tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26329357708275751592024-02-19T10:12:05.485-06:00formidable woman: formidable woman: toward a culture of gentlenessAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-22085073281207834772014-06-24T16:36:00.001-05:002014-06-24T16:39:18.373-05:00Please follow me to Wordpress!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8j8zbmwQxc2dBwW6eJ6nONTZjbuNiKhf8PMmc9hC3yM15emN-f2twMJSdHs-2TtMB6VIkHEwrbgQCg2fE3x3RXhLZ-sNHbfhs0CiSqDqJjnx3J6JAMsEFk4MmEpMtFf8TNl8TDZmJXU/s1600/Moving+van+clip+art.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8j8zbmwQxc2dBwW6eJ6nONTZjbuNiKhf8PMmc9hC3yM15emN-f2twMJSdHs-2TtMB6VIkHEwrbgQCg2fE3x3RXhLZ-sNHbfhs0CiSqDqJjnx3J6JAMsEFk4MmEpMtFf8TNl8TDZmJXU/s1600/Moving+van+clip+art.jpeg" height="291" width="320" /></a></div>
I am moving to Wordpress. <br />
I've consolidated my blog and my website into one artistically wonderful place.<br />
Please visit and follow me there! Here we go: one linky-dinky, two linky-dinky...<br />
<a href="http://dellisphelps.com/">http://dellisphelps.com</a><br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-33593781150269869912014-05-22T14:24:00.000-05:002014-05-22T14:26:58.627-05:00Book Review: Just Because You're Dead Doesn't Mean You're Gone by Sandy Foster-Morrison<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13741306-just-because-you-re-dead-doesn-t-mean-you-re-gone" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Just Because You're Dead Doesn't Mean You're Gone" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1340760635m/13741306.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13741306-just-because-you-re-dead-doesn-t-mean-you-re-gone">Just Because You're Dead Doesn't Mean You're Gone</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5854458.Sandy_Foster_Morrison">Sandy Foster Morrison</a><br />
<br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/726688180">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
<br />
If you're not "from here," then you might think you know something about East Texas from having watched the recent movie "Bernie." Frankly, the movie is spot on at revealing the snippy, elitist, prejudiced thinking prevalent there (and the horrific twang of speech!).<br />
<br />
But this author: grew up there. Her memoir of that experience will make you cringe and groan if you are from here and it will make you exclaim in disbelief if you're not. But I can tell you from my own Piney Woods roots that her account of "how it was (is)" is all true.<br />
<br />
Ms. Foster-Morrison has a breezy tone that sets the reader at ease right away. She is fiercely honest, a laudable act of courage, given her ancestry. I commend her for this. <br />
<br />
Her story, a black comedy with tragic moments, is the story of "every-woman": how marriage, child-rearing, society and family influence and rule our becoming and if we are tenacious to a fault, as this author, having the will to become who she herself determines to be in spite of overwhelming odds against her, how we survive.<br />
<br />
Personally, I deeply identified with the main premise: that those who have left their fleshly bodies have not "died," but in fact carry on communicating with us from beyond, especially when our relationships on this plane have unfinished business.<br />
<br />
If you are looking to fantasize and be carried away, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a meaty story, full of unexpected turns and raw emotion, one that will make you laugh and cry, and leave you deep in thought, read this book. <br />
<br />
I dare you.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7670977-d-phelps">View all my reviews</a><br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-55430097407581445052014-05-22T13:34:00.000-05:002014-05-22T13:41:57.475-05:00Book Review: The Dividing Season by Karen Casey Fitzjerrell<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13554488-the-dividing-season" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Dividing Season" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1334800449m/13554488.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13554488-the-dividing-season">The Dividing Season</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5780909.Karen_Casey_Fitzjerrell">Karen Casey Fitzjerrell</a><br />
<br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/945044495">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
<br />
This book is about my bone-country: the land where my ancestors have lived, died, and are buried. So I would know if it were not an authentic tale. Believe me. It is.<br />
<br />
Ms. Casey's prose sets you directly into landscape, weather, and sky you can see and feel. I think she must have sat a whole year on her porch observing. That's how enjoyable, distinct and palpably different each scene is from the next.<br />
<br />
Though this book is set in the late 1800's,I know I have met and rubbed elbows with the gritty characters she creates, Texas men I love and hate, the kind of men whose stock carries on despite this unforgiving land and the working of it.<br />
<br />
The heroine, a formidable, passionate woman, faces her inheritance and her fate with graceful power, loving the land and longing for more. Alongside her character the reader experiences intense adventure and faces conflicts and questions of family loyalty; propriety; women's rights; the right to bear arms; discrimination and prejudice; and the ever-present dig of a rancher's heels into the land, insisting, demanding from it, a decent living made from sweat and sheer will.<br />
<br />
This author has a sweet and sour taste in her mouth for all that Texas women are and she has told us the truth about how we became so in eloquent prose.<br />
<br />
You'll need a porch and a nice long stretch of afternoon to read this delightful story because you won't want to put it down. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7670977-d-phelps">View all my reviews</a><br />
<i></i><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-61357729385626892042014-05-20T16:29:00.000-05:002014-05-20T16:35:24.047-05:00"i cannot teach you to pray in words"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjl45DxXRFtM-wI5JqYHPG61DFjIoe3XE2RwcxCtVfgwYWoAzOiXEWCeheU4-HcG8n01lEaD8Lj7q_ei-3eTDfWyB6Ta5boGR3nFfnw3wn1_8V31NvK7JCk0LDbEwyiFVr7iZL-j3hB0/s1600/between+the+worlds+36X36+acrylic+on+canvas+large+file+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjl45DxXRFtM-wI5JqYHPG61DFjIoe3XE2RwcxCtVfgwYWoAzOiXEWCeheU4-HcG8n01lEaD8Lj7q_ei-3eTDfWyB6Ta5boGR3nFfnw3wn1_8V31NvK7JCk0LDbEwyiFVr7iZL-j3hB0/s1600/between+the+worlds+36X36+acrylic+on+canvas+large+file+cropped.jpg" height="319" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image: "between the worlds" 36X36" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas. copyright D. Ellis Phelps, 2014</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Original available through <a href="https://www.facebook.com/intermezzogalleryandstudios" target="_blank">Intermezzo Gallery, Boerne, TX </a> <cite class="_Kd">(830) 331.9400</cite></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><cite class="_Kd"><br /></cite></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Prints available through <a href="http://dellisphelps.smugmug.com/The-Surprising" target="_blank">SmugMug: here</a>.</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>(super important hint!: </b>my paintings are only available as 16X20" (or larger) gallery wrapped canvas prints and as greeting cards. So click on "canvas" at the top of the page in Smug Mug. <b>special note about this painting</b>: It'll look best on a square canvas. Thanks!)</i></span> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I cannot teach you how to pray in words....And I cannot teach you the
prayer of the seas and the forests and the mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you who are born of the mountains and the
forests and the seas can find their prayer in your heart...</i></h4>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
<br /></h4>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The </span>Prophet</i>, Kahlil Gibran</h4>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Since 2006 and the transition of my in-laws and my parents
from their forms of flesh to their light bodies, I have spent a great deal of
time between the worlds.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">These incarnate beings I learned to love and hate and love
again have come to me in the most profound ways, letting me know their presence
beyond the veil is one of large, ongoing aliveness, letting me know their pain, their
need for my offerings of love and forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My father-in-law’s scent:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>spice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mother-in-law:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>heavy perfume.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My father:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>cedar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And by arrangement with my
mother (a la Houdini):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My father has visited me in dreams, willing me to do his
bidding on this plane, else he could not rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My mother has spoken me awake, me certain she stood beside my bed.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What I have understood from these communications is
this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Who we are on this side, we are on the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is why we pray for the dead, so that The
Light knows its own and it is only by Grace (by prayer) that between the
worlds, between lives, we are received and we are known.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">How do you communicate between the worlds? Have you experienced the out-of-body presence of someone you have loved or not loved? How do you process the messages you have received? </span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-67142662536182732692014-04-15T16:46:00.002-05:002014-04-15T16:48:36.958-05:00Blood Moon in Western Sky over South Texas Hill Country April 15, 2014 2AM<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluqclXOWnaFolzjGUbAd4Tb81zFIoPfAfUbq3Xm7EOnaJhYMFy-AosyiXLunTWEwK0A7mID4vfIEUDMcshh_KVxbp3x6A9QyzQbANQm2xojykNsOOtCuJr91TTKj4ryJ1adPb9DF9hAs/s1600/Blood+moon+4+15+14+Lin+Phelps+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluqclXOWnaFolzjGUbAd4Tb81zFIoPfAfUbq3Xm7EOnaJhYMFy-AosyiXLunTWEwK0A7mID4vfIEUDMcshh_KVxbp3x6A9QyzQbANQm2xojykNsOOtCuJr91TTKj4ryJ1adPb9DF9hAs/s1600/Blood+moon+4+15+14+Lin+Phelps+photo.jpg" height="320" width="312" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Photo: courtesy of Lin Phelps</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-49615905522913537012014-04-12T14:12:00.002-05:002014-04-13T09:59:42.885-05:00How We Heal: Become Formidable and Choose For Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RAFR-9VK6JxO2_r0lNTpk1yvJHzSSPuRAihVH6YCQe0k-XusMxSou40edIc1bvSD7K1EKHqlquHirqiZ4fK6pjhhRyfuapYcK8fVwuGm37TUBHKHsl3NinU71uHW7sW9lvPJaDXEEZw/s1600/The+Cloak+Brandi+Strickland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RAFR-9VK6JxO2_r0lNTpk1yvJHzSSPuRAihVH6YCQe0k-XusMxSou40edIc1bvSD7K1EKHqlquHirqiZ4fK6pjhhRyfuapYcK8fVwuGm37TUBHKHsl3NinU71uHW7sW9lvPJaDXEEZw/s1600/The+Cloak+Brandi+Strickland.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>"The Cloak" 18X18" Mixed Media Collage. Image courtesy of the artist, Brandi Strickland. Used with permission and gratitude. All rights reserved. Please visit <a href="http://paperwhistle.com/shop/" target="_blank">Ms. Strickland's website here</a> to view more of her work.</i></span></span></span><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">What follows is the transcript from a talk I gave to women gathered for the Diocese of South Texas Episcopal Women's Spring Gathering at Camp Capers in Waring, Texas, April 4, 2014. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Part I: Why Am I Here?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b> </b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
started writing <a href="http://tinyurl.com/GeorgEbook" target="_blank"><i>Making Room for George</i></a> because I needed to tell the story of what was
happening in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">But as I wrote, the writing morphed from a simple account of the
events in my life <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>into a journey itself--<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>through my life’s history and
