Thursday, December 29, 2011

RoseAnn

I adore this newfangled thing called the internet.

Without it, I'd be lost because

I spend a lot of my time there.

Ironic thing, this internet.

I remember hearing some people say that they were afraid of it, at first.

Scared that the "wrong" kind of people would be there:

Scary people, crazy people, people that many of us wouldn't want to meet.

But, guess what?

There are all kinds of good people online on the internet.

My husband connected with Roger on the internet, on Facebook,

Some 40 odd years after they had connected in Viet Nam.

Because of their connection, I connected with RoseAnn.

I knew from the first time we "chatted" what a gentle heart she had

How loving she was, what a caring person she was.

RoseAnn always had a kind word for everyone!

We'd all planned to meet up in person, yet it didn't happen quite that way. Somehow when the two of them zigged, we'd zagged.

But now, I'll be watching for her in the stars up in the Heavens

You can watch for her, too. She'll be the star that winks!

Monday, October 18, 2010

One Clap of Thunder

One clap of thunder.
One drop of rain.
One speck of dust inconvenienced.
Life in the desert.

Copyright 2010, DSR

Monday, August 23, 2010

How Do We Know a Miracle?

How do we know a miracle?
A flower blooms in the mist,
A tree rustles in the breeze,
Hummingbirds flit and pollinate,
A branch falls and crumbles,
A mushroom sprouts,
An earthworm aerates the soil,
A sprig appears,
A flower blooms in the mist.

Copyright 2010
Debi Rodriguez

Friday, March 19, 2010

Her Canopy

Her canopy is high above her head,
Making room for afar breezes,
Letting in the rain.
It is gathered in close.
Her arms cross folded across her chest,
Fingers tightly woven,
Fabric pulled taut against the grain.
It is see-through,
Letting in the Northern Lights and blinking stars.
The lightening brings the daylight, yet the black holds the daylight at bay.
Her canopy is a seat she seeks religiously every Sunday.
Below her it's a solid something, keeping her from the cold outside dirt.
It separates her from the next swaying shoulder.
In her mind she believes her canopy is tightly, impenetrably woven.
The canopy is visible to all.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Forward

Today you speak to many people. You utter thoughts out loud.
Will your words be lifting spirits? Will they help a child feel proud?
Do you hand out smiles? Will you offer hugs? Will you "Make someone's day?"
Forward it was paid to you, forward you must pay.

Copyright 2010
Debi R.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Jet Lag

My eyes are red
The red eye flight
Sleepless in Seattle

You or Me?

It is as if I'm in love.
I cannot sleep.
What's wrong with you?

Lost Love

My heart, it's crazy,
It doesn't know boundaries,
It searches for you

Not Fast Enough!

Get the camera
Quick, snap before we miss it
Darn it anyway!

Flash

When not looking, it's
Possible to find something
That surprises us

Seek

In the bowels, where
The sun bakes and broils all life
Love is in the air

In The Desert

Even two cacti
Can bend together in love
Forming a heart

Copyright 2009
Debi Rodriguez

The Sneaky Ones

The ones who bite
Are the ones
Who never tell

Copyright 2009
Debi Rodriguez

Hiding

What you don't see
Hiding amongst the pebbles
And the boulders
Of the tan and khaki
Desert vastness
Are the ones
Who blend in
And rise up
To attack
When you least expect them

Copyright 2009
Debi Rodriguez

What You Don't See

The desert floor
Looks flat from above
But from below
It holds cracks and crevices
That hide creatures
And critters
Who lurk
Below and beyond
Be careful
Lest you step
Casually

Copyright 2009
Debi Rodriguez

The Warming Sun

When the heat warms
And the soul cooks
And the eyes burn
And the tongue becomes parched
I think of you
And pant
And sizzle with the thought
Of holding you
Touching you
Feeling you touching me
Sensing tension
And desire
And love
With no abatement

Copyright 2009
Debi Rodriguez

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Evil Politics

Evil politics.
Decry optimistic loss.
Quickly walk away.


Copyright 2009

Friday, October 10, 2008

Dangling Words

Harsh words, forever spoken that
Cannot be removed from the air,
Dangle there
In front of our faces.
We cannot see past them,
Looking for the love we once shared.
Copyright 2008
by Debi Rodriguez

Sunday, March 9, 2008

HOW AND WHEN AND WHERE AND WITH WHOM DO THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD PRAY?

HOW AND WHEN AND WHERE AND WITH WHOM DO THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD PRAY?
by Rev. Deborah Rodriguez
March 08, 2008 04:57


I was the guest speaker at Universal Wisdom Church on Sunday, March 9, 2008.

*** *** ***

I'm not going to talk about IF we pray. Maybe some of you don't pray, or don't want to pray, or you won't admit it one way or another. But, I'm certain that we all pray.

