"LOVE is the answer" painting by Marjolein *
When all the world
Seems filled with gloom
Its soul consumed
With tragedy and disaster
Remember…
Love is the answer
When hate fills the space
Where love was once commonplace
When words sting
Instead of sing
Remember…
Love is the answer
When others don’t understand
Why you’ve taken My hand
Your new light reveals
Their darkness concealed
Remember…
Love is the answer
When your patience is tested
You feel not at your best
When life doesn't seem fair
Just breathe and say a prayer
And remember...
Love is the answer
When hard times descend
Upon foe or friend
When eyes that once sparkled and shined
Become blind
Remember…
Love is the answer
When land and sea
Send out a plea
Mother Earth cries out
Destruction all about
Remember…
Love is the answer
When the children are forlorn
Their little souls tattered and torn
Abused, neglected
Hopeless and dejected
Remember…
Love is the answer
For only Love can turn darkness to light
Blindness to sight
Giving hope to the hopeless
A friend to the friendless
New vision and a dream
Can be all that they seem
When we remember
That Love is the answer
* * * * * * * * * * *
This poem appeared in the May, 2011 issue
of Dot to Dot online magazine
published by
Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait
* * * * * * * * * * * * Artwork by Marjolein (posted here with her permission) Thank you, Marjolein! Visit her website "Spread the LOVE... my way:" http://www.lukas-art.com/
Have you ever had an experience that was extremely hurtful and difficult to overcome? Something that scarred you deeply leaving an emotional imprint that would define you for the rest of your life? Something that, no matter how hard you tried to escape its influence, continued to hold you in its grip, refusing to ever release you entirely? And, most important, have you had the kind of experience that made you wonder if there truly was a God, and if so, was He really as loving and all-powerful as you had been told?
Well, I have. As a childhood victim of verbal abuse, with some physical abuse thrown in for extra impact, I have experienced the power of words to cause irrepairable harm. And I have spent the majority of my adult life attempting to overcome its influence. Being a true rebel and a fighter, I have been determined to not let this thing or this person beat me down! I have survived many difficult challenges and learned so much about myself on this journey. And one thing I've learned along the way, as a good friend once told me, "God doesn't waste a hurt." I don't believe God causes hurtful things to happen to us; in fact, I believe He's right there with us in our darkest hour crying as deeply as we are over our pain and suffering. I do believe God provides opportunities for us to find and receive His love in the midst of our deepest hurt. And He also brings us to healing solutions and discovering ways we can use our experience to help others.
For many years, I have known there was something I was meant to be doing with my experience to benefit others, but I had not yet discovered it, nor was I entirely ready to release the experience. Then, after my soul-awakening following Michael Jackson's death last summer and several months into this life-changing journey, I was guided to someone who would provide an opportunity for me to make a difference in the world by sharing my story. Not only had Michael helped me discover a new gift of writing, he was also guiding me in ways to use that writing to carry on his work in the world! Providing a resource to help young people become more aware of the power of their words seemed like a good place to start. The first step for me was saying "yes" to writing a case study which would become a part of a new curriclum entitled "Words and Violence."
We all know about the abuse Michael suffered at the hands of his father and at the hands of a relentless money-hungry media only concerned with the story that would sell to the exclusion of the truth. Painting a picture of a 'freak' with their words became a favorite pastime of the media when it came to any news about Michael Jackson. It didn't matter what it was, they could take any little piece of information about Michael and turn it into something bizarre with their words. And the public bought it! And so it went for most of his adult career as a musical genius and the greatest entertainer & global humanitarian we've ever known. The media frenzy surrounding Michael would spiral out of control during the trial of 2005 when he faced false allegations of child molestation. And although he was found innocent on ALL counts, the media continued to portray him as a guilty man and they refused to seek out the truth. The effects of this experience would prove to be devastating to Michael. And some would say the media's treatment of him over the years, particularly during the trial, was a significant contributing factor in his death on June 25, 2009. Another case in point for the power of words.
Many of us who love and admire Michael for all the gifts he shared with the world in his lifetime, most especially his humanitarian work and his immense love and concern for the children, the planet and all of humanity... well, we have vowed to do what we can to make a difference in his name. To share the love that he has inspired in us through his kind and generous spirit, we hope to make the world a better place for future generations, as was his dream in life. Through the messages Michael shared with us in his music, performances, speeches, and in the way he lived his life, he made us aware of the many ways that we, as a human race, are falling short. Ways that we are gradually destroying the world around us and creating a world of hate, intollerance, violence, disrespect for each other and our natural resources, and an overall attitude of indifference towards it all. The "Words and Violence" curriculum is a first step in the direction of healing the scars on the face of humanity inflicted by an insensitive culture driven by self-interest and the desire for instant results in the age of a more advanced technology. If the younger generations can learn that the way we treat our fellow human beings has everything to do with the kind of world we create and the kind of world we inherit as adults, that world in which we raise our children and grandchildren, then we will have made great progress toward making the world a better place for their future!