choices-- and as I wrote, it was much like taking an inventory, bearing witness, explaining,
and grappling with the transformational journey I have been making from the
person I used to be into the person I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">After
I finished the book, I realized that I would be speaking to people about the
book. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to decided what it was I really
wanted to say besides, “Buy my book.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And as I asked for guidance and began to receive it, I had great
resistance to the clear message that surfaced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But it was so clear and so profound and it scared me so much that I knew
this was what I was being called to do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">So
this is what I have come here today to say:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The woman sitting next to you<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in church every Sunday, well-dressed,
intelligent, raising a straight-up child, holding a good job could be the very
woman whose husband sitting beside her threatened her life and the life of her
child the night before.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="http://www.thehotline.org/is-this-abuse/statistics/" target="_blank">Statistics</a> show that as many as one
in every three of us has experienced some form of abuse by an intimate partner.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We must realize this is happening, maybe even to the woman
sitting next to you right now. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We must talk about it openly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must hold the door of our hearts wide open
so that disclosure can happen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
must proactively educate ourselves and our children as to what constitutes a
healthy relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must teach each
other how to practice respect and gentleness. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We must not leave this work solely to organizations outside
the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must know what to do and
be prepared to take appropriate action when any woman asks for help. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">We must</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tell the truth. We must heal this abuse. We must stand together, become
formidable, and thrive toward a culture of gentleness.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Why
do I want to speak specifically to this Episcopal group of women? It’s because
my mother was a member of the Episcopal Church for decades and a member of the Episcopal order of the <a href="http://www.doknational.com/" target="_blank">Daughters of the King</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was she who taught me how
to practice Centering and Contemplative Prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was she and her group of Daughters I called with my need for prayer
over many years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this way I have a
very felt sense of the power of prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I know the power of a group of women united in prayer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Part II:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why Doesn’t She Just Leave?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">As
an adult, I asked my mother why she didn’t just leave my father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, she had a job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was her answer:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Because he said he’d kill both of us if I
did.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So my mother risked her life and
sacrificed her happiness to save our lives.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">That’s
valid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">As
it turns out, this threat is a common one made by many perpetrators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes, in spite of such a threat, women
summon the courage to leave and succeed, finding new lives in other cities or
carrying on where they are, but with restraining orders in place, finding that
their spouse’s bullying behaviors subside once they realize she has finally,
really left and isn’t coming back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes, the perpetrator hunts them down and carries out the threat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">A
woman who lived across the street from one of my friends in an affluent San
Antonio neighborhood was being held hostage by her husband, locked inside and
not allowed out alone. None of the neighbors suspected anything was wrong until
her sister called one of them to say there was going to be an intervention</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Sometimes
a woman has children and no job and no idea how she would survive and care for
her children, so she tells herself after every beating or insult that he didn’t
really mean it and that he won’t do it again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, that’s what most perpetrators do say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They experience and express real remorse, but
somehow cannot keep their aggression from surfacing again and again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Sometimes,
the woman is well-educated and has an excellent job and could easily care for
herself and her children financially, but she has been brainwashed into
thinking that the whole mess is her fault and if she would only do this or that
differently, he wouldn’t lose his temper the way he does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the woman jumps through hoops:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>taking cooking classes; losing weight;
changing her hair; never going out; clinging; not-clinging; and so on and on
and on...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
other reason women stay is because they love this man and because they would
rather stay and risk a broken arm than endure a broken life with a broken
heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mother loved my father until
the day she died and I love my husband despite all of our difficulties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Part III:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You Can’t Get There From Here</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">So
why did I choose a man who slapped me to the ground and treated me with such
disrespect and why didn’t I just leave him?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Einstein
is quoted to have said:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“a problem
cannot be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
can speak most authentically to this point by telling my own story.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
cannot leave the place I inhabit unless I leave it consciously, by first
identifying the energetic pattern-cause and then by practicing the vigilant
work of choosing again and again a new way of inhabiting my world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to move on, I must embodying a new
energetic pattern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Otherwise, I will
simply find myself back in the same circumstance or with the same kind of
partner who may be slightly more or less abusive because that’s the kind of
energetic space my consciousness inhabits, because that’s what’s familiar, because
that’s what I’m attracted to subconsciously.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">So
when I found my husband, what kind of energetic-pattern did I embody?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What were my deepest systems of belief?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">From
as early as I can remember, I learned that violence is a way of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That it is part of loving someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That it is the way to handle anger,
disappointment, and frustration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
watched my father become enraged with my mother, hit her, knock her down and
bruise her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watched her cry and mourn
and grieve and then I watched them reconcile and stay together for twenty-eight
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heard my mother say repeatedly
that she loved my father, so I learned that this is how you behave when you
love someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
learned that violence is funny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
watched the Wylie Coyote and the Roadrunner do territorial battle on Saturday
morning cartoons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watched the
Roadrunner drop the big rock or anvil on the Coyote’s head and squash him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then I watched the Coyote spring back and
do it all again and I watched this week after week along with many other
cartoon characters who did the same things, smacking each other in the face
with skillets and brooms and the like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Implanted
in those cartoons was the notion that these kinds of violent actions do not
hurt, after all the Coyote never died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And
the same idea was implanted in my experience because though my mother was sad
and I was frightened, no one died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I became
accustomed to living in tension and because I didn’t know better; I couldn’t know
better, I agreed subconsciously with the idea that violent action, tension, and
pain are all just part of the landscape of love.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">My
psyche studied the roles:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the aggressor rules;
the victim submits; and the belief system:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>when there’s been an attack, pass judgment, figure out who’s to blame,
and punish them by attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This belief
system implanted itself into every cell of my being, into my psyche, into my
emotional blueprint, and therefore into every future relationship I would have,
especially into the relationship I have with my own self.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
decided early on that to survive, I would be perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I vowed that no matter what, when I grew
up, none of this would ever affect me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
graduated high school, President of the Drama Club, Student Council Officer, in
the top ten percent of my class, an outspoken, upstanding, virgin, non-drinking
Christian who attended church beside my parents every Sunday morning, Sunday
afternoon and Wednesday Prayer Meeting. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked like a young woman who was just fine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">When
I got to college, I started drinking, having fun, and enjoying freedom<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">--</span>until I wasn’t having fun anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within four years, alcohol had released the
rage within me to the degree that I had already blown through two serious
relationships and I had become spiritually bankrupt, anorexic and suicidal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">So,
I had left home, but I had failed to leave what I learned there behind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Part IV:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Only Way Out is Up</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Here
is a piece of my personal theology:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
believe I came into this life to experience what it is like to come to and
awaken to compassion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe I made a
soul-contract in the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Souls-Studies-Between-Lives/dp/1567184855" target="_blank"><i>life between lives</i></a> to do this work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe I wanted to be more compassionate
toward people who suffer with being out of control to the point that results in
violent aggression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to have
compassion for that kind of weakness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I needed to experience it and be out of control myself in order
