Weddings - Breathtaking!

This past Saturday we attended the wedding of my nephew, Joseph Dolby to his sweetheart, Alisa Lim in Los Altos, CA. There is something wonderful about weddings when there is that certain sparkle in the faces of those to be married and smiles of pride and tears of joy on the faces of the families and friends who share in the blessed celebration of their union. It is a time to reflect upon the past and have hope in a bright future. There are moments that take our breath away - seeing the beautiful bride, the delight of the groom, the pride of the parents, the excitement of the friends and family. This poem was written at another very special wedding, but I share it in celebration of all wedding days and with joy in my heart for Joe and Alisa!

Breathtaking

Breathtaking, breath giving
Life taken, life given
A day of beauty, of new love risen.

A man and woman, two to one
Radiant, triumphant, the day has come
When love hands to love and nothing is lost
Expanded, included, the sign of the cross.

The face of an angel as joy fills the space
Thanksgiving, God’s glory, mercy and grace.
Hearts swelled with pride, days of patience and pain
Have been rewarded by beauty and love once again.

But the beauty is grander and not grasped by sight
And love beyond words, beyond stars, beyond light
Hearts do the talking when mere words fall shy
Heaven known in the moment, spirits soaring, souls cry.

Too much loving, too much giving, unworthy, unjust
Too much goodness, too much kindness, acceptance, trust
Such are the gifts showered down from above
On this day of pure beauty, life and true love.

Breathtaking.

Father's Day Remembrance

Father's Day is Sunday. This is a significant day and a time to honor, celebrate and recognize the important role of our Fathers in our lives. Because Rex is not a Dad, his Dad died many years ago, and my Dad passed away four years ago, it is not a day when Rex and I will do much out of the ordinary. But I do pause, reflect and remember my wonderful Dad, George Magee Cunningham and the strong, positive influence he had on my life. I wrote the following poem shortly before he died. I love you Daddy. I miss you.

A Life Well Lived…beyond goodbye

A life well lived
So full of life, this man, this gift
A story to tell, a life to lift
A twinkle in his eye, a whimsy in his voice
A goodness, a greatness, he lived this life by choice.

A life well loved
So full of love, this man, for his wife
For his daughters, his friends, all touched by his life
Generosity of spirit, of his time, of his heart
A sensitivity, an admiration for achievement and art.

A life well laughed
So full of laughter, this man, full of joy
He delighted in jokes and pranks since a boy
He could tease, he could chuckle, he could tell a great story
He could warm your heart, and give God the glory.

A life well played
So full of play, this man, a zest for living
A fan of sport, endeavor and best-effort giving
Do your best, try your hardest, but enjoy the game
Share the moment, enjoy your teammates, that prize claim.

A life well given
So full of giving, this man, to all around him
To work, to community, for scout’s honor or to swim
Selfless gifts, humble sharing, he lifted others high
Such a blessing to have known him, to have loved him…beyond goodbye.

Sweet Dreams

The Dream that Won’t Let Me Go

The dream
Its promise
Its beauty
The serenity in motion
The brightness and glory
The purity of love and
Devotion
The flight of the dove
The wings of a prayer
The sound of his voice
The wind in his hair
The butterfly kiss
The night’s sky aglow
All that I want and
All that I know

The dream that won’t let me go.

Younger

Some days I feel very old. But most days, thankfully, I feel healthy, active, alert and thriving...until I look in the mirror! The mirror, if I believe the reflection, tells me a different story - one about the effects of sun, gravity, time and travail. My skin no longer reveals the soft smoothness and elasticity of youth. Instead, it is more of a road map with the bumps, rough spots and scars that tell the story of my life's journey. I remember, as a child, holding my mother's hand and examining its pores, veins, freckles and sun spots. As I look at my hands, I am reminded of my mother's. This is not a bad thing. There is wisdom, encouragement, soothing, and love in these hands, in the stories of this life, in the landscape of this soul. So, I can look at my reflection and smile. In that smile and in the sparkle of my eyes, the active, alert and thriving inner me shines out. Yes, the outer shell is covered with the barnacles (as my mom calls them) of my experiences in the sea of this life, but I am deeper, wiser, and more understanding for these experiences.

Younger

Objects in the mirror are
younger than they appear.
The reflection is a bit distorted
a bit dimmed and blurred.
No, it is not a true reflection of
the image, the beauty, the memory,
The heart, the soul, the spirit.
What was once there is still there.
But don’t look too close
at the flaws and blemishes.
They are merely the road map
to the inner adventure.
To the life that was, that is and is yet to be.

Look to the story beyond the reflection
To the wisdom and truth beyond the mirror.