I am proud and very excited to announce the release of the "Words and Violence" curriculum developed by Rev. Barbara Kaufmann of Inner Michael and several MJ fan contributors, including myself. Sponsored and published by non-profit organization, Voices Education Project, the curriculum includes many valuable resources, case studies and exercises to use in teaching middle school, high school and college level students about the impact of our words. The curriculum is available free of charge on the Voices Education Project website:
What prompted this curriculum was the horrifying realization after the death of...Michael Jackson, that the press perpetuated a protracted and disdainful portrait of someone who...was a global humanitarian and a champion of civil rights, human rights and the rights of children. An investigation into the lives and work of highly visible personalities like Lady Diana Spencer, Bill Clinton, Vince Foster and others revealed inhumane treatment and suffering inflicted by tabloid journalism and the resulting medialoid conversion of the mainstream press.
Michael Jackson followers will find several resources and case studies written specifically about him:
A Few of the Features of "Words and Violence" Michael, Diana and Bill as targets: WMD: Words as Weapons of Mass Destruction
I invite you to visit the site and browse through the curriculum. There are numerous other resources available unrelated to Michael that also provide essential tools for learning about the impact of words in our lives. If you are an educator or if you know someone who is, I strongly encourage you to recommend this curriculum! Pass these links along to all your friends and acquaintances on the internet. If there is a School of Journalism in your community, send it to them with a cover letter or better yet, deliver a copy of it in person! Anyone is free to use any part of the curriculum they choose - whatever suits their intended purpose. Also, please keep in mind that this is a work in progress. It is open to include additional resources if anyone is interested in contributing further to this imperative work.
This is one way we are making a difference in the world for Michael, by teaching future leaders, journalists, businessmen & women, politicians, lawyers, teachers, etc. the importance of our words and the integrity with which we live our lives and perform our jobs!
I am honored to have participated in the development of this valuable resource which was inspired by the lives and good works of Michael Joseph Jackson and Lady Diana Spencer. The Words and Violence curriculum is, therefore, dedicated to the memory of Michael and Diana.
With Love & Hope for a Better Tomorrow, ~ Charlene ~
"Words and Violence" Dedication
This work of art and love is dedicated to the memory of Michael Joseph Jackson and Lady Diana Spencer.
May your work on behalf of humanity finally be recognized for what it was—art in the service of humanity. May your memory be indelibly written on the face of humanity’s evolution toward its own brilliance and in the volumes that chronicle the journey toward a more humane narrative on this planet.
May the lives and gifts that you so generously gave to and for the humans on this globe be held in the highest honor and esteem they so richly deserve.
May we learn from the lessons you taught this world and may we also become worthy of your sacrifice.
May we soon come to understand that words can heal with the same magnitude that they harm. And may the children of the future learn that now from you.
Rest in peace gentle and magnanimous spirits. "We love you more."
This feature is reprinted from the Words and Violence Curriculum by
In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. ~ Mother Teresa
Michael Jackson: King of Pop; worldwide mega superstar; musical & artistic genius; phenomenal dancer and singer; greatest entertainer of all time; creator and producer of the largest selling album of all time; trailblazer; trendsetter; fashion leader; spiritual messenger; love guru; global humanitarian; philanthropist; donator of hundreds of millions of dollars to charities around the world; winner of more awards than anybody…ever! I’m certain I could come up with many more adjectives and titles to describe this man-wonder who left behind the largest following of anyone…ever…to continue doing his work in the world.
One of the things that impressed me the most about Michael Jackson is the way he never stopped pushing the boundaries, striving to go beyond the limits of anything anyone had done before, including himself! Great things? That’s just about all this man did for his entire life! From the time he was in diapers dancing and moving to the rhythm of the washing machine, until his untimely death last year at the age of 50 when he was poised to give us the greatest show …ever! He gave us nothing short of greatness, perfection, and magic in everything he did.
And he loved at the same level! No matter what the challenges he faced or the ridicule hurled at him from all directions, Michael Jackson never gave up his belief in the power of love. He gave all of himself in order to show us how to be the kind of people who could make a difference in this world. He believed in our ability to heal the world and he believed in us. What a remarkable gift!
Those of us who have experienced an awakening since Michael’s death last June have felt compelled to find ways to carry on his work. Not unlike his dedicated long-time fans, we heard the message, we received the invitation, we recognize the need and we are determined to keep his legacy of love alive. We know Michael’s dream of a world with no fear, no hurt or sorrow…for the children. We know that he lived for the children and that he needs us to take his place - to do everything we can to make his dream come true.
Michael’s love has inspired the discovery of new talents and breathed new life into old ones for many of us. We have been so moved by the staggering scope of gifts he shared with us while he was here, that we have achieved heights we never dreamed possible with our own gifts and dreams. Sometimes I ask myself if I am worthy of such a treasure, and I have to say, I’ve had my doubts. I have spent a significant amount of time on this 14 month adventure vacillating between feeling bold, confident, capable, and worthy, to then wondering if Michael and God really knew what they were doing when they recruited me! I ask myself, “How in the world am I going to do anything big enough to make a difference on this great planet? Could it be really me you’re calling to do this tremendous work? What’s the catch? Is there a punch line to this huge cosmic joke?”