achieve the desired level of compassion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">In
my <a href="http://www.mysahana.org/2010/11/family-of-origin/" target="_blank">family of origin</a>, I lived within the cycle but identified it as outside
myself as “their problem.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I took
on each role inside of the two serious romantic relationships I mentioned
earlier, playing the role of <a href="http://www.angriesout.com/grown20.htm" target="_blank">victim-dependent in the first and the role of aggressor-dependent</a> in the second and playing out the belief each time that the
“problem” was outside myself, that it was “his problem.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three months before I was supposed to marry
relationship number two, he broke our engagement and we split up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Four months later, I married my first
husband, and we had a child together, me playing the role of
aggressor-dependent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We divorced after
four years, because, of course, “he was the problem.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Then,
I believe I chose my second husband very carefully, albeit unconsciously, so
that I could begin, in earnest, the work around these issues according to the
contract my soul had made to learn compassion in this way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
is the man, by God’s grace, who confronted my behavior and the reason, on the
physical plane that I began to awaken.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">What
I saw when I began to wake was ugly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
looked at all of the misbehavior, all of the missteps, all of the mistakes, all
of the times that I knew that what I was doing would bring inevitable, irreparable
consequences and I saw that I was bent on self-destruction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">With
the help of counselors and mentors and twelve step programs, I looked at my
life and I understood that of myself, I had no idea how to inhabit my life
differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had reached the bottom
and the only way out was up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Part V:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How Do We Choose?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
needed to see all that I have seen about myself and my habits of thought and
habits of feeling, all that I have seen about my systems of belief and how I misunderstand the
Source of Power and misuse my own personal power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed to see how completely and utterly
powerless I was and still am to effect real change in my life in the absence of
<a href="http://www.aa.org/en_pdfs/smf-121_en.pdf" target="_blank">spiritual awakening</a> and intervention.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
needed to see that my difficulties on the physical plane are a result of the
life going on between my ears. I needed to see my belief that attack has power; my belief that
I need to play either the role of perpetrator or victim; my belief that how I
behave is dependent on situations, circumstances and people outside myself; my
belief that I am to blame or that you are to blame and one of us should be
punished.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
would like to tell you that I no longer inhabit the space of attack, judgment,
blame, and punishment, and that that system of belief no longer has power over
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that is not true.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://acim.org/" target="_blank"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">A Course in Miracles</span></i></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> says there is only one
choice really:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We either choose love or
we choose attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is only by Grace
that I am able to choose differently most days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In most moments, I can choose for the Highest Good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In most moments, I can choose for Love. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
have stayed in my marriage for three reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The first reason is because of the soul-contract I believe I made
between lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second reason is
because of financial and emotional dependency issues I continue to address
daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the third reason is because
of the way I define love, a definition I borrowed from writer <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Letting-Go-Fear-Third/dp/158761118X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1397319554&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Gerald Jampolsky</a>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love is an action, not a
feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And though I often do not like
my husband’s behavior at all (or mine), I do want to love him; I do want to
love myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do want to choose for
Love in in all of my relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">My
husband and I have inured each other repeatedly over time by our continued
misunderstanding and missteps. We are here to teach and learn from each
other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have come a long way together
over the past thirty-four years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ours is
a complex and tumultuous dance between two people learning to choose for love
and I am a formidable woman as a result of this practice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">My
hope is that my telling you the truth of my experience, will open the door for
you to tell the truth about yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
hope is that this will open your heart and increase your understanding of how
insidious and imbedded, complicated and rooted the dis-ease is that causes a
woman to make the choices she makes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">My
hope is that you and I and others, one by one, will come together into the deep
well of compassion and teach and learn from each other what it is to choose for
Love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hope is that together we can
re-frame our notion of what it means to love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My hope is that by the Power of this Love and the work of our hands, we
can bathe our world in this Great Gentle River until the time comes when no
woman breaks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">i see</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">this:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">—face of god</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">when no </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">woman<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">breaks</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">when only</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">this hand<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">of grace</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">& none</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> must run</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">when<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>whether </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">she<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>has carried </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">sons</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">or<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">water</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">her feet</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">—no longer<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>bound</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">her head</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">—held high<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>uncovered</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">she<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>will walk</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">her own<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>way</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">her back<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">—undone</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">her mouth </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">—white fire</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">her hips </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">—wide</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">& full</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">of promise</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Part VI:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Work of Our Hands</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Lay on
your hands, but first, stop the bleeding.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">As
a practitioner of energetic healing with clients, my training teaches me to
look for the energetic cause of what may be presenting as pain manifested in
the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So for example, someone with
chronic back pain may need to resolve some emotional trauma from their past
experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I am cautioned, that should I
come upon a person lying in the road with a severe hemorrhage, do an
energetic intervention, but first I should stop the bleeding.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">For
the purposes of this conversation, the immediate work we have to do is help the
woman in crisis find safe shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
energetic intervention will happen as we change our own minds and open our
hearts, learning to practice gentleness and choose for love ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only when we love, can we teach love.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">In
January of this year, I met with a few women and together we explored some
aspects of current reactive approaches to violence against women and asked some
questions about how we might become more proactive, offering greater support to
women seeking refuge, renewing sensitivity, and become Women Empowered toward a
culture of gentleness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">What
I brought to the conversation was this information:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Kendall County, Texas when a woman finally
summons the courage to ask for help, she must first figure out who to
call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once she does this, she may find
the <a href="http://www.thehotline.org/" target="_blank">national hotline </a>or a local shelter number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If she calls the national hotline, they will then give her another
number to call to reach a local shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So now she has to make a second call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On either call, the first question they will ask if “Are you safe?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If she answers no, they will tell her to hang
up and call 911.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By now this traumatized
woman has had to make three calls.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">If
she calls 911 and the police come to get her, they will take her to the nearest
shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that shelter is full, they
will give her the number for the next nearest shelter that is not full.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She may be escorted there by the police and I
quote, “If the police are not busy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
woman may also be given hotel accommodations until a shelter space is
available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know whether police
must stay with the woman at that point or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Once
a woman is admitted to a shelter, she has access to counseling and other
services, but, according to one shelter I interviewed, her stay is limited to
