the terma collective
May our eyes remain open even in the face of tragedy.
May we not become disheartened.
May we find in the dissolution
of our apathy and denial,
the cup of the broken heart.
May we discover the gift of the fire burning
in the inner chamber of our being –
burning great and bright enough
to transform any poison.
May we offer the power of our sorrow to the service
of something greater than ourselves.
May our guilt not rise up to form
yet another defensive wall.
May the suffering purify and not paralyze us.
May we realize the greatness of our sorrow
and not run from its touch or flame.
May clarity be our ally and wisdom our support.
May our wrath be cleansing, cutting through
the confusion of denial and greed.
May we not be afraid to see or speak our truth.
May the bleakness of the wasteland be dispelled.
May the soul’s journey be revealed
and the true hunger fed.
May we be forgiven for what we have forgotten
and blessed with the remembrance
of who we really are.
~ The Terma Collective
BUTTERFLY WISHES
Yesterday a butterfly
Came floating gently through the sky.
He soared up through the atmosphere
Then drifted close enough to hear.
I said, “I’d love to fly with you
And sail around the way you do.
It looks like it would be such fun
To fly up toward the summer sun.
But I have not your graceful charm.
I haven’t wings, just these two arms.
I’ve been designed to walk around.
My human feet must touch the ground.
Then magically he spoke to me
and told me what his wish would be.
He said, “What I’d love most to do
Is walk upon God’s Earth with you,
To squish it’s mud between my toes
Or touch my finger to my nose.
I’d love just once to walk around
With human feet to touch the ground,
But I have not two legs that swing,
I haven’t arms, just these two wings.”
And so we went our separate ways
In wonder and surprise.
For we’d both seen God’s precious gifts
Through someone else’s eyes.
~~Author Unknown.~~
If Tomorrow Starts Without Me
When tomorrow starts without me
And I’m not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me,
I wish so much you wouldn’t cry
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many things
We didn’t get to say.
I know how much you loved me
As much as I loved you,
And each time that you think of me
I know you’ll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name
And took me by the hand.
And said my place was ready
In heaven far above,
And that I’d have to leave behind
All those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away
A tear fell from my eye,
For all my life I’d always thought
I wouldn’t want to die.
I had so much to live for
So much left — yet to do,
It seemed almost impossible
That I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays
The good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared
And all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday
Just even for a while,
I’d say good-bye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories
Would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things
I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did
My heart was filled with sorrow.
But then I walked through heaven’s gates!
I felt so much at home,
When God looked down and smiled at me
From his great golden throne.
He said, “This is eternity
And all I’ve promised you,
Today your life on earth is past
But here life starts anew.”
“I promise no tomorrow
But today will always last,
And since each day’s the same way
There’s no longing for the past.”
“You have been so faithful
So trusting and so true,
Though there were times you did some things
You knew you shouldn’t do.”
“But you have been forgiven
And now at last you’re free,
So won’t you come and take my hand
And share my life with me.”
So when tomorrow starts without me
Don’t think we’re far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I’m right there in your heart.
Author Unknown
TO A FRIEND
You entered my life in a casual way,
And saw at a glance what I needed;
There were others who passed me or met me each day,
But never a one of them heeded.
Perhaps you were thinking of other folks more,
Or chance simply seemed to decree it;
I know there were many such chances before,
But the others – well, they didn’t see it.
You said just the thing that I wished you would say,
And you made me believe that you meant it;
I held up my head in the old gallant way,
And resolved you should never repent it.
There are times when encouragement means such a lot,
And a word is enough to convey it;
There were others who could have, as easy as not-
But, just the same, they didn’t say it.
There may have been someone who could have done more
To help me along, though I doubt it;
What I needed was cheering, and always before
They had let me plod onward without it.
You helped to refashion the dream of my heart,
And made me turn eagerly to it;
There were others who might have (I question that part)-
But, after all, they didn’t do it!
–G.S. Dawson
A FRIEND
What is a Friend? I’ll tell you.
It is a person with whom you dare to be yourself.
Your could can go naked with him.
He seems to ask you to put on nothing, only to be what you really are.
When you are with him, you do not have to be on your guard.
You can say what you think, so long as it is genuinely you.
He understands those contradictions in your nature that cause others to misjudge you.
With him you breathe freely-you can avow your little vanities and envies and absurdities
and in opening them up to him they are dissolved on the white ocean of his loyalty.
He understands. – You can weep with him, laugh with him, pray with him-through and
underneath it all he sees, knows and loves you.
A Friend, I repeat, is one with whom YOU DARE TO BE YOURSELF.
–Unknown
A FRIEND’S GREETING
I’d like to be the sort of friend that you have been to me;
I’d like to be the help that you’ve been always glad to be;
I’d like to mean as much to you each minute of the day
As you have meant, old friend of mine, to me along the way.
I’d like to do the big things and the splendid things for you,
To brush the gray from out your skies and leave them only blue;
I’d like to give you back the joy that you have given me,
Yet that were wishing you a need I hope will never be;
I’d like to make you feel as rich as I, who travel on
Undaunted in the darkest hours with you to lean upon.
I’m wishing at this Christmas time that I could be repay
A portion of the gladness that you’ve strewn along my way;
And could I have one wish this year, this only would it be:
I’d like to be the sort of friend that you have been to me.
–E.A. Guest
Prayer For Strength and Wisdom
God,
Give me strength and wisdom
to live this day as I ought.
Give me strength…
to overcome every temptation which may come to me,
to do well every task which is assigned to me,
to shoulder every responsibility which is laid upon my shoulders.
Give me wisdom…
to know when to speak and when to keep silent,
to know when to act and when to refrain from action,
to know when to speak my mind and when to hold my peace.
