Tag: Truth
When Praying
It starts with stopping
and then a deep breath –
the kind that really fills you,
and reaches to the bottom of things.
When you begin to settle
and peace starts to bloom,
you wait.
There is nothing to say.
It is a time to listen.
The longings will arise
and you simply hold them.
With grace and acceptance,
you lift them –
first to your heart,
and then up in surrender.
It is this gesture,
this gathering of yourself
which connects you to
who you are.
For there is no separation
between you and God.
You are a drop of water
in God’s ocean.
You belong –
and all it takes
is listening and bowing
to remember this
and be healed
of want and need.
Copyright© Cynthia Cady Stanton, 2018
As We Grow
As we grow,
we broaden.
An infant sees only
what is right in front of them –
their vision limited
to what is within the fish bowl.
An older person
can see beyond the protection
of those early limits…
This is the gift of wisdom.
Wisdom sees what is
and what is beyond –
its vision, earned.
Its gift,
one of liberation.
Wisdom’s glow may be hidden
under a weathered face
and broken body…
but it is present,
and lights with warmth
within the older heart.
So, dare not to discount
the mature among you…
for ignoring that inner glow,
is a loss akin to
walking past a beautiful sunset
on a gorgeous day
and missing the message
written in the sand
below your feet.
When a mature one
crosses your path,
let wisdom arise
and bless you.
Copyright© Cynthia Cady Stanton, 2018
Each One, A Mountain
Everyone has something…
It is a mantra that is inwardly voiced
more and more
as I get older.
We each have our own brand of challenge.
As life progresses,
these challenges unfold
and introduce themselves.
Sometimes they swallow us up
with the force of a big ocean wave…
Or, they might creep upon us
like a spreading mold.
We get to choose
how to respond
when our personal mountain
shows up.
For some,
the mountain may be too vast
to climb alone –
so we bring loving souls with us.
For others,
the mountain may be a series of hills
which warrants a solo journey –
each vista building strength within.
We may fool ourselves, thinking
that our mountain
is bigger than anyone else’s –
that somehow,
our mountain warrants
special attention…
But as we mature,
and build our climbing muscles,
our compassionate heart opens,
our personal nature fades,
and our vision widens
to see what others endure.
Our climbing becomes
the road to awakening
to what this life
is all about.
Yes, we each have a mountain –
especially designed for our own unfolding…
but as we meet it,
with grace and courage,
the vista that comes,
connects us to the
suffering of others.
This is the stuff of
a life well-lived.
So, I bow to my mountain –
giving thanks for its lessons…
for without its presence,
I would walk with blinders on,
tripping on my own feet,
and all alone.
Copyright© Cynthia Cady Stanton, 2018
All The Ways
All the ways,
I hide from You…
All the ways,
I run.
The wisdom within
continues to wait, to instruct, but –
all the ways
stay stuck.
I fool myself daily, thinking
all the ways
work for me.
They seem to make sense
on the surface, but
living with them
and holding onto them,
trips me up.
I long for
all Your ways…
all Your ways of freedom
of grace,
of truth,
of Love.
I catch glimpses of these.
Sometimes, I am actually
held by their vision,
warmed by their touch,
inspired and lifted
by their presence.
In those moments,
I remember
all the ways
You are present, and
then I know
all the ways
to be.
Copyright© Cynthia Cady Stanton, 2018
Shift Your Perspective
The Stickiness of Unhealthy Habits
Holy, Holy
Not one of us is perfect.
Not one of us is fully formed.
We are but buds on the stem,
and wobbly saplings,
with thirsty roots –
searching for ground.
Every day,
we come up short in some way.
We offend our intentions,
allowing the pain within
to attach more deeply.
Our path is littered with
all we have dropped,
despite all the trying
on the way to perfect.
To heal,
we turn around,
and gaze upon the lessons…
We pick them up,
one at a time,
and lift them to our heart.
In the lifting, we proclaim:
Holy, holy.
Holy, holy.
Now touched by grace,
we can turn around, facing forward –
and begin again –
reminded of what it feels like
to be held.
Copyright© Cynthia Cady Stanton, 2018
Message Received
My love went for a walk yesterday.
It was a sunny day and
the trees were singing.
Each step was an affirmation
of a beautiful day.
Walking is a wonderful way to connect
to the divine,
to our higher purpose.
The rhythm of movement
works like a physical mantra:
I move forward from my center. I connect to the ground.
As our muscles propel us,
our heart is lifted,
and we breathe in life,
like a hungry balloon.
Walking gives us the perfect visual
of the spiritual journey…
Sometimes there are bumps to avoid
and hills to climb
or descend.
We are careful not to trip.
Along the way,
we notice things –
the beauty of the trees,
the dogs being walked,
the smiles of our neighbors.
Walking gives our minds a chance
to wander, too –
to ponder the deep things
while our legs do their work.
On this particular journey,
my love, in a pensive moment,
content with his journey,
and the thoughts nourishing,
looked down.
On the ground was a paper,
and like a message from the beyond,
it spoke these words:
“I am Love.”
And just like that,
everything connected.
His heart soared skyward and
the message was received
deeply blessing his soul.
Copyright© Cynthia Cady Stanton, 2018
Each Day a Wonder
As morning unfolds,
and the sun dares to rise,
my heart is full of gratitude.
Even on a Monday,
with the weekly list beginning to crowd me,
I am lifted.
Though still a spiritual infant,
I have now finally learned,
the gift of a day,
a moment.
Rising from slumber,
springing from under the covers…
well, that is what each day offers –
what the whole journey affords,
moment by moment.
I wake with gratitude,
allowing for transformation,
as my feet touch the floor.
Copyright@ Cynthia Cady Stanton, 2018
Becoming and Beholding 