates.
Your Love brings peace
All life surrenders to Thee.

Viola M. Jaynes