Now, how would I know what YOU do? Give me a few minutes to clarify…

I think of prayer as the words and actions we use when we talk to our divine. It matters not who or what we consider sacred, or to whom or what we pray. It matters not what name we use. It matters not how we position ourselves. It matters not what we say. Some of us can only say words such as, "I hope," or "I'll keep you in my thoughts," and that's okay. That we might think there is something besides ourselves that governs the universe means that we pray because we think about that something, that higher power. Our thinking is our praying.

How and when and where we pray is as diverse as how or when or where we cook. I love to cook. Do you cook? Maybe not. But, you eat nonetheless, yes? How was your last meal prepared? Was it fried, baked, micro-waved, boiled, broiled, braised, slow cooked, hard-boiled, BBQ'ed, sun-baked, sun-dried? Was it out of a can, a jar? Did you drive through a local fast-food place?

Or, maybe your food was raw? Maybe you ate only vegetables. How was your food seasoned? Or, was it seasoned at all? Maybe you normally eat only certain types of fish, or you eat eggs but no other dairy? Maybe you eat nothing that begins with the letter "B" -- broccoli, beans, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, baked Alaska, butter?

All that being said, we may not all cook but we all eat. So now maybe we can think about how we all pray differently.



So, how do you pray? Where, and when, and with whom?

To pray in peace we need safety, a secure setting, in this room, the space in this church, at this time of this day, alongside each other. There is safety in numbers after all. And, we are social beings, we like to gather and do things together. We can be together and feel secure at this time in this place.

So, or course, we pray with others in a church. Yet, each church is different because each religion is different. Some churches have pews made of hard, hard wood, but then you get to kneel on a softer, padded piece of furniture in front of you. Then, once again, you sit back up on that hard wooden bench.

Thank you Oscar for these nice & soft chairs!

Does your prayer methodology depend upon where you reside? Where is your birth corner of the world? Maybe before you sat here with us, you used to pray in a temple or a mosque? Did you have to face a certain direction? Do you still kneel or bow or lay down in a prone position when you pray at home?

Do you don a particular piece or type of clothing, maybe a robe or other attire? Do you cover part of your body, your whole body? Do only your eyes and hands show to the world? Maybe just your head is covered?

Some of us might seek solitude and silence for meditation. Meditation is a method of prayer. It's calming, soothing to the mind and soul and good for a body's blood pressure.

Rather than meditate, we might chant. Does anyone remember the chant:

Nam miojo rengue quio? What's that mean anyway?

Maybe you pray when you marathon? Are you a marathon reader? Or a marathon quilter? Maybe you are a runner? A writer? Maybe you garden for hours on end. Is there reverence in a garden? You bet! Things that grow are reverent! That we help beautiful things to grow is reverent!

Maybe you paint? Do you pray while you mix your colors, pray that the color you mix will be the right color?

Do we pray silently in our thoughts, or dreams? unconsciously, noiselessly, or maybe we move our lips but make no sound?

Did you build an alter in your home, with candles and pictures or icons, or no icons? Is there a picture of Jesus? Mohamed? Buddha? Confuscious? A Flying Spaghetti Monster? Your kids?

Do you light candles? Do you light candles online and send them to others to help light their way in times of darkness? How much incense do you burn? Is there sacred water nearby?

Do you pray on street corners, shouting to your higher power above the noise of the traffic?

Do you wear a kind of adornment around your neck, maybe a cross or a star or a chalice or a dream catcher? Do you hold onto it while saying your words?

Do you cross yourself with your hand?

Do you pray with others and dance in a circle? Are there drums in the background? Flutes? The wind? Silence?

You may prefer to sit in the middle of the forest and listen for the sounds of the trees? Or for the wind blowing the desert sands? On the beach with the rushing waves?

Do you pray in another Tongue other than the one you use in public conversations?

Do you read the words from your sacred book, or create prayers of poetry? Are you sitting in a certain position, the lotus position comes to mind, even though MY knees won't bend like that anymore.

When you pray, do you ask for help for others, family or friends? For yourself? How do you feel about others praying for you?

Do you pray at night, wishing upon the stars? How do you pray during the day? Again, do you look up into the "Heavens?"

How many of us kneel by the side of a bed and place our hands together in a certain position while reciting a poem that we learned in our youth?

Maybe you count beads instead. Do you use Rosary beads? How many beads do you use? How many psalms do you recite? Or, do you say the same thing over and over again as you touch and hold each separate bead?

Does anyone you know use different kinds of beads on which they pray? Are they wooden beads, or olive seeds, or ivory, amber, pearls, or maybe plastic? Do they string a certain number of beads to represent divine thoughts? Some prayer beads may be non-denominational in practice. In his book, Simply Pray, Erik Walker Wikstrom offers a modern prayer practice that can be customized to meet individual spiritual needs. Using a set of 28 beads as a frame of reference, the practice includes centering and entering-in prayers, breath prayers and prayers of Naming, Knowing, Listening and Loving.

Do people you know repeat chants or devotions? Do they use a prayer rope made of leather? Maybe they use loops of knotted wool, instead?

