Thank you, Jackie

I don't know Jackie but she has greatly impacted my spiritual development. My friend, Annie, worked with her at one point in her life and told me bits and pieces about Jackie: she was in a miserable job with an oppressive, bullying, tyrant of a boss. She had no choice but to stay in that job. Annie would say that Jackie seemed to handle her burden so well. She'd sing her religious songs while working. It makes me think that those who sung those old traditional "negro spirituals" knew something about coping from which we can still learn.

Often when I grumble about something, I think of Jackie-- a faceless presence in my mind-- who I imagine would sweetly scoff at my "struggles." Then, I wonder "what would Jackie do" and sing out loud (if I'm alone or just have my child trapped in the car with me) or I hum. I intentionally stick to singing only religious and spiritual songs. I usually have to make up some of the words which is always worth a good laugh.

And so, I'm with my own burden, but not. Even though my feet and hands may be situated in an old, mired gully, when I sing my spirituals I am lifted out of that gully. Another part of me gets to flow to a better place.

Thank you, Jackie--- whoever or where ever you are!

breath of serenity

I imagine that God is breathing through me. I'm not breathing. God is. My body is like a sheer curtain through which God is moving in, through, and around.

It's instantaneous. I feel immediately more relaxed. I have "soft eyes."

I try to remember this mini exercise throughout the day.

Song: Come Rain or Come Shine

Come Rain or Come Shine
I’ve modified this popular song to make the lyrics sound more like a traditional spiritual. The original song was written by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The song was written for the musical St. Louis Woman, and was first published in 1946.

God did love me like no one can love me
Come rain or come shine
High as a mountain and deep as a river
Come rain or come shine

And I guess when I met God
That it was just one of those things
Girl, don’t you forget God
But remember just to let God, just to let God

God’s gonna love me like no one did love me
Come rain or come shine
Happy together, unhappy not ever
Won’t it be fine

Day may be cloudy or sunny
I’m in or I’m out of the money
But God loves us always
God loves us rain or shine
Rain or shine