Categories
Update for visitors

Growing Pains

With every new life that is born, even a virtual one, there are growing pains. With the birthing of this web site ( yes, I see many things in terms of birth…it’s the Labor and Delivery Nurse in me…) there has been ample opportunity to expand, adjust, problem-solve and find creative solutions.

One of the first emerging challenges has been the inability of visitors to this site to leave comments. Many of you have attempted to leave words of encouragement, response and interaction only to be greeted with a blocked message of “suspected bot.”

The good news is you are not a bot! My fabulous “tech guy” has made the crooked places straight in the outworking of this blog page and henceforth….( ta-da-da-da!!!) you shall all be able to leave a comment.

Thank-you to all who have been visiting and hanging out here over the last few days. Between 200-300 people have been here with the most volume of 100 being on Saturday, September 19.

Thank-you for growing with me, pains and all. You are all part of a very exciting time in my life and one of the reasons I was born on this planet. I look forward to catching up with your comments, knowing you are here. May you be inspired to step out into your own new time. Remember, growing pains mean you are growing.

“If your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme.” (Song by Cliff Edwards, sung by Jiminy Cricket.)

Growing with my grandchildren…
Categories
Poetry

Full-Term

Final day of Summer

and I muse on the breezes …

Like the Spirit Who blows

wherever He pleases.

A certain sadness nearby

as her exit draws near

For Summer’s fully-ripened presence

has been fulfilled here.

And I sense her travail

to bring about a new birth

As the faint signs of Autumn

appear on the earth.

We embrace one last day

while she bears down with her all

For in just a few hours,

she will bring forth fall.

Chrisoriley 2020

Categories
Poetry

Not over Yet

Crisp and roaring,

Freshly tuned and standing on tiptoes

is the symphonic choral assembly

of deep September crickets,

announcing to my glad heart

That it’s not over yet.

Summer.

Chris O’Riley 2020

Categories
General Information

You Never Know

So, you never know when it will happen…one life intersects with another and wonder shows up unexpectedly, brilliantly illuminating the moment.

I was shopping in CVS the other day, singing along with the music being piped into the store. I had joined in with Peter Cetera’s crooning of the “Glory of Love,” and suddenly I heard another voice singing to me on the inside,”Like a knight in shining armor from a long time ago, just in time I will save the day, take you to my castle far away…” The affection of my Papa in Heaven was breaking through in the words that were carrying me to another place.

I did not realize the music had stopped as I continued to sing, alone, I thought, in the back aisle: “You are the One Who will fight for my honor.You are the hero I’ve been dreaming of. We’ll live forever, knowing together that we did it all for the glory of Your Love…” My heart was smiling as the song ended.

Moments later I was standing in the front checkout line. A woman standing behind me asked, “Excuse me, was that you singing in the back aisle there a little bit ago?” I smiled and nodded. Her face relaxed into a full relaxed expression as she continued…” you have a beautiful voice. You gave me a very precious moment in my day. I really needed that.” I thanked her and told her that her words were kind. She was emphatic,”Well, I call it like I see it. That was very meaningful.”

And all at once that heavenly affection that I was feeling on the inside leaked to the outside. I couldn’t help it. I told her,”Even on my worst day, and in the middle of all the weirdness around us lately, God puts a song in my heart. That is what you heard.”

She thanked me again adding, “Yes… He has a way of doing that. God bless you.” Her eyes met mine with a sincere inner knowing.

The cashier at the checkout was taking in this entire encounter. He collected my purchases. I paid him and passed along the joy with a gentle but deliberate “God bless you, Sir.” He studied me in that instant and seemed to sense these were more than mere words. His face lit up. The glory of God’s Love had leaked through. The moment was brilliantly illuminated.

You just never know when it will happen.

“Take you to my castle far away… ” P.Cetera / photo of Blarney Castle- C. O’Riley
Categories
General Information

Welcome Aboard

Hello out there! This is an All-Points Bulletin and first blog to welcome you aboard to my dream-come-true, my online home for all things creative. I think I will call it my “Celtic Cottage,” a wondrous space where writing flows from an origin deep inside. It is a creative spring of living words whose source is not me but to whom I have surely given my permission to bubble up and be released through me. It is a secret place of encouragement and inspiration.

I love to observe life moments and find loveliness in the seeming ordinary places. Pausing to linger and look at them with childlike eyes can be transforming and bring hidden treasure. It is a joy to capture these times and communicate them from the heart whether in written or spoken words which release life.

Please join me on this journey of wonder restored. Linger and rest for a while. May your heart be encouraged and your soul refreshed. May you dare to dream again. Sla’n agat (good-bye in Gaelic) for now, dear friends. Please leave a comment to let me know you were here.