fill thy mouth with laughing

The danger below.

Down here, it's very deep and thick,
and covered with rock and stone.
The digging takes years, perhaps a lifetime,
and parts of a person are often lost along the way.
It's dangerous this far below,
but somewhere down here is a measure of truth,
just a bit of real honesty,
and if it takes a wound or two to reach that truth,
that's not too high of a price to pay.
Stone to the left and stone to the right.
Darkness and rock.
And only the strength of one human soul
to rely upon.

james lee jobe 

Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.

Job 8:21

Zen is not a particular state but the normal state: silent, peaceful, unagitated.          

Taisen Deshimaru



Philip Glass, GLASSWORKS

yes, I can do this.

the white walls of the city are always giving off sound -Georg Trakl

listen now - can you hear it?
that's the sound of another soul deciding to be born
choosing to enter a body and live
one more human lifetime of toil and suffering
and yes, of happiness and love
it is the sound of light when it floods the darkness
and fear is cast off, when someone looks around
and says, "yes, i can do this"
it is grace and humanity, the human experience
the white walls of the city
are there for more than just mere protection
my friend, they are there to echo the sounds of hope

james lee jobe

I tell you the past is a bucket of ashes. 

Carl Sandburg

Deep in the blankets of midnight I can hear the voice of life as she calls my name.

james lee jobe 

Just because people are unkind to you doesn't mean you have to be unkind back. That's how the world changes — one brave person like you being kind. 

Bryant McGill

Wake now, morning has returned, which delights the night.

The deep silver of polished light. bees, in their silence. 

The gentle feather ruffle of bird wing. 

The sword that slices the darkness and stirs even the river.

The first brave smile of a new day,

The first naked kiss of the erect dawn.

Crystals. diamonds. a glint of that gold not born of greed.

Sunbeams past the cold, dark mountain,

The valley born again in the bright hope of renewal.

Wake now, god is alive and calls to the trees.

Wake now, the angels that watch over you are praying.

This is the hour of mindfulness,

embraced by the needs of our bodies and souls.

Our time, birthed in faith, baptized in honesty.

Wake now. rise with me again, life awaits us.

james lee jobe 

Peter Gabriel, Biko

When you notice yourself leaning into the future, tensing up, trying to predict what will happen, straining to figure out what to do, whether on your own or with others, see if you can actually physically rest back….This can support your mind to rest back, release, and let be.

Kaira Jewel Lingo

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jlj