sixty days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sixty days</i> to get your life turned around, heal from serious
psychological and emotional damage, change your habits of thought and habits of
feeling, grieve the loss of the one person you love most in the world,
sometimes find a job, find a place you can afford to live, and maybe find
daycare for your kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Chop
chop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time is precious.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">In light of this clinical and reactionary
approach absent of poetics, spiritual presence, or true nurture, we explored
the notion of how a system of ecumenical “safe” houses might help women in
crisis and seeking refuge from spousal abuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Think Harriet Tubman’s Underground Railroad.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-outline-level: 1; tab-stops: 132.75pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; tab-stops: 132.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">In late February, I was
privileged to hear Rev. Becca Stevens of Tennessee speak to the Episcopal Southwest Texas
Diocesan Council gathering in San Marcos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She has designed and implemented a two-year residential recovery and
rehabilitation opportunity for women who have histories of prostitution, drug abuse,
and other forms of bondage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
residences are called <a href="http://www.thistlefarms.org/index.php/about-magdalene" target="_blank">Magdalene Houses</a> and they operate without federal or
state funding, are absolutely free to the participating women, and are fully
self-supporting through their social enterprise, <a href="http://www.thistlefarms.org/index.php/about-thistle-farms" target="_blank">Thistle Farms</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is an amazing
model that could be used for the safe-houses I envision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; tab-stops: 132.75pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; tab-stops: 132.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">However, for women
seeking refuge from spousal abuse and those who assist them to be safe in such
places, careful security measures would be necessary and this would change the
Magdalene House model in some significant ways.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; tab-stops: 132.75pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; tab-stops: 132.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I believe this can
happen by the work of our hands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I heard this story recently from a
non-Episcopalian pastor:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told me
about a woman she knew in another city who was being abused by her husband and
was ready to leave, but that woman’s church-body insisted she reconcile with
her spouse and thus would not support her leaving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pastor, who told me this story, took up a
collection from her congregation and sent the woman money so that she could
leave.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">After I told the then director of the Kendall
County Women’s Shelter this story, she suggested that her organization hold a
round-table discussion among area ministers across denominations, asking them
about their church doctrines on the subject of separation and divorce,
especially in the presence of family violence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; tab-stops: 61.5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; tab-stops: 61.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Spring-boarding from
that idea, I have created a list of interview questions I think might be
effective to begin a conversation with Episcopal rectors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this way, we could engage them and their
parishes in the conversation about the need for more hands-on, proactive
involvement by the church body in calling women toward this culture of
gentleness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; tab-stops: 61.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; tab-stops: 61.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Here are a few
examples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you listen, discern how you
yourself might answer these questions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">1. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
would you council a woman reporting spousal abuse?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-outline-level: 3; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is your teaching regarding divorce and
or separation in such cases?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-outline-level: 3; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What system, if any, do you have in place for
addressing the needs of a woman seeking refuge from spousal abuse? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-outline-level: 3; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you have and do all of your parish members
have ready access to toll-free telephone numbers for both the nearest local
women’s shelter and the national hotline?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-outline-level: 3; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would members of your parish be interested in
proactively obtaining training on compassionate conversation and developing
healthy relationships toward a culture of gentleness?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-outline-level: 3; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would you or a member of your parish be
willing to be the designated communicant in this continuing conversation?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">These
might be difficult conversations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we
must have them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must take a hard look
at what we are doing and what we are not doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We must open our sacred spaces; we must open our minds, our hearts and
our homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">We
must purposefully nurture loving kindness and let the choice for beauty, gentleness
and harmony dissolve hatred and let the Great River carry all that does not
serve downstream.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
believe this can happen by the work of our hands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">On
a <a href="http://www.safehousecenter.org/find-help-support/emergency-response-services/" target="_blank">social-organizational level in Ann Arbor, Michigan</a>, voluntarily trained
response teams exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the police
are called to the scene of domestic violence or when an individual presents at the
hospital admitting they have experienced violence at the hands of an intimate partner,
this team is called.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>come to her <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>at the police station, or hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They listen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They comfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They bring resource
information and they accompany her through the process of getting the help she
needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are viable and powerful
models we can follow. And I wonder why this isn’t happening in every city.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">But
further, what if every parish trained its own Teams of Compassionate Response,
teams prepared to guide and assist such a woman, much like a Steven’s Minister
learns how to be present to someone in a life crisis as a spiritual companion, but
more adept at addressing the needs of a woman seeking refuge from a violent
partner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Are
we ready to hold this woman’s hand and help her to safety?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can we listen to her story without judgment?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Knowing
each of us must do our own personal growth work and change our own realities
from the inside out, can we offer this tourniquet and stop the bleeding?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
believe this can happen by the work of our hands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">You
might say, “There is so much work to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My life is full and I have no more time.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">But
here is one important way we can work together without adding an ounce of extra
outward effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s shift our
discourse about this topic from the language of violence, for example naming a
month “Domestic Violence Awareness Month,” to the language of gentleness,
calling it “Safe Family” month or “Compassion Awareness” month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Let
each of us become aware of our own everyday language and whether or not we are
speaking the language of gentleness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
example, instead of saying I am “fighting for what I believe,” why not say, “I
claim what is rightfully mine and I speak my truth.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">There
is a bowl of white ribbons on each of your tables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please take one and one for someone you
love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let it be a gentle reminder of the
work we have to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let it whisper to
you and to those who ask why you wear it, “I am a formidable women choosing for
Love.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And
also on the table, you will find my “Call to Action.” (see Call to Action page on this blog)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are love-in-action steps you can take
to more proactively help women in crisis find safety and thrive toward a
culture of gentleness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Make
no mistake. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Asking these questions;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>being present to my own and others’ pain;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>taking inventory of my life, my habits of
thought and habits of feeling; watching what I say; watching what I think, telling
the truth about it all out loud and in public:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>is not easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, for me, it is
an inescapable calling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">It
is the voice of the Christ speaking to me, saying:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Take up your bed and walk.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And
so I have told you my story and shared with you insights born out of my own brokenness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have told you that it is by Grace alone
that I come before you today a more formidable woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And since none of us can really rest until
all of us are saved,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>until
all of us are safe...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
ask you to come with me into this Great Gentle River where none of us are
separate or different or better but where all of us blend together in the murky
mystery of our humanity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
ask you to become a teacher of peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
ask you to choose for love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ask you to
commit to listening with an open heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I ask you to commit to using the language of gentleness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ask you to suspend your judgment of “the
other” and nod to the Oneness of All that Is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">All
