Remember Me

It saddens me to hear stories of individuals who maybe unknowingly hurt or judge others they do not know or understand, while quoting Bible scriptures in the name of Jesus. These things are usually taken out of context on all sides to create hype or make someone feel right. It is because of this history that many individuals avoid the church and might not ever know what it feels like to receive unconditional love in the true Spirit of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. I am sorry. Forgive those who know not what they do. Forgive me when I fail to understand. Forgive me when I mess up and lack patience and kindness. We all fall short sometimes.

Christmas card that my daughter
Kaiya made a few years ago

I hope you know that you are loved, as you are, wherever you are in your personal journey. In this love, I hope you will enjoy giving and receiving this holiday season. In this light, I want to share a song that came through me in December, 2011. This reflects my personal journey and faith walk, so I am thankful that I can share freely. Know that I embrace all people and get that we might have different beliefs and experiences. However you connect, I wish you love, joy and peace all year. I love you!

Live, Give, Love, Laugh and Learn,
Shawna

Remember Me
- by Shawna Ray 2011

In the busyness of shopping malls
In the stress that comes with making meals
In this season that is filled with frills
A baby cries off in the distance

Remember me
Pure love and peace
Remember me
Your joy complete
My gift is free for eternity
Remember me

If acquiring things takes priority
Then the meaning here is unredeemed
There are people who are truly in need
Find your balance; give and receive

Remember me
Pure love and peace
Remember me
Your joy complete
My gift is free for eternity
Remember me

Remember December
Hold the baby near
Remember December
Look for light all year
Remember December
Slow it down to hear

The stillness of Spirit
Calling you near

Remember me
Pure love and peace
Remember me
Your joy complete
My gift is free for eternity
Remember me
Remember me

Former to Future

- poem by shawna ray 6/13

From the former to the future
Changing tide is washing up
From the inner to the outer
Purify what was corrupt
From the core into the center
Luring tempting is a lust
From deliverance to disaster
Torrent winds whip up the dust

Sweet surrender in the Spirit
That is kissed upon love's lips
Soft but loud so all can hear it
Calling purpose to exist
Warding off the shameful arrows
Not to fear the bully's fist
With an eye upon the sparrow
Word fulfilling promises

Age of time is now upon us
Echoing the grave's release
We must lift and sound the trumpets
Welcoming and offering
One to stay and walk among us
Joyful celebration feast
In the present, full awareness
Former battle, future peace

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#former to future, #shawna ray, #battle, #future, #peace, #trumpets, #purpose
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

There is a Difference

I am reading Catching Fire at the urging of my tweenage daughter Kaiya, who is completely into the Hunger Games trilogy and has seen the first movie three times now, (FYI- I only paid for one). Josh Hutcherson is her first crush, but as an actress she is even more into and inspired by Jennifer Lawrence. It is what it is.

There are some who have warned against young teens watching this movie and reading the books because the premise is so violent. I guess that all depends upon the maturity of the youth and the conversation you have with them as they read through the books and see the bigger picture and story, while also keeping perspective of it all as fiction with life parallels. My daughter's grandfather was a Sergeant Major in the Army and we have other family currently serving in the US military. I have had many interesting conversations with my kids on the subject of war and peace; prejudice and poverty; compassion and humility. I do not shelter my kids from life. I work as a community advocate and they have been with me serving at soup kitchens and played with the children who were homeless; they have been to Goodwill Industries where I worked with individuals who live with disabilities; to the inner city as I now work in outreach at the local university to empower health, wellness, social entrepreneurism, with violence prevention initiatives in the city. My kids have also grown up attending various churches where they questioned why "Christians" seem to be so judgmental and clique.

We read and know of so much violence in the Bible and throughout history. No one seems to flinch at kids watching passion plays that nail a bloody Jesus to the cross. I am moved by those scenes because of the relationship and understanding that I have there spiritually. I see situation which  force us to fight against the violence to defend and survive. I see men and women with the courage and determination to defend what is right and the honor that should always be awarded to those who fight for our freedom. I also see how power has been abused many times as the enemy sometimes lies within and war has become big business and corruption is a virus.

Ultimately I do believe that peace of heart and mind will be the only force that will win for good. I seek to understand the other's culture and viewpoint to hopefully bring forth new understanding that is not at war. Even in moments when I have to remind myself to live and forgive my ex husband who sometimes acts as an enemy to my family. I am open and will continue to seek peace. As Kaiya says, "Haters are gonna hate and potatoes are gonna potate." So when I see that there is a fierce and hateful force in the universe that is not in its right heart and mind and is determined to fight, I write...

"There is a difference between violence and resistance; defending verses being defeated
There is a difference between wrong and right; where courageous souls may sacrifice
There is a difference between night and day; a dawn that breaks and penetrates
There is a difference between interrupting hate with the intention of lives to save
There is a difference between what you say and how you choose to live today
There is a difference between violence and resistance; defending verses being defeated"

By shawna ray, today 4/12/2012
(And please forgive me if I write typos. I am so not an editor and usually write this stuff in the moment and send it out as it is written with my thumbs from my phone. Hashtags still seem odd to me too, but they work. I welcome edits and do go and back and make changes as they are needed. I am always surprised to find that someone has actually read and responded to something that I have written and released. So it's all good. Thank you for sharing this journey with me. If I had the means and money to record and release the songs that come with these thoughts and moments, and connections to those who are more experienced and talented at producing and making music, I would love to share those too. I have yet to be able to fully create the music that I hear in my head as I write along. There is a difference between ready and reality too. Someday soon...)
www.shawnaray.com

Altitude

The cloud rises, pushing a mass
In front of this cumulus bliss
Deflecting, shades overlap
Pastelic colors move and connect
What do you see up there
As water droplets fall?
Cruzing at the altitude of hope
Cruzing at the altitude of love
Cruzing at the altitude of peace
From the mass in the middle
Heal through to the whole
Time change
Upward, the tall of it all
Highest result will decline and fall
Be careful in your descent
From elevation, ego is bent
What do you see up there?
Celestial celebration
Cruzing at the altitude of hope
Cruzing at the altitude of love
Cruzing at the altitude of peace
From the mass in the middle
Heal through to the whole
Time change
Saturation, destination, realization
No control
Fascination, imagination, illumination
Now let go...

Cruzing at the altitude of hope
Cruzing at the altitude of love
Cruzing at the altitude of peace
From the mass...
In the middle
Healing through...
To the altitude
The altitude
The altitude of change
shawna ray, today 11/5/11
I'm open, Rhythm Ray
www.shawnaray.com

Peace at Home

I will tell anyone, "You can make marriage work"
It's a much harder job separating the hurt
If the love there is good, find the value and worth
But if you getting abused, then repeat these words...

I'm not afraid to be alone
When there's peace at home
Peace at home
Empowered to be on my own
There is peace at home
Peace at home

Make a plan of escape, find the help that you need
You grow stronger each day with the faith to believe
You deserve more in life and have so much to give
Start by loving yourself to be there for your kids

I'm not afraid to be alone
When there's peace at home
Peace at home
Empowered to be on my own
There is peace at home
Peace at home

I am holding your hand as you walk through the fire
I have been there my friend and I know there's been worse
Know the truth that's inside, healing your heart and mind
Taking each baby step while feeling love and light
Now singing...
I'm not afraid to be alone
When there's peace at home
Peace at home
Empowered to be on my own
There is peace at home
Peace of mind
Free my soul
There is peace at home
Peace at home
Peace at home

Shawna Ray, today 9/1/11
www.shawnaray.com