Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Shining a light on RACE

Interesting how the light spot went to the eye on the poster in this picture from my camera. Last Saturday, I shared my children's book at COSI for the opening of the exhibit RACE- Are We So Different? The information is powerful, geared mostly to older kids and adults.
It was a low key reading of "Take a Trip to Diverse City" with younger kids all around me in an area that COSI had added with puppets and books. I loved seeing all the beautiful children's faces and hearing touching stories in conversation with insightful parents. My vision is still to someday have a video camera with me to capture all of these stories and experiences around America and the world. The exhibit will be up at COSI until May 6th. Check it out!
It's been a journey. And each one of us has a footprint we leave behind. Open eyes allow light to shine through and guide our steps as we see things in perspective and continue to move forward.
Let's build a bridge and keep it open,
shawna ray

Friday, January 27, 2012

American

American
- shawna ray, today 1/27/12

Within the hush of night
This patriotic cry
Is rising with the wind
Where stars and stripes are woven
The differences are seen
As one in time we'll stand
I am still proud to be
An American

Whether you're left or right
Black, brown, yellow, white
Whether you're born and raised
Or you have found your place
Let's come together now
For we are free indeed
I am still proud to be
An American

We're moving forward
Not going down
This is our home land
On common ground
It's time to innovate
Renewing energy
I am still proud to be
An American

Whether you're left or right
Black, brown, yellow, white
Whether you're born and raised
Or you have found your place
Let's come together now
For we are free indeed
Yes I am proud to be
An American

To shrink government or deficits
The ego is a big culprit
That which you fight the most persists
Let's redirect and peace enlist

In God we trust!

Whether you're left or right
Black, brown, yellow, white
Whether you're born and raised
Or you have found your place
Let's come together now
For we are free indeed
I am still proud to be
Yes I am proud to be
I am still proud to be
An American
www.shawnaray.com

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Pull Through

(For Susan, Bryn, Lou, Diane
and other friends who have battled cancer and other life challenges)

Watching you go through this pain
Feels so unjust; does not make sense
You hold your head up high and try
To smile and laugh and say...
There is no way out but through
You are strong and resolute
Lean on me if you need anything
To help you on this journey
I know you - will - pull through


Hands of time are ticking loud
The room is still, we're in a fog
You have always been a rock
We're wrapped up in a hug, you say...
There's no way out but through
You are strong and resolute
Lean on me if you need anything
To help you on this journey
I know you - will - pull through


The body is fragile
Handle with care
Life is so fragile
Handle with prayer

I hear you say you'll be OK
If this path leads to Heaven's gates
And that thought makes us cry
I am tired of asking why
I know you'll  be all right
Either way...
There's no way out but through
You are strong and resolute
Lean on me if you need anything
To help you on this journey

I know you - are loved
I know you are tough!
You have taught us all so much
I know you - will - pull through

- shawna ray

www.shawnaray.com

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Bigger

"God's gifts and his call are irrevocable" Romans 11:29
We are all...
Just a little bitty piece of the bigger picture
Colorful indeed, welcome jagged edges
Forming like a mural or a stained glass window
Every little thing
is a part of something BIGGER

Icy rain tapping on my ceiling
Cannot sleep there's a call I'm hearing
What? Who me? Oh you must be joking
I am nothing and this is bad timing
Why would you use the weakness link?
Single mother with two kids to raise
Do my part is all you ask of me
So...How, why, and what exactly?
Just a little bitty piece of the bigger picture
Colorful indeed, welcome jagged edges
Forming like a mural or a stained glass window
Every little thing
is a part of something BIGGER

So OK...Have you seen me lately?
Out of shape and I cringe while aging
I was running at that pretty twenty
Dad was dying felt like you just left me
You say you were there waiting
Through the storm and through the rain
Faith grew strong while I was learning
Perseverance while becoming
Just a little bitty piece of the bigger picture
Colorful indeed, welcome jagged edges
Forming like a mural or a stained glass window
Every little thing
is a part of something BIGGER