of these things I ask because I know<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">--</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>this is how we heal.</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-7922045196840487842014-01-09T17:06:00.000-06:002014-01-09T17:06:06.914-06:00when no woman breaks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbiQE2kVSf2hpyi_5LsO71cwKS3EFT82ErxGL-TPXBykx4msPRDO1WMJ95j0cjkGm_mAOXPQQlns2zorNBg-d5iYcfu5g6kefiV5pAaWoPET747RUK7JIlhoL6yrNz07q2fvMBHCOJTk/s1600/8329025199_e74229c66d_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbiQE2kVSf2hpyi_5LsO71cwKS3EFT82ErxGL-TPXBykx4msPRDO1WMJ95j0cjkGm_mAOXPQQlns2zorNBg-d5iYcfu5g6kefiV5pAaWoPET747RUK7JIlhoL6yrNz07q2fvMBHCOJTk/s1600/8329025199_e74229c66d_z.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
Photo: "Rosa" used with gratitude and by permission of guest artist, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/katieswift" target="_blank">Katherine Caldwell, aka Katie Swift</a>.<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<div class="MsoNormal">
i see</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
this:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
—face of god</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
when no </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
woman<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
breaks</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>~</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
when only</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
this hand<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
of grace</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
& none</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
must run</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>~</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
when <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>whether </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
she <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>has
carried </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
sons</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
or<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
water</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
her feet</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
—no longer<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>bound</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
her head</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
—held high<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>uncovered</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
she<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>will walk</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
her own<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>way</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>~</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
her back<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
—undone</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
her mouth </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
—white fire</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
her hips </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
—wide</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
& full</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
of promise</div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]--><br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-36701660042663025222014-01-06T18:33:00.000-06:002014-01-06T18:36:52.965-06:00what seems right may be wrong<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPiG5mp5Lxnz3X2OXPCE0r_Ep78JL09RDffqeVGFlmzrm7laleHBzZ8YGrFqCQLcb5_45Kh1z8FqWrPZGkimsmb2x9EwHe5F2w9wyGeGbwn3VbFzfTsQYDSWH2Vo1QA61BCBi6BNLxfo/s1600/9508650109_e79569c8c2_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPiG5mp5Lxnz3X2OXPCE0r_Ep78JL09RDffqeVGFlmzrm7laleHBzZ8YGrFqCQLcb5_45Kh1z8FqWrPZGkimsmb2x9EwHe5F2w9wyGeGbwn3VbFzfTsQYDSWH2Vo1QA61BCBi6BNLxfo/s1600/9508650109_e79569c8c2_z.jpg" height="640" width="489" /></a></div>
Art "out where even the imperfect is perfect" used with gratitude to and permission of the artist, Bebe Butler.<br />
Engage more of her work on her website, <a href="http://bebebutler.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What if being present to what is and following the flow of it is the way? What if there is no one "right" way? What if this way of being is the one thing we must learn? What if all the details are nothing but distraction?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.jesusjazzbuddhism.org/forum.html#/20140106/feels-a-constructive-postmodern-approach-to-c-3550941/" target="_blank">Read my article</a> in response to <a href="http://www.jesusjazzbuddhism.org/feels.html" target="_blank">an article by Xie Bangxiu </a>on the teaching-learning pedagogy he calls "FEELS," the way, as he states, to "own wisdom." </span></span><br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-1748732137180730072014-01-02T13:54:00.000-06:002014-01-02T13:54:58.888-06:00fresh water wash me clean<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJEBDd-UZpWv6dXa5dvtJUS80FvvvuXHSGYFxxKR_o4eUwPgjMQcEYJrAuo-Y0RDdpycMF2dYLbPSjqmpwzYgx4ft5I6QB8Dfuo58wPAFulswwv_j7IRYu9KhzR3LEhwLgEjlz98dwSU/s1600/raindance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJEBDd-UZpWv6dXa5dvtJUS80FvvvuXHSGYFxxKR_o4eUwPgjMQcEYJrAuo-Y0RDdpycMF2dYLbPSjqmpwzYgx4ft5I6QB8Dfuo58wPAFulswwv_j7IRYu9KhzR3LEhwLgEjlz98dwSU/s640/raindance.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:TargetScreenSize>800x600</o:TargetScreenSize>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--> "Rain Dance" photo used with permission & with gratitude to the artist, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lynneraspet/" target="_blank">Lynne Raspet</a>.<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>i don't live </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>in a neighborhood </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Ms</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
he says insisting</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>nothing happens </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>on my
street</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
this thick city </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
boy </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
uniformed</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
scrubbed</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
polished</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
& sent to school</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
his black hair stiffened</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
stands at attention</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
his head is hurting </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(i am sure)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
from too much</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
sitting still</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>~</b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
i lean into</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
his round face </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
willing words </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
his
imagination</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
—a phantom—</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>~</b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>how many of you </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>have
ever made </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<i>mud pies</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>between your toes</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a few hands rise</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
—confessing </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
actual play </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
outside</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i>go home</i> i say<br />
<i>turn on the
hose </i><br />
<br />
<i>m<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>ake mud</i><br />
<br />
t<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>hey giggle<br />
<br />
<b> ~</b> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
my toes flex </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
stretch their necks<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
i am standing </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
knee deep </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
in rain water<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
this sky wiping its eyes </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
dim
thunder rumbling </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
we have all </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
come outside </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
waving—squawking birds </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
converging on a makeshift lake </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
water running to greet us</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">w</span>e wade in<br />
<br />
<b>~</b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a few fat drops</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
hit shower us wet</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
—cold clothes </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
cling barefoot toes</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
stomp </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
splash </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
sing in the street</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
—rain dance</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
—glee club </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
goose bumps<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <b>~</b> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
i squat squish mud </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
between my toes </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
shovel up a clump </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
—oozing earth</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
fling it </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
at the first (unsuspecting) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
one of us</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a burst of laughter</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
—splat—</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
a flinched face</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
—splat—</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
an arched back</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>i got you</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i>! </i> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <b>~</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
we are merciless </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
warriors taking aim </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
duck </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
dive </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
slip </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
slide</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
run </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
from each other </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
like we might really</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
die</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">i</span>n seconds </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
an hour passes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <b>~</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
my breath </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
comes fast</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
i am full </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
of fun </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
& covered </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
in baking clay<br />
<br />
<b>~</b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">l</span>ying down </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
on long green </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
grass in the
gutter </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
bent under</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
this sudden stream</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
fresh water </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
—wash
