On the day of Saturday, October 17th, of this year I experienced the fulfillment of a concept which was previously “whispered” into my ear by my “Guardian Angel.”
The concept which he suggested to me was bring the Circle fully around…to pay Gratitude to an individual and a location which had showered him with Love and Comfort when he needed it most.
Needless to say, his “suggestion” became an immediate point of focus and intent in my Life recently.
The event/celebration which took place on that Saturday fulfilled every aspect of his concept.
BUT…there was more….MUCH MORE…to what I experienced that wonderful afternoon.
HARD TIMES
The past seven weeks have been a VERY difficult Time. Having held my beloved HOBBES’ face in my hands, and looking directly into each other’s eyes as he Journeyed Onward, the warmth of his Love has overtaken nearly every moment of my days and nights.
Admittedly, there have been times when I have simply stared at the places around our house where he would run endlessly to fetch the “Jollyball” which either I or Carolyn had cast to him. THEN, once the ball was within the grip of his teeth, he would lie down in the grass and just “smile” at us.
Then, without fail, my Memory would fade into the mists of the Past, and I would, once again, be transported to the late 1970’s. The sounds of the folks lying with me under the bridges of Pittsburgh throughout the endless nights would fill my ears.
Their cries and tears of desperation were seemingly eternal.
BUT, THEN
Amongst the seemingly hopeless sounds surrounding me, two tiny, loving voices would emerge to overpower all the despair.
One of those voices belonged to an ex-serviceman who had, upon his return from VietNam, discovered that he had lost everything he had formerly cherished.
The second voice was that of his beloved Canine Companion…the shaggy German Shepherd who had adopted him one night as he lay in his deepest moment of Despair.
Their Love, and Hope in each other has NEVER left me.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Towards the end of the day’s celebration, Carolyn and I were approached within our event booth.
A couple (obviously husband and wife) entered our booth…but, they were NOT alone.
A short leash which the woman grasped in her hand was attached to a body harness…a harness which held a gorgeous female German Shepherd to her side.
They introduced themselves, and their “pup” to us. The gentleman indicated that they had purchased several “auction” tickets on the items which I had donated to the event. The items were prints of the entire series of originals which I had created for our regional OPERATION WOUNDED VETZ over the past several years.
Most folks know, that the inspiration for this series was the story of DAN & SAM…the homeless vet and his doggie I had met back in the ‘70’s.
After conversing for awhile, I, and Carolyn, discovered that this husband and wife had loved, and lost, FOUR Shepherds over the course of their marriage. They had, as we have, NEVER minimalized the loss of these Family Members…YET, despite EVERYTHING, they had also NEVER lost HOPE in their Future.
That Future had now become their Present.
As the conversation progressed, I relayed my experience of HOBBES whispering to me to develop the day’s event. They were NOT the least surprised.
At the conclusion of our discussion, I knelt down upon the grass to pet their “pup.” As I reached out my hand to stroke her coat, she approached me…gazed directly into my eye…and, then……she “kissed” me just as HOBBES had done.
Upon rising, I questioned the gentleman which of my prints he liked the most. Upon his indication, we “gifted” him a copy of that print…the title is “NEVER FORGOTTEN.”
The “wish” that our “Boy” whispered to me had come full-circle.
DAYS NOT GONE BY
While living “on the Road,” I met MANY individuals who had, due to the disasters which had infiltrated their Lives, lost all Hope in themselves.
They had also lost all Belief in their own Dignity and Worth. Yet, their Significance and Importance can NEVER be overstated. Their Lives, as is yours and mine, are of utmost WORTH.
Sometimes it seems that there are Times in which we have little or no involvement in the choices which are made in our Lives. We often wonder, “How did I get here? What started me on this Road?”
YET...we DO have the Power and the Strength to make our Life Decisions. We ARE capable of deciding what Pathway to tread upon in our Journey.
That Strength lies in the BELIEF in yourself!
That Strength lies in the HOPE and the DETERMINATION within your Spirit.
Yes, you CAN bring yourself to a Better Place.
When you find yourself at a Fork in the Road,
remember that one Road leads to the same, old, worn out ways…and, the other Road leads to a Better Place...a Place with a higher frequency.
You choose which Road by where you put your Focus.
It’s Time to start living from your Heart…to be authentic and dare to make the decisions which arise from the deepest parts of your Spirit.
It’s ALWAYS a Choice to do better.
NEVER DOUBT...always make the Choice to live from your Heart.
That Choice may seem to not always come from within. Sometimes it comes from a “Whisper” into your ear.. .a “Whisper” that DOES come from the deepest part of your Heart.
The Family Members and Friends who have Journeyed Onward leave with us an everlasting Gift...the reminder that they are ALWAYS with us to help our every footstep along the Pathways of our Life.
Too frequently we forget this Truth, or, at best, can only remember their Presence through our grief-filled moments.
But...they ARE here, with us, guiding us with their LOVE and certainty of HOPE.
Let their GIFT guide us, every moment, every day.
NEVER...NEVER lose Faith in yourself. You are a vital member of the Circle of Life which spans ALL Eternity.
The Sea of Life would be somewhat empty without you!
SO I COULD FIND MY WAY
- by ENYA
A thousand Dreams
you gave to me
You held me high,
you held me high
And all those years
you guided me
So I could find my way
How long your Love
had sheltered me
You held me high,
you held me high
A harbour holding back the sea
So I could find my way
Yet only time keeps us apart
You’re in the shadows
of my Heart
You held me high,
you held me high
So I can find my way
So let me give this dream to you
Upon another shore
So let me give this dream to you
Each night and ever more
A thousand dreams
you gave to me
You held me high,
you held me high
And all those years
you guided me
So I could find my way
So I could find my way.
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