Do you pray in a tent, raising your hands and arms into the air, shouting, singing, being healed, fainting?

Each time we give thanks for our food it's a prayer. Do YOU pray before each of your meals? Do you use salts or herbs to enhance your thoughts and words as well as your food?

Do you pray when you wake? When you find you have been granted yet another day and are able to rise to face it.

Do you pray in your daily speech? How many of us pray only on certain days of the week or only on holy days? How about on each and every day, 24/7/365?

How many of us allow total strangers into our houses to pray with us when they knock on our doors on Sundays or leave us their publications?

Do you pray while using your fingers? Each finger can represent specific things you might pray for:

1 pray for those closest to you using your thumb

2 use your pointer finger for those who point us in the right direction, those who teach us, instruct us, heal us

3 use your tall finger for the leaders in your lives

4 your ring finger, the weakest finger can be used to remind us to pray for those who hurt, weak, or in need

5 we are little compared to the world around us; our little fingers can remind us to pray for ourselves,



How many of us pray before we begin a journey, or a new job, or when we reach a milestone in our lives? When a newborn cries for the first time? When a newborn doesn't take that all important first breath? When any friend or loved one passes on? Nary a graveside service goes without prayer!

Is it hard for us to pray for people we don't like?

I've seen many bumper stickers over the years that remind us to pray for our military, our men and women in uniform. How many or us pray for those in the service of other countries? For our enemies in war?

Do we pray for the neighbor we can hardly tolerate? You bet! That's probably one of the hardest things for ME to do, but, you bet, I do it! We're taught to love our neighbors, but, y'know, no one ever told me I had to LIKE my neighbors!

What have I left out? How many other ways can you think of to pray? At what times, what other places, with whom?

Again, the fact that we might think that there is something besides ourselves that governs our universe means that we pray because we think about that higher power. Our thinking is our praying. And, any time we think or we reference our holy one then we are praying.

And don't we pray that our divine one listens and answers?

Reverend Deborah Rodriguez
Copyright 2008; All Rights Reserved
My thanks to the Reverend Oscar Reconco for letting me have the lecture.
Namaste.

*** *** ***

Friday, December 14, 2007

With You

My lips bite at the air.
I chew my thoughts as you pass my tongue.
My mouth caresses a glass of wine.
My eyes shut but I see you clearly.
My mind sees all.
You caress my skin.
I stroke your softness.
I open myself for you.
I feel your heartbeat,
Your lifeblood,
Your pulse,
Your energy.
I breathe with you.
I cannot catch my breath;
I am alive with you!

Copyright, 2007

I Won't Call

I won't call you on the phone.
No, I said I'd let you rest.
I will call you in my mind while I dream.
I need the feel of you inside me.
I need to hear you scream.
I need to feel your soul!
Feel your heartbeat!
I want you!
I love you!
I'm dreaming.
I'm dialing...
Where are you?

Copyright, 2007

Images

Love creates images in the soul!

Copyright, 2007

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Radiance of Love

A day in passage without you
Has no sun to light the way.
There is no radiance of love.
There is no warmth to kindle the fire,
No life worth living,
Flowers cannot tilt their faces to the gift.
Creatures cannot smile in the playful mists.
Nothing moves.
All are withering beings
Who cannot embrace and be embraced by love.

Copyright, 2007

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Just So You Know, Luv - Haiku

Just so you know, Luv,
A moment apart from you
Is a moment lost.

Copyright, 2007

Friday, November 30, 2007

My Love - Haiku

You've a gentle soul.
Kindness and love are in your heart.
See that there they stay!

Copyright, 2007

Hearts In The Desert

Succulents bending toward each other
forming hearts of love
Tempered only by the sand

Copyright, 2007

VISIONS IN THE SAND

Dancing waves of heat
Scorch the mirrors of my eyes
Curiosity
Wonderment of the next stop
I see palm trees and oceans.

Copyright, 2007

MANY TEARS

I see by moonlight
The tears welling in your eyes
The frown of your lips
The sadness in your crying
Because you don't want me gone

In the moonlight glare
Eyes well up with many tears
As I also weep
And you prepare to leave me
Should we stretch for that last kiss

Can we say goodbye
As we wipe away the tears
Or maybe just walk
To our different corners
To live our separate lives

Copyright, 2007

THE LAW OF WATER

The picture I draw of the dam that I saw
Just before it burst and the water ran raw
Was a peaceful and quietly muted spring thaw
But the log jam groaned and I ran with clenched jaw

Copyright, 2007

Shall We Gather at the River?

We who frequent Gather
Shamelessly gather points.
We connect with friends and colleagues.
We gather them and anoint
The many of us together
To reap rewards of kinds.
Can I comment on your work?
I'll read your comments on mine.

Copyright, 2007

Click on a Limerick # 1

It cannot be all of that hard
To sit and relax in my yard
And eat one meal in peace
'Til comes the wing'd police
And they find me badly off guard

Copyright, 2007