What Lies Beyond, Part Twenty Seven

The Hurt Will Remain Until The Joy

Joan Ann Lansberry

April 14, 1999

digitally altered photo - ©JAL, 1999

April 15, 1999

What Redeems Them What did I find when I went to the edge of the cliff and looked out? Every high hope at arms length and below, the shattered remains of the ones that fell. But I can live with that. The glinty shards sparkle like gems in the sunlight. How is it something born of pain can bring beauty? Far away I can see what transforms them. It is faith mixed with love and a touch of grace. It'll not need the hard grip of hatred. For what redeems them is that they did exist whole, even while mid flight. Such life as that should not be denied. JAL, 4-15-99

April 18, 1999

Seeking Peace In a World of Turmoil

Seeking Peace All about us, a thousand rages, and none the same. a thousand rages, and all the same. We are we to tell the difference? Can we? Can we let fall this indescribable heaviness? When it falls, it will ring loud, like a gong crashing. When it falls, we will let leave of it with relief. We will let space define these things, these things and the falling, and the way it must happen. Let there not be the wringing of hands over this. Let it simply fall. It will if we let it. Or do we become more angry ourselves, one anger begetting another? Then we need to let drop what is angry within. Let it all fall, the inner and outer rages. There is no understanding so large that releasing it will not make it greater. So it has been, So it will ever be. JAL, 4-18-99

April 19, 1999

Peaceful Sky

Rainbow cloud seen 4-18-99

April 30, 1999

Thoughts After a Brisk Walk Race running toward higher energy spells, I might leap off and touch the moon. I might, breathless, be in your eyes the flash of light ripping through the sky, I might. JAL, 4-30-99

May 1, 1999

(With visions of clouds and leaping towards the moon, that I've had lately, this quote arrived serendiptiously in an e-mail I received this morning.)

"For once you have tasted flight, you will walk this earth with your eyes turned skyward; for there you have been, and there you long to return." -- Leonardo da Vinci

May 4, 1999

Conversation With the Muse Complaint So mad, so mad at the incoherent depths that will not order themselves. I see the yellow, green, and blue, the reds that would make into something of beauty. But they are all jumbled, smeared together in a nasty heap, and I can't do a thing with them! Answer I see the frustration here - After all, you are just one in the crowd and no more. And you wanted to scale the heights from those depths. After all, there is a level that will not rise. And you are there. You can't beat your wings fast enough. But what WOULD you do for a piece of wisdom? There is no gold that may purchase it. Simply open the hands of your heart. The hurt will remain until the joy. Does it take so great a risk, this opening? Ah, but everything always does. How many times do I have to tell you this?

May 10, 1999

Anton and Cynthia gave us a lovely fiber light floral arrangement for Mother's Day. The light travels through the fibers embedded within the flowers, changing colors as it travels. It's mesmerizing to watch.