For Young Journeys

Somewhere between here and here,

this song flew by me,

and I acknowledged it much like

one appreciates a sunset while quickly driving home from work.

You know - those fleeting moments of appreciation of majesty

but without any real "a-ha" or depth or change,

more just, "oh so pretty - yes, nature, world, big, awesome..."

and then my thoughts speed quickly through the Universe's red light

to notice something

and I bounce house bounce along with the random fluctuations of my mind

to think about dinner, tv, work, stress, money, time...

crap.


Then September,

why, September, it just quite simply

bitch-slapped me!


I thought this has been a

[lip pout, indulgent arms crossed]

hard year.


Oy vey, Filoli!


Then September...which actually requires a flashback to April.

(stay with me)


April was a hard month with Eva's surgery and the adoption issues

and I was not to pleased to go to a friend's baby shower.

The baby shower that was exactly a year from her previous baby shower for her twins.

Yes, you read that right - twins and now another surprise baby.

I wasn't bitter - but disengaged, reluctant, sullen, emotional,

let's just some it all up as shitty.

(okay, maybe bitter)


Back to September -

where I am walking across a green lawn,

sprinkled with headstones,

every step moving closer to a black tent,

arcing over the tiniest blue casket,

with baby blue balloons gently rocking in the wind.



In this moment,

In this time,

I fell to my knees and promised

I will never again be an asshole about attending another baby shower.

I will never miss this mystery, this grace, this blessing

of community and hope - again.

I never want to be this knotted-soul again.


And I heard Joan singing,

"

Compassion is the fire
That burns the hurt
That pains the soul
And though my eyes are so polluted
By the sight of lost desires
I can see you standing by.

"


Then Alpha...and the CT Scan...

and this song became less of a meditation

and more of a battle cry.




Then now,

(yesterday, today and tomorrow)

known today, right now

and this song is a rhythm

that reflects all moments -

big and small.


Sometimes the tragedy is small and silly,

sometimes it is vast and encompassing.

But in all times,


it is

"good to have you in these times."


So, now sometimes when I practice yoga, I practice with music.

And this song is usually - almost always - my 2nd to last song.

And last night and today and tomorrow,

I will sing it for you,

for us,

for all of us,

because it is us.

(in my humble opinion)



So, ahem,

[throat clearing],

I serenade you,

and hopefully others will join in as well...

(because it is for them too)






These are the times
Tears fill the back of your eyes
These are the times
The birds migrate
Across the skies

These are the times
What hope you had you forget
These wicked times
You're bound to feel
All sanity is lost

In these times everyone needs love
In these times do you pray to God

In these times everyone needs comfort
And would welcome a hand to hold
Compassion is the fire
That burns the hurt
That pains the soul

And though my eyes are so polluted
By the sight of lost desires
I can see you standing by

This is my fear
That distance will come between us
And it could mean nothing
Nothing
To get from here to there

We own the world
And everything that's in it
Let our love shine
Like glistening raindrops
Resting on a rose

In these times celebrate our love
In these times let's be thankful of
All the days we can spend together
And I'm happy to hold your hand
Your passion is the food
That feeds the hunger in my heart

And now my eyes are clearly open
No more longing for the past

Now I have you in these times

In these times everyone needs love
In these times do you pray to God

In these times everyone needs comfort
And would welcome a hand to hold
Your passion is the fire
That burns the hurt
That pains the soul

And though my eyes are so polluted
By the sight of lost desires
Good to have you in these times