me clean</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-2134563793740528682013-12-30T12:16:00.000-06:002014-01-02T12:50:56.526-06:00If you want to know why<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSC8D3cmdBaZnyEzUaiaD0RkLWxHE5s__fsf4iKGNoAvEeKO-h9KgyN0PcAAqtrpqaQNJ0cki7VpN60g9H34e9K2O4zc1yX4FmLR5nnsCY65aERuaKd43khHhP5ix-uW40j63I1JT0qs/s1600/Mom+%2526+me+Circa+1960+Easter+Sunday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSC8D3cmdBaZnyEzUaiaD0RkLWxHE5s__fsf4iKGNoAvEeKO-h9KgyN0PcAAqtrpqaQNJ0cki7VpN60g9H34e9K2O4zc1yX4FmLR5nnsCY65aERuaKd43khHhP5ix-uW40j63I1JT0qs/s320/Mom+%2526+me+Circa+1960+Easter+Sunday.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/katieswift/" target="_blank"><br />
</a> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here we are, poised, as if nothing is wrong. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's Easter Sunday. I wear my new bonnet and white patten leather shoes. I hold a rose I have just cut from the bush behind us. Dad is an avid gardener and the bush is lush with blooms.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mom is thin, thinner than I have ever seen. I think she looks beautiful and I love my new dotted-swiss Easter dress. Mom makes sure I have a brand new dress every Easter Sunday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In a while, we'll go to church. We are Bapitst. We'll sit on the third row where we sit every Sunday, Daddy by the aisle, then Mama, then me. I'll have to pay attention because Daddy will want to know what I heard the preacher say later on.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">At home this afternoon, Daddy will grill steak and bake potatoes. We'll have hot Mrs. Baird's dinner rolls with butter and sweet iced tea. It'll be so good, my skin will jump up and holler Allelujah!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A month of Sundays goes by and today is Mother's Day. Daddy took me to the florist yesterday so I could buy Mama a present. He gave me the money I could spend and he sat in the car. I bought an orange miniature rose bush in an ivory French Provincial vase. It's plastic not real, but it will last forever. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After dinner I give her the flowers and she L.O.V.E.S. them. I'm really proud of myself. On these kinds of days, I almost feel my skin letting down. I think maybe I don't need to worry all the time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But before my food gets through my bowels, I hear it:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> "Stupid Whore!" Daddy's yelling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> "Stop it, Gene!" Mama's crying. And Daddy's pushing her down the hall, stiffing his finger into her breast bone, shoving her shoulder back with the palm of his hand, slapping her face and calling her all kinds of ugly names until she falls. Then he throws the roses, vase and all at the wall beside her head.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I run to her. I pick up the roses, their wire roots jutting through green florist's foam. The whole bush has fallen out, but the vase has not broken.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Fifty years later, taking the gift down from the secretary in my Mother's room, I finger the vase, blow dust off the orange blooms. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <b>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</b> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Will you spend $50 to help me help women like my mother become formidable, deny such abuse and thrive? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Come to my benefit luncheon, book reading and signing at <b>Viva! Books, Jan 11, 2014.</b> Most proceeds above costs go to benefit the <a href="http://www.kcwstexas.org/" target="_blank">Kendall County Women's Shelter. </a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/formidablewoman" target="_blank">Click here for event details.</a> </span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Call <span style="font-size: large;"><b>210.826.1143 </b></span>to reserve your space. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Make a matching donation online here: <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.kcwstexas.org/on-line-donations.html" target="_blank">Kendall County Women's Shelter</a> </span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Please mention <b>"Viva! Benefit"</b> when you make your donation.</span><br />
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-18326908087536798872013-10-16T20:56:00.001-05:002013-10-19T11:11:48.985-05:00Being Present with guest artists and commentary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhD0JmT9I5a4nfzhP38Uohs83FBJLv5Ro7kp4gtiX7QUDFw3l3gvVWdQety7OgdWqL5zTgqeAqhDaDftZBb29GMRwSverkqwuC2j5iw-elyhmsQLt-ep-HIZlg2vWE6eeoLmYw6rof0o/s1600/RedStamen72w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhD0JmT9I5a4nfzhP38Uohs83FBJLv5Ro7kp4gtiX7QUDFw3l3gvVWdQety7OgdWqL5zTgqeAqhDaDftZBb29GMRwSverkqwuC2j5iw-elyhmsQLt-ep-HIZlg2vWE6eeoLmYw6rof0o/s640/RedStamen72w.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<i>"Three Tongues," Suzanne Copleston.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Image used with gratitude & permission of the artist, copyright Suzanne Copleson, 2013. All rights reserved. Please visit <a href="http://www.endofmylens.com/" target="_blank">Ms. Copleston's website here </a>to view more of her beautiful work.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
Present Love<br />
<br />
Let love come unbidden<br />
in each moment's unfolding,<br />
like petals that open up around our feet<br />
the instant we step upon the ground.<br />
<br />
Let us meet others in the present--<br />
fresh,<br />
uncluttered--<br />
our hearts and minds reflecting<br />
Love's heart and mind.<br />
<br />
Let us not diminish into<br />
small views and perceptions,<br />
but step into our fullness,<br />
shaking off the dust of fear,<br />
separation, and outcome.<br />
<br />
We awake in present love.<br />
<br />
Desire only to reside there,<br />
buoyed by awakened sisters and brothers,<br />
a circle of love that vibrates,<br />
rippling outward, in a<br />
<br />
constant now. <br />
<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Guest Poet, Tina Karagulian from her collection <u>Under the Papaya Tree</u>, Black Rose Press, 2013. "Present Love" used by permission of the poet. All rights reserved.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/" target="_blank">Centering Prayer</a> is one way of "waking in present love." This method, taught by Fr. Thomas Keating, uses a centering word or phrase one chooses for the practice to bring the mind back to the present and to the practice of contemplation. I began to incorporate this method into my spiritual practice decades ago after reading Fr. Keating's book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Open-Mind-Heart-20th-Anniversary/dp/0826418899/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381973890&sr=1-4&keywords=centering+prayer+keating" target="_blank"><i>Open Mind Open Heart</i></a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Microcosmic focus on beauty is another way of being present and awake, as in this photograph. The artist, Georgia O'Keefe is said to have stated (paraphrased) that no one sees a flower, really. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In her poem, Ms. Karagulian urges us to "let love come unbidden." This line is most interesting to me as I have spent a good amount of energy throughout my life calling love, seeking love, practicing unloving behavior and calling it love. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In other words, being consumed by what is not Love, because as this poet suggests, Great Love comes unbidden. It simply is. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And it is fully present to us by grace when we awake. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">D. Ellis Phelps</span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-69414669568138798002013-10-02T17:19:00.001-05:002013-10-02T17:23:32.308-05:00I. WAS. SHOCKED!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ05lYpLkHLWa0p1wWKHVZUuRGMy4hfSLToBqYw6ejWN4MNBAjwRqUzUbxX_Jn-cPXkodi8Pe554dq22J_z0ltwpd1itDgUVradBVz9krDmRVJZPolS9hYzL6DXkzxNIQy2XEsOpOyDmM/s1600/9448971716_0d65af56e9_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ05lYpLkHLWa0p1wWKHVZUuRGMy4hfSLToBqYw6ejWN4MNBAjwRqUzUbxX_Jn-cPXkodi8Pe554dq22J_z0ltwpd1itDgUVradBVz9krDmRVJZPolS9hYzL6DXkzxNIQy2XEsOpOyDmM/s640/9448971716_0d65af56e9_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammcox/" target="_blank">Samm Cox </a>via Creative Commons; <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/" target="_blank">some right reserved</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In late July this summer, I hit the floor--throwing up. Now this is an event I wouldn't usually choose to share publicly. Bear with me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After wet towels, a failed attempt at using a ten year old suppository drug for nausea (yes, my bowels had joined the circus), and several hours of said event: me, unable to get up, shaking uncontrollably, and with no signs of bodily control forthcoming, I begged my befuddled hubby, Earthman, to take me to the emergency room.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We arrived at the newly constructed Baptist Emergency Hospital in under ten minutes. This is the hospital we trusted. This was our hospital of choice. This was the CLOSEST hospital. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As I could barely speak, Earthman asked the receptionist, "Do you take Blue Cross Blue Shield?" This is the name of the company to whom we pay almost $2,000 per month for health care coverage. We have a PPO, which means we can choose our preferred provider from the insurance company's list of in-network providers without asking permission from a primary care doc. We also have a $2,500 annual deductible for each of us. I never meet this deductible. This expense equals approximately $29,000.00 annually out of our pockets. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I cannot say enough good here about how quickly and carefully the nurses and doctor on call helped me to feel better. After I'd given blood for routine lab work, urinated in a cup, answered a hundred questions between gags (do you know when you had your last tetanus shot?), absorbed two intravenous bags of normal saline and some very effective anti-nausea meds into my bloodstream, used every warm blanket they had in the warmer, and tried to keep the violent chills that assuaged my body from levitating me off the gurney for several hours, Earthman drove me home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thirty days passed. The familiar "explanation of benefits" from our beloved insurance company came in the mail I'm thinking, <i>Betcha I met my deductible this time</i>. Wrong. They had processed my claim as though I'd received services from an out-of-network provider. The amount "I might owe the provider" line read: $6,851.37.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I. WAS. SHOCKED!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here's the point: we had failed to ask the receptionist the <b>right</b> question.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The question all of us must remember to ask and tell all of our family members to remember to ask no matter what crisis or emergency we are facing is this: <b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>ARE YOU AN IN-NETWORK-PROVIDER & IS THE DOCTOR AN IN-NETWORK PROVIDER?</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I picked up the phone and dialed Blue Cross.<b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claims Rep: "It's all about the codes. See?"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Me: "Well. No. I was throwing up my eyeballs."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claims Rep: "Because they are so new, the provider you chose did not file and become an in-network provider until three days after your visit."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Me: " Isn't there a way to grandfather this visit in? Remember how we used to change our grades from a C to a B? Just takes an eraser and some balls!"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claims Rep: "Ask the hospital billing department if they have another provider number under which they can submit this claim.'</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Me: "Huh?"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claims Rep: "Plus they did not classify your visit as an emergency."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Me: "It's an emergency room. It says Emergency Room in bold, cobalt blue, neon lights right on the side of the building. Plus, IT WAS AN EMERGENCY!