Get this is bigger than me!
The other day my daddy came to me
In a dream and said baby just sing!
There's an audience you cannot see and God loves to hear you sing
All you need to be is...
Just a little bitty piece
of the bigger picture
Colorful indeed
welcome jagged edges
Forming like a mural or a
stained glass window
Every little thing
is a part of something BIGGER

God is so much bigger than me
You are bigger!
So much bigger than you think
God is bigger, so much bigger through every little thing...
Giving just a little bitty piece
shawna ray, today 1/21/12
www.shawnaray.com

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

The Other Hand

(I'm a sucker for fairy tales)
I am too young to feel this old
Swollen from love misunderstood
There is a pain that won't let go
The sign says that it is all good
Eye of the storm blows off the doors
This broken hearts been shattered
I'm starting over from the shore
Glass bottle's in the water
We are evolving
And reinventing
In time resolving
To find the other hand

I feel you out there somewhere close
Looking up at the slivered moon
And I refuse to just accept
That I might never know love's true
So walk your boots on over here
And slowly tip your floppy hat
I'd like to look up in your eyes
And taste the sweetness of your kiss
We are evolving
And reinventing
In time determined
To find the other hand

Some way some how I have a hunch
That this will all make much more sense someday...
We are evolving
And reinventing
In time determined
To begin again
Pick up from way back when
Reach within our own wholeness
And grasp the other hand

shawna ray, today 1/11/12
www.shawnaray.com

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Cool Teen

Met a girl who is an old soul
Even though she's half my age
Conversating about the world
All the things that don't make sense
She said when I walk down the halls
It's a good thing they don't
Hear me think...
I can be cool like you
Look at me hey I'm cool
I can be cool like you
When I want to
I can be wild and free
Look at me so crazy
Difference is way cool teens
Are not mean
Feel the energy in the waves
Kids are hating through the internet
Spreading gossip with potty mouth
Karma will come back around
Soul surfers out catching a ray
So glad you don't play that game
Stop and think...
I can be cool like you
Look at me hey I'm cool
I can be cool like you
When I want to
I can be wild and free
Look at me so crazy
Difference is way cool teens
Are not mean
I can be kind and wise
Give it up girls and guys
There is much more to life
Than what you look like
I can be rich with love
Listen up share the light
Beauty comes naturally
So why try to be somebody else?
You're a way cool teen
Happy and so set free
Rockin that cool just be
Who you are authentically
I'm lovin that way cool teen
You're a way cool teen
Stay that way cool teens
Don't be mean
www.shawnaray.com

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Trying

I was running on pure emotion
Jump then look for a place to land
I was living on borrowed time then
So reactive, a nuclear plant
Now here I am
A portion of the problem
Here I am
Willing to find a solution
Empty and I'm broken
The inheritance is spent
Here I am
Still trying
I wake up in a state of wonder
What I should've done different?
Every time I come back to lessons
Life is learning you can't go back
So here I am
A portion of the problem
Here I am
Willing to find a solution
Empty and I'm broken
The inheritance is spent
Here I am
Still trying
People are fragile
So handle with care
Life is so fragile
So handle with prayer
To the here I Am
Owning my part in the problem
Here I am
Willing to find a solution
Awakened and I'm healing
The inheritance is present
Here I am
Still trying
And growing and loving and laughing
Here I am still trying
shawna ray, today 1/3/12
www.shawnaray.com

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Calling

I feel there is something
That I'm suppose to do
Deep within my soul there is a calling
What if I never reach
For the phone that rings
Running to a need that I hear calling
But how and why and what will be?
Baby steps are getting me closer
To when and where will this thing lead?
Seeking I am finding out my calling
Its a small world after all
The lines start to connect
Seeing and I feel a sense of knowing
Presence so familiar
Some days I'm left on a cliff
I could fall or be prepared for flying
Ask how and why and what will be?
Baby steps are getting me closer
To when and where will this thing lead?
Seeking I am finding out my calling
That which wakes you up
And speaks within hush
It won't seem to go away
When you start to dream
It keeps you company
Compelling mystery
There is a calling
In how and why and what will be?
Baby steps are getting me closer
To when and where will this thing lead?
Seeking I am finding out my calling
Listening and hearing out my calling
Seek and you will find there is a calling
shawna ray, today 1/1/2012
www.shawnaray.com