I remember the evening
that we sat clinging
to paper cups
of coffee gone cold

over secrets spilled and memories told
two bodies cursed
with hearts grown old

behind your eyes
I found new worlds
A winding road stretched out for miles
to a small cafe at the end of the isle

Sweet pastries filled the mouths
of those who sat beside us
and stayed for a while.

How the hours went by,
people just passing through
The descending sun ending
a forever with you.

We’re taught that real learning is found in structured classrooms
with strict curriculum,
Where old textbooks are graffitied with the names of lost loves and broken dreams
And young social animals
try to find their place within their peers hierarchy

But maybe learning is more than what we find
within the dark halls of school
Maybe learning is truly out there in the real world

It's not all about acing tests
And a perfect GPA
Life’s about
Becoming more human,
Trying, risking, possibly failing
And growing through it all….
And even in our darkest times,
deciding to not close our hearts

School teaches us a lot about competition and perfected performance,
But maybe we ought to reach for something beyond this
Book smarts are vital,
Yet I think we need something more--
Possibly,
A real world education for our hearts.

I got a shimmering glimpse into eternity
It was so bright I could barely see
Compared to the world I know,
Eternity is a dazzling diamond
Shining brilliantly
While earthly existence
Is a dark coal,
Hard like asphalt,
Unyielding and cruel.

I want to hook myself into
a wire of sorts
So I can plug into
the Eternal
Whenever I want,
Which of course,
is always.

Sometimes, do you feel like you spiral?
Like your sadness is a whirlpool ******* you in?
I know,
Because I feel that,
Often

But then I remind myself
That I have more control than I think
I have so very much to be grateful for,
And it's on these things I must dwell

Some days, when my mood is low
I just have to be gentle with myself
and go with the flow
It's difficult
Because I'm used to pushing myself
to feel happy all the time
But maybe I'm getting tired of the act,
Maybe I'm making peace
With not being okay.

Sand brown walls,
Quiet,
Spacious,
The lights of christmas adornments
Travel through the floor to ceiling windows

I sit in silent wonder,
The children are asleep
I feel my body,
In this vast
Empty expanse

This silence makes me think of things,
It makes me wonder

I open the sliding glass door
To see is darkness weaving its way through towering trees
I look up in awe,
Surrendered reverence
To a world not quite seen
But enveloping the one I know
Through my mind and senses

But I can still feel this other world
Whispering to me
Bestowing me with a desire to explore this greater reality
Almost as if I were a visionary,
Seeking to merge with the Divine
In wholeness,
To experience completion

I closed the door, for now
But I will go back,
I will do more than visit
I want to vibrantly exist there
While still fully human
On this earth,
A human vessel
Carrying the Divine within,
Pouring it generously out
Onto anyone who asks for it.

No,
I say
Nah, it couldn't be
Yeah, my insecurities are wrecking me
Keeping me safe,
Or so I thought
Yeah,
The most uncertain aspect of my life
Includes you

But tonight
I'll make a calculated jump,
Anyway,
I've been making a lot of leaps lately
Trusting that something will catch me

Cause I know I'll have to take some risks,
To get to where I want to be.