So bring me to the end of this day
in goodness,
in happiness
and in peace. Amen.
BUTTERFLY WISHES.
Yesterday a butterfly
Came floating gently through the sky.
He soared up through the atmosphere
Then drifted close enough to hear.
I said, “I’d love to fly with you
And sail around the way you do.
It looks like it would be such fun
To fly up toward the summer sun.
But I have not your graceful charm.
I haven’t wings, just these two arms.
I’ve been designed to walk around.
My human feet must touch the ground.
Then magically he spoke to me
and told me what his wish would be.
He said, “What I’d love most to do
Is walk upon God’s Earth with you,
To squish it’s mud between my toes
Or touch my finger to my nose.
I’d love just once to walk around
With human feet to touch the ground,
But I have not two legs that swing,
I haven’t arms, just these two wings.”
And so we went our separate ways
In wonder and surprise.
For we’d both seen God’s precious gifts
Through someone else’s eyes.
~~Author Unknown.~~
Why Things Happen As They Do
Why things happen as they do
We do not always know,
And we cannot always fathom,
Why our spirits sink so low…
We flounder in our dark distress,
We are wavering and unstable,
But when we’re most inadequate
The Lord God is always able….
For though we are incapable,
God is powerful and great,
And there’s no darkness of the mind
That God can’t penetrate….
And all that is required of us
Whenever things go wrong
Is to trust in God implicitly
With a faith that’s deep and strong.
And while He may not instantly
Unravel all the strands
Of the tangled thoughts that trouble us
He completely understands….
And in His time, if we have faith
He will gradually restore
The brightness to our spirit
That we’ve been longing for….
So remember, there’s no cloud too dark
For God’s light to penetrate
If we keep on believing
And have faith enough to wait!
- Author Unknown
Go For It!
In dreams and in love
there are no impossibilities.
~ Janos Arnay ~
The question isn’t who is going to let me;
it’s who is going to stop me.
~ Ayn Rand ~
If you aren’t going all the way,
why go at all?
~ Joe Namath ~
If you cannot do great things yourself,
remember that you may do small things in a great way.
~ Swamy Chinmayananda ~
When you can’t seem to be a shining example,
at least twinkle a little!
Alphabet of Happiness…
A–Accept
Accept others for who they are and for the choices they’ve made even if you have difficulty understanding their beliefs, motives, or actions.
B–Break Away
Break away from everything that stands in the way of what you hope to accomplish with your life.
C–Create
Create a family of friends whom you can share your hopes, dreams, sorrows, and happiness with.
D–Decide
Decide that you’ll be successful and happy come what may, and good things will find you. The roadblocks are only minor obstacles along the way.
E–Explore
Explore and experiment. The world has much to offer, and you have much to give. And every time you try something new, you’ll learn more about yourself.
F–Forgive
Forgive and forget. Grudges only weigh you down and inspire unhappiness and grief. Soar above it, and remember that everyone makes mistakes.
G–Grow
Leave the childhood monsters behind. They can no longer hurt you or stand in your way.
H–Hope
Hope for the best and never forget that anything is possible as long as you remain dedicated to the task.
I–Ignore
Ignore the negative voice inside your head. Focus instead on your goals and remember your accomplishments. Your past success is only a small inkling of what the future holds.
J–Journey
Journey to new worlds, new possibilities, by remaining open-minded. Try to learn something new every day, and you’ll grow.
K–Know
Know that no matter how bad things seem, they’ll always get better. The warmth of spring always follows the harshest winter.
L–Love
Let love fill your heart instead of hate. When hate is in your heart, there’s room for nothing else, but when love is in your heart, there’s room for endless happiness.
M–Manage
Manage your time and your expenses wisely, and you’ll suffer less stress and worry. Then you’ll be able to focus on the important things in life.
N–Notice
Never ignore the poor, infirm, helpless, weak, or suffering. Offer your assistance when possible, and always your kindness and understanding.
O–Open
Open your eyes and take in all the beauty around you. Even during the worst of times, there’s still much to be thankful for.
P–Play
Never forget to have fun along the way. Success means nothing without happiness.
Q–Question
Ask many questions, because you’re here to learn.
R–Relax
Refuse to let worry and stress rule your life, and remember that things always have a way of working out in the end.
S–Share
Share your talent, skills, knowledge, and time with others. Everything that you invest in others will return to you many times over.
T–Try
Even when your dreams seem impossible to reach, try anyway. You’ll be amazed by what you can accomplish.
U–Use
Use your gifts to your best ability. Talent that’s wasted has no value. Talent that’s used will bring unexpected rewards.
V–Value
Value the friends and family members who’ve supported and encouraged you, and be there for them as well.
W–Work
Work hard every day to be the best person you can be, but never feel guilty if you fall short of your goals. Every sunrise offers a second chance.
X–X-Ray
Look deep inside the hearts of those around you and you’ll see the goodness and beauty within.
Y–Yield
Yield to commitment. If you stay on track and remain dedicated, you’ll find success at the end of the road.
Z–Zoom
Zoom to a happy place when bad memories or sorrow rears its ugly head. Let nothing interfere with your goals. Instead, focus on your abilities, your dreams, and a brighter tomorrow.
“Alphabet of Happiness,” written and designed by Bobette Bryan, 2000
A Balanced Life
My life has been balanced
with pleasures and trials,
I’ve had many teardrops
and thousands of smiles.
I’ve soared to the moon
and I’ve plunged to the sand,
My life has been balanced
by God’s loving hand.
I’ve had many friendships
I’ve had a few foes,
In the life of a Christian
that’s the way that it goes.
Should I just accept
only good from God’s hands?
No, I must endure
whatever He plans.
But I can be sure
and you can be, too,
All things work for best
as God deals with you.
~Betty Purser Patten~