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And so the conversation went with the claims rep and then the same with the hospital billing rep who was quite helpful and finally understood that I was suffering from a pronounced panic attack and needed her immediate attention. She agreed to appeal the claim and would talk to the codes person about what codes they could use instead that would change the outcome of my "explanation of benefits."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I don't know how it worked, but it did. I now owe the hospital roughly $850. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'll have to finance this stomach ache, but </span>I'm okay with that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here's what is not okay: that the emergency room intake person did not instantly say, "Yes, we do take Blue Cross but we are not yet an in-network provider" and further explain what that would mean to us before they offered me treatment, further giving me directions to the nearest in-network provider emergency room. Also not okay: that the insurance codes are not clear and can be manipulated and are so nebulous in their interpretations so as to potentially cost me $6,000.00. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The fine print: all of this is my responsibility to know. When I am well and before I seek treatment, I am supposed to read every term and condition (how many times have you clicked "I agree" without reading these?) of every policy I own or contract I sign. In this case, I am also supposed to make a list of <b>preferred in-network providers </b>and hang it on the frig with my list of meds or carry it in my purse and then when I am deathly ill and perhaps my caregiver is beside himself with worry, I am supposed to remember said lists.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Okay. Will do. God forbid I'm unconscious.</span><br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-52497206198542777392013-09-29T14:43:00.001-05:002013-09-29T14:45:27.480-05:00beside this road<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5sb-NNwrsvUwOqvGyNfNi3lpq4QcdBlyWG82_acDDmBkeSg8U00OD1LDwBILrXqn04rfki5IVGxStFc7zoUt4xr65XsLx95ZRMh1m9pnJOw1ycnUzwn2sTUeO4D7jNThkXRGT_cwC5o/s1600/Deer+Carcass+Rib+Cage+9+13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5sb-NNwrsvUwOqvGyNfNi3lpq4QcdBlyWG82_acDDmBkeSg8U00OD1LDwBILrXqn04rfki5IVGxStFc7zoUt4xr65XsLx95ZRMh1m9pnJOw1ycnUzwn2sTUeO4D7jNThkXRGT_cwC5o/s640/Deer+Carcass+Rib+Cage+9+13.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">vultures </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">come and go</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">what follows </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">swarm </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">& stench</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">hollow </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">cage</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">crouching</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />beside this road</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">later the hogs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">will come & take</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">these remains </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-74459370609303082032013-09-27T15:42:00.001-05:002013-09-27T15:54:59.499-05:00Road Crew: four working; 25 watching<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaJvDhwDS97bMYR3FdkDfE1Sgl1oOmorDFcmgFiuvoyfkr_Axu-tFTmQKdYQzG0weZjlrH523ifyRpnbhiniyV8D0tkjrJhUcE_m2kzL2XSJBrlXKJMPmAYpPjqBvG3gn0L919blm738/s1600/Road+Crew.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaJvDhwDS97bMYR3FdkDfE1Sgl1oOmorDFcmgFiuvoyfkr_Axu-tFTmQKdYQzG0weZjlrH523ifyRpnbhiniyV8D0tkjrJhUcE_m2kzL2XSJBrlXKJMPmAYpPjqBvG3gn0L919blm738/s640/Road+Crew.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How many vultures does it take to keep the byways cleaned of carcass? I count twenty-nine here, the most, by the way, I've ever seen concentrated on one roadkill in my neighborhood. Must be slim-pickings this fall.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One Shamanic practitioner I know calls them the Peace Eagles, indicating their medicine. In the Hill Country, we call them the Road Crew. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I can just see them wearing their little florescent vests with the reflective strip and yellow hard hats. The three closest to the carcass work to clear the mess with shovels. The fourth one, further from the carcass, but still nearer than the others, leans on his broom. The ones nearer the fence and on the ground have just finished their shift of shoveling and are headed to the ice house for beer. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The ones sitting on the fence are supervisors. They graduated from A&M. :)</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-88745799695539537322013-08-25T12:49:00.002-05:002013-09-26T15:23:41.528-05:00Making Room for George: A Love Story (Balboa Press, 2013)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLl6hmDBRut7nthjsg1xHhM6ZnvErG4gn_cNgx1n79hgtt0evQuiKoGfAoMJNBqh7N2Z2vim8bLd7_vXuzKpG0ISJNJDHnARR5vPpSSVs-OrZm03qnGb_q4ksBlctn-b5bJyXoywZqW3Q/s1600/00-06+303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLl6hmDBRut7nthjsg1xHhM6ZnvErG4gn_cNgx1n79hgtt0evQuiKoGfAoMJNBqh7N2Z2vim8bLd7_vXuzKpG0ISJNJDHnARR5vPpSSVs-OrZm03qnGb_q4ksBlctn-b5bJyXoywZqW3Q/s400/00-06+303.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18324402-making-room-for-george" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Making Room for George: A Love Story" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1376425488m/18324402.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/703491159"> </a><br />
My first novel, based on real events, is a story of transformation. <br />
<br />
Bet Kinders’ father-in-law, George, is in trouble. His girlfriend is stealing from him and, it turns out, she has a pimp who’s threatening his life. While something has to be done, George moving in with Bet and her husband, Steve could prove to be more than the family can bear. <br />
<br />
<i>Making Room for George</i> explores how relationships shift in one woman’s life under the influence of sexual ambiguity, marriage and motherhood, parent-child role reversal, and redefining partnership. The book examines the roles played by upbringing, cultural pressure, addiction and self-denial in these relationships.<br />
<br />
Readers will be moved as Bet confronts her own demons, finds the way to self-acceptance, and learns the meaning of true love.<br />
<br />
This is a love story, tender and bittersweet. Readers, especially women, will rally behind, and be inspired by the heroine’s journey out of denial and into self-actualization.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7670977-d-ellis-phelps-goodreads-author">View all my reviews</a>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-58970112353565344632013-08-16T18:57:00.003-05:002013-08-16T19:12:49.609-05:00Guilt & Shame personified: a poem and commentary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEios-ZgcvyNFNd78eTlwSF9KZqc2BjGPblfmGeXZdc4W0nKylJ-z0Djc6QOL4UhXnYcqmmxXWWjUtig2xjzZSnwa_ov6ZtiieflzafsHCUSnCDm8fbEb14eGIHOQ14Q8Ap10fSK_STjF10/s1600/sheddingshame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEios-ZgcvyNFNd78eTlwSF9KZqc2BjGPblfmGeXZdc4W0nKylJ-z0Djc6QOL4UhXnYcqmmxXWWjUtig2xjzZSnwa_ov6ZtiieflzafsHCUSnCDm8fbEb14eGIHOQ14Q8Ap10fSK_STjF10/s400/sheddingshame.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://katarinasilva.redbubble.com/sets/88640/works/5869384-shedding-shame" target="_blank">"Shedding Shame," Katarina Silva </a><br />
image used with gratitude & permission of the artist,<br />
copyright Katarina Silva, 2013<br />
All rights reserved<br />
<br />
<a href="http://katarinasilva.redbubble.com/sets/88640/works/5869384-shedding-shame" target="_blank">Please visit Ms. Silva's website here to view more of her powerful work.</a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Guest blogger and poet:<br />
Kyndall Rae Renfro<br />
with commentary by D. Ellis Phelps<br />
<br />
<br />
Guilt, be slain, you false accuser,<br />
<i>ha-satan</i>, retreat, you devil . . .<br />
. . . or, might I show hospitality<br />
to my enemy? Give welcome at the door?<br />
What gift is hidden in your lurking<br />
presence? <i>None! None!</i><br />
cries my wounded child, huddled in fear,<br />
but, “Shh, shh, I will protect you from<br />
our visitor, even as I feed him bread.”<br />
I turn towards the intrusion,<br />
I want you dead and gone!<br />
But I look into your malevolent eyes instead<br />
and wonder what you’ll teach me<br />
as I refuse to cave under torment.<br />
You were going to come in anyway;<br />
might as well seat you at the table<br />
where I can see and study<br />
rather than be stabbed in the back.<br />
Your lips curve in sinister smile,<br />
but I have unnerved you, being so forward.<br />
I will force you to speak clearly.<br />
No sleepy whispers in black masks,<br />
no sneaking in through bedroom window.<br />
You will sit here in my lamp-lit rooms<br />
and I will hear your case, unflinching.<br />
In the inner folds of your long coat<br />
there is a tiny but brilliant diamond.<br />
I can tell by the way you finger the lining<br />
of your gruff garment and by the stance<br />
of your defensive posture that<br />
though you’ve come to pillage and plunder,<br />
you’ve got a prize of your own.<br />
All the stealing intended to distract me<br />
from noticing that what you are hiding<br />
belongs to me. I recognize its glint.<br />
Even through folds of fabric,<br />
it lets off a shine–<br />
it is the small and righteous truth,<br />
searing as the sun, that shame<br />
attempts to hide. It is the gift<br />
of my own vulnerability; it is the treasure<br />
of being who I am without any fear.<br />
Friends: You do not have to bar the door or<br />
wield a weapon; just out-trick the trickster, knowing,<br />
Shame never visits your house<br />
without a diamond in his trench coat.<br />
<br />
Kyndall Rae Renfro <br />
<br />
<br />
A teacher once said (and I believe this), that guilt is a form of self-inflicted punishment that allows the
“guilty” to continue some hurtful behavior (toward herself or another),
that the feeling of guilt is a signal to cease that behavior and ask
forgiveness (of the self or another).<br />
<div class="comment-content">
I really struggled to grasp the meaning of this teaching. I learned,
like you, that guilt is also a teacher and that I have much to learn
from the experience of it.</div>
<br />
After my current understanding of guilt as “permission to repeat hurtful
behavior,” arrived, I made a vow to banish guilt from my life by
amending my behavior. Yes, I had done some things to others for which I
needed to ask their forgiveness, but most of the damage I had done (and
sometimes continue to do), I did in the form of insidious
self-destruction: Anorexia, alcohol and drug abuse, engagement in toxic
relations and on and on and on. In my recovery, guilt is not welcome;
only acknowledgement of a mistake made and a new intention to change the
mistaken behavior. Over and over again. That is all.<br />
<br />
D. Ellis Phelps </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-78559910378640685012013-08-08T14:57:00.002-05:002013-08-08T14:57:37.974-05:00Stillness: the best medicine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
How rare.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZOXlc1lK8o9I9zOdW3jKLcNJXHxfEvj7-PgShS-BcF1GXjp6RFRKO2P_1XwTir0FoVZcJ_beHxzLygkQkhv7HwmAgi0p-8ZuHN0DZeu1miQ-6vgI6EcaAA-P2zNFi7XgL0m8O_oF8gA/s1600/Addorondacks+on+the+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZOXlc1lK8o9I9zOdW3jKLcNJXHxfEvj7-PgShS-BcF1GXjp6RFRKO2P_1XwTir0FoVZcJ_beHxzLygkQkhv7HwmAgi0p-8ZuHN0DZeu1miQ-6vgI6EcaAA-P2zNFi7XgL0m8O_oF8gA/s640/Addorondacks+on+the+beach.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Traffic chugs along in streams. Sirens scream. Dishes, children,
ambitions demand attention. <br />
<br />
Our caffeine and adrenaline saturated blood
surges through arterial rivers. Daily news, daily chores, daily
posts.<br />
<br />
Behind heavy lids past midnight, minds wander the subconscious but we
do not rest. Our culture is hooked on doing, hooked on “connecting.”<br />
<br />
Do we have more or less for all of this? I say: less. <br />
<br />
And deep social anxiety is the tragic outcome.<br />
<br />
I received an email today from a prominent social change network that
(paraphrased) said: “We were hacked and shut down for several hours.
To be shut down for an entire day would be disastrous!” Of course, they
asked for a donation from conscious supporters to keep this from
happening again.<br />
<br />
Please, shut it down. Please, let us all shut down. Go outside.
