Even though it was the Master’s Day of Silence, a traveler begged for a word of wisdom that would guide him through life’s journey.

The Master nodded affably, took a sheet of paper and wrote a single word on it: “Awareness.”

The visitor was perplexed. “That’s too brief. Would you please expand on it a bit?”

The Master took the paper back and wrote: “Awareness, awareness, awareness.”

“But what do these words mean?” said the stranger helplessly.

The Maser reached out for the paper and wrote: “Awareness, awareness, awareness means AWARENESS.” ”
“One Minute Wisdom” by Anthony DeMello page 10

I’m not afraid of death because I know it is inevitable but I do fear the act of dying. Any one who has experienced difficulty breathing can relate. That said. The question prompts thoughts of legacy. Am I living a life that enriches myself and others? I wrote this poem in 2012.

I want to die Awake

I want to let death be,
not fight or try to flee
life’s final invitation.

Perhaps, death is a birth,
a trickster’s brand of mirth
a grand initiation

Perhaps, it truly ends
all memories and friends
beyond all restoration.

But can awareness die?
The meaning of the why?
The hope of all creation?

Or will it rise again
in family and friends
a fruitful demonstration.

Our lives cry out “Awake!”
“Before the reaper rides!”
I want to die awake.

I’ve learned to turn “re” words into “be” words and when it’s too late to “re” do or “be” come, I work on letting go. Like many others who have shared, fear has so often been my motivator and for me, fear is always a sign that I’m not in the present moment. I’ve learned that if you are in the past or the future, you go there alone but the strength, the grace you need, flows in the now. I do my best to gratefully claim it

When I moved here over a year ago, I met a woman who has become a friend.I observed how kind and caring she is toward others. However, we totally disagree when it comes to politics and when she breached that subject, I told her that I could not agree with her but that didn’t mean that I did not appreciate her as a person. I told her I had witnessed her acts of kindness and admired the way she lives her life and that her friendship was important to me but that I could not agree with her politics. Basically, we agreed to disagree and the subject of this year’s election is off the table. Meeting someone half way does not require agreement in all areas It does require acceptance of what I can’t change. It’s never good to throw out the baby with the bath water!