Sit. Dig our feet into the mud and lean hard against the trunk of the
oak. Listen and breathe. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-58066943735822763412013-08-08T14:54:00.001-05:002013-08-08T14:54:32.883-05:00what i learned today<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUThpSo7bl5dKQsFomhqj4B30dOfsaZy6zbc26iIHA1m9v5VBXBI4Wnn0esqk6WmHQPSNTYZ0kYJVTtyF65jGWsvIKBVONupUyn137jDWMCvXw2xFICjyYDn7ZZKMb24lXCUm9cNDJL4/s1600/new+cloud+formation+western+sky+5+6+2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUThpSo7bl5dKQsFomhqj4B30dOfsaZy6zbc26iIHA1m9v5VBXBI4Wnn0esqk6WmHQPSNTYZ0kYJVTtyF65jGWsvIKBVONupUyn137jDWMCvXw2xFICjyYDn7ZZKMb24lXCUm9cNDJL4/s640/new+cloud+formation+western+sky+5+6+2010.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
that twenty minutes of contemplative prayer/meditation can completely
relieve the perception of pain previously unrelieved by medication</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-3969907689145603752013-08-08T14:50:00.002-05:002013-08-08T14:52:06.826-05:00what I learned today<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-Gsf3jvER1mRgGfXqUfmETTJMblh0fjXzNWzJwujCpMDxr42TuFTrQaAYpeQfRqMzDeKwXWXkpTviBiqUfY6Bco4-6NsMo6qpe2M436xouPAUrEX6j0sZIfn3i3fSq63xvocbWvl2ag/s1600/Barrell+Cactus+Blooms+close+up.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-Gsf3jvER1mRgGfXqUfmETTJMblh0fjXzNWzJwujCpMDxr42TuFTrQaAYpeQfRqMzDeKwXWXkpTviBiqUfY6Bco4-6NsMo6qpe2M436xouPAUrEX6j0sZIfn3i3fSq63xvocbWvl2ag/s640/Barrell+Cactus+Blooms+close+up.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
that, given fresh rain and a full moon, a lily pad will grow ten to twelve inches in one day (of course, this is a barrel cactus bloom and not a lily)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-68903646993938348832013-08-08T12:51:00.000-05:002013-08-08T12:52:39.289-05:00what i learned today<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymPKvhOMyPiohyphenhyphen1L7vQAKjNJy1iYSSgQ4Yw2-wC7ur3fIwzcjuIBXBvrloR_ZQ26XXkF0MdIV3smaRF0VReW-_Dj6t7jyWf1fcySYmXKAqMCZSX9pwdJE_NCch7NDw5x-QCumOvgquNc/s1600/DSC02151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymPKvhOMyPiohyphenhyphen1L7vQAKjNJy1iYSSgQ4Yw2-wC7ur3fIwzcjuIBXBvrloR_ZQ26XXkF0MdIV3smaRF0VReW-_Dj6t7jyWf1fcySYmXKAqMCZSX9pwdJE_NCch7NDw5x-QCumOvgquNc/s640/DSC02151.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
that a man who believes he must kill to survive cannot risk an open heart</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-35970364279601740892013-04-20T19:31:00.000-05:002013-04-20T19:44:57.826-05:00Raising the Energy of Love: Affirmative Practice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:TargetScreenSize>800x600</o:TargetScreenSize>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyo-F8PiKPma5_Oq170-hNLnGpIOeayVPsDP5HmwlJAC6rBTnmoWdNTvNXfayOMaIxQuV5WtLIsT8Bybcl3XmNgVjrl2RKzrUokQDBL0mT8jf1D9N5oYPAKcrMyxT8vs9eVk2dWYAEUA/s1600/MC900441234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyo-F8PiKPma5_Oq170-hNLnGpIOeayVPsDP5HmwlJAC6rBTnmoWdNTvNXfayOMaIxQuV5WtLIsT8Bybcl3XmNgVjrl2RKzrUokQDBL0mT8jf1D9N5oYPAKcrMyxT8vs9eVk2dWYAEUA/s320/MC900441234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Artist Unknown<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
“Prayer
is most effectively sent when each person in the world ‘raises their energy of
love’ by imagining a scene where the peoples of the world are living in peace…I
have decided to call out to my fellow global citizens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us pray by putting our hands together in
the prayer position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[You must] start
praying for yourself, [then] something will definitely change in yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when more and more of your fellow men
[and women] change in the same way, your surroundings will change, society will
change, the country will change and the world will change…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 6;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Masaru Emoto </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
Try using these affirmations as a way of "raising your energy of [Self] love." At first, these may seem simplistic statements, redundant even. But if you allow yourself to simply focus the mind in this way, paying attention only to these words, taking a deep breath between each line or phrase, focusing on the breath and bringing the mind back when it wanders to focus only on these words and the breath, you will notice a shift in your vibrational frequency for the better. This is subtle work, but its effect is powerful. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
If possible, find a quiet space. Perhaps you will light a candle to signify sacred time. No worries if you have only five minutes. Practice affirmations for five minutes then. Try repeating the affirmations several times daily as a practice for training the mind. Then, when apparent crisis seems present, you will be able to summon the affirmations as a way of calming and centering. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
If you find that you do not believe what you are saying (reading) in the affirmations, simply tell the mind, "I notice that my mind does not yet believe these statements. Nevertheless, I state them now as Truth, denying the power of any disbelief." </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:TargetScreenSize>800x600</o:TargetScreenSize>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am breathing now</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am breath</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am the breathing</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am forgiving now</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am forgiven now</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am the forgiving</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am whole now</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am the wholeness</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am the whole</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am healing now</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am the healing</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am the healer</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am opening now</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am open now</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am the opening</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am aligning now</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am aligned now</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am the alignment</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am present now</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am the present </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am the Presence</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am flowing now</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am the flow</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am the flowing</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I rock</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am rocked</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am the rocking</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I root</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am rooted</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am the rooting</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I reach</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am reached</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I am the reaching</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I touch, I am touched, I am the touching</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I stretch, I am stretched, I am the stretching</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
I lengthen, I am lengthened, I am the lengthening</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
In wholeness All is Unified, Here is now, Now is here, All is
Now.</div>
<br /><br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-57450514000308123572013-01-04T16:41:00.002-06:002013-09-26T15:28:46.150-05:00What if...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh709zp840bceuEG1ZRQsx6kKQnXaFLvV40MLf55ndmR-0ijDpHHSX9CPEUDQf3fgU0Hm-K3g99F1RJUKDM96yCiwA58lDQ6jZ8DaaomZ4slSHf4zC_wlB617X_BauzzdhecAdNMMhtCHs/s1600/wizards+on+silk-Interactive.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh709zp840bceuEG1ZRQsx6kKQnXaFLvV40MLf55ndmR-0ijDpHHSX9CPEUDQf3fgU0Hm-K3g99F1RJUKDM96yCiwA58lDQ6jZ8DaaomZ4slSHf4zC_wlB617X_BauzzdhecAdNMMhtCHs/s640/wizards+on+silk-Interactive.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Wizards" drawn on <a href="http://weavesilk.com/" target="_blank">weave silk</a> interactive, generative software</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
What if my art, making art, being in my studio, with, present to myself, present to my Self, present to the Creative Life Force is not about making money or gaining recognition at all. What if it is about doing my soul-work? What if it is literally, physically about saving my life?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-4637883085257496662012-04-05T17:11:00.000-05:002013-09-26T16:30:08.957-05:00"ambiance of salt and sorrow"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDcVnXpYhZEBsW35X7MKgZ1t_om5iHSsRyoNVBJ0Up3GV-i9vtJxPY3KXfUJEvMrbp7Q_J1LPpdcHU8uJfezWFFnKPSDTTR4WIgtkeYvkEJ1LLbdwm5bdhcY0ZLyGALwVhoBLYQR2JEY/s1600/Blog+Shots+Naked+in+the+Woods-029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDcVnXpYhZEBsW35X7MKgZ1t_om5iHSsRyoNVBJ0Up3GV-i9vtJxPY3KXfUJEvMrbp7Q_J1LPpdcHU8uJfezWFFnKPSDTTR4WIgtkeYvkEJ1LLbdwm5bdhcY0ZLyGALwVhoBLYQR2JEY/s1600/Blog+Shots+Naked+in+the+Woods-029.jpg" /></a></div>
photo courtesy of Creative Commons by AloneAlbatross via Flickr, <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/" target="_blank">some rights reserved</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
there is nothing more<br />
than this:<br />
<br />
a peptide<br />
an impulse<br />
<br />
an ambiance of salt<br />
---and sorrow after<br />
<br />
the dying<br />
<br />
three<br />
a trinity<br />
a tripod of days<br />
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-75010992453146557352012-03-01T18:56:00.001-06:002013-09-26T17:32:53.462-05:00"lust in my mouth"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMXNLF5JKTYoegzYJTVEGRw7uh2ErLw7gTeBfC2KBaUVYsGQ012t7jqlFQjCKLnDbLkUPlGwVDnltyXfphYYv_ycFOw6KpqR7zQZd9bQzbFM_6VlAxHvfiMz2HLiDTMPzURmkaOk4TTc/s1600/Mountain+Laurel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMXNLF5JKTYoegzYJTVEGRw7uh2ErLw7gTeBfC2KBaUVYsGQ012t7jqlFQjCKLnDbLkUPlGwVDnltyXfphYYv_ycFOw6KpqR7zQZd9bQzbFM_6VlAxHvfiMz2HLiDTMPzURmkaOk4TTc/s400/Mountain+Laurel.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">sweet scent </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">lend me a moment</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">dangle</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">purple lust</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">in my mouth</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">a breath </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">my nostrils flare</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">and quiver</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632935770827575159.post-25632288354182048242012-02-21T15:25:00.000-06:002013-09-26T17:33:44.065-05:00"i am not alone in this"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style> <![endif]--> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPK-cvNRLmPrvXOTZHL6duU5AW_XvfOoi8J_3Gncr62VNvr3sUmiEGMWT9y8LgpfOGvgZc5HRx1Q8vyGTg5nQvlIOe-5wbX4HMq4w5TMNk8o1z-sV6GQ-p5G_JJ0-seNObeEeHWaeZ0M/s1600/Berries.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPK-cvNRLmPrvXOTZHL6duU5AW_XvfOoi8J_3Gncr62VNvr3sUmiEGMWT9y8LgpfOGvgZc5HRx1Q8vyGTg5nQvlIOe-5wbX4HMq4w5TMNk8o1z-sV6GQ-p5G_JJ0-seNObeEeHWaeZ0M/s320/Berries.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a telling bell</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
from <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>another realm</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
half-wakes me</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(i am not alone</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
in this)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a slug—i stumble</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
answering the call </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
then the light</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
—a dim remembering</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
~<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>~<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>~</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
now</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the sun </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the ground</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a niche</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
berries—a cadmium flash</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
—mob </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the sky</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09900723856972555820noreply@blogger.com0