I have struggled sometimes to understand what I was being called to do while on this journey of discovery about Michael. Many of my earlier poems reflect that struggle, because I just couldn't understand how little ol' me could make a difference - especially when compared to the difference Michael made. Nobody will ever come near to making the impact he did, just by the sheer number of people whose hearts he touched all around the world! If I allow myself to think about it too much, it becomes very overwhelming!
Well, along this path, I have learned a few things here and there about this recruitment business and I have come to realize that, first of all, I can't say 'no' to this calling - it's virtually impossible! My whole being has been changed forever and it's like my entire life - everything, good & bad, that's happened leading up to this point, was all in preparation for this moment in time! This is where I'm supposed to be and what I'm supposed to be doing from now on. This Is It! All I have to do is remain open to receive divine guidance and inspiration from God and Michael. (They're in this together, you know!) It's not too difficult when I put my mind to it and when I invest my heart and soul into seeking the truth. Every single time I pray about what I am to do to help heal the world, answers come to me, usually within 24 hours. And I know when it's the right thing for me - it just fits, you know? Like Cinderella's glass slipper - it will only fit one foot, and you know when it slides right on without effort, there is no question about it. It's crystal clear.
And these things that he lays before me - they are not small. They may look small to the outside observer, but they feel huge to me, because they are each and every one a very precious gift for me to experience the joy of doing something significant that touches another. Something that will make a difference in the bigger picture, whether it's for one individual or for many. By doing one "small" thing, it grows and blossoms as it ripples out to many others who catch the wave of love and are touched, directly or indirectly, by the light which is cast from its origin. Nothing we do with great love is small! That's the bottom line. And I believe that's what Michael was here to teach us.
There is also great power in numbers. There have been times when group projects have come to my attention and I will lend my own individual abilities to help put it together. One small part, but a team effort. Each part is just as important as the next, and if any part were left out, it could not be done. Working together on a mutually inspired project increases its value and its impact. As Michael sang so passionately in the powerful song We've Had Enough, "There's nothing that can't be done if we raise our voice as one!" When I think of what Michael left for us - all the people around the world who love him and believe in his goodness - we have a rich and fertile foundation of many who share a common belief and a common goal to carry on Michael’s work in the world, to make a difference in his name. Altogether, we are a powerful force for good which is bound to have a significant impact!
When individuals work on projects alone, they can share their ideas through the use of modern technology, providing inspiration for others to do the same. I have a friend who happens to be gifted not only in making beautiful videos about Michael, but also in coming up with creative ideas for projects she can do in her own community. I was intrigued with a particular project she worked on recently when she shared her video with me, showing what she had done. I was so impressed with this “small” project which was done with such great love, I knew immediately that this was something I would love to do, and I am planning to do it very soon in my little corner of Oregon. I also have made plans with another MJ friend in Oregon to meet half-way between our two communities and spend a day together spreading Michael’s love in this very special way.
My friend, Wednesday55, has given me permission to share her video with you here. You may have already seen it as it has recently been featured on the Tribute Portrait website and has been spreading among the MJ fan community on the internet. Take a look:
Now, doesn’t that just fill your heart with warmth and love? This idea - sharing pieces of Michael's heart & soul - his words, which were one of the most precious gifts he left for us - so simple, yet so profound!! What a wonderful tribute to him and a beautiful way to give some very blessed people an opportunity to have a glimpse into Michael's true heart and to feel his love! I just know Michael is grinning from ear to ear over this wonderful project being passed along from one to another and spreading with love around the world! By doing this, people who may not otherwise have noticed are unexpectedly receiving the gift of his brilliant light - his Divine inspiration!! How divine is that?
Sometimes we may feel that the “small” things we do are insignificant in the bigger picture, but when we perform a random act of kindness from our hearts with great love, as in this project, and when we share it with others via email, facebook, twitter, YouTube - any of the mediums available to us - there starts the ripple, and the wave of love & light spreads far and wide. Imagine for a moment the people who will stumble upon these little gems. Maybe one of the messages is found by someone who needed some extra love that day, or who had been searching for something to add meaning to their life, but hadn't quite found it yet. Upon reading this message from Michael, their hearts are touched by his words and they decide to find out more about this man, just as we all have done, and thus begins their journey back to their own heart and to a place where they can help others too. This is not small! This is how we as individuals and as a collective force for goodness and love, will make a difference in the world - and that is bigger than the moon and the stars!
Small things done with great love ARE great things!!
We don’t always know what form it will take Whisper of creation sends an invitation, Makes the call God’s message delivered to seal our fate Asks us to serve, to give it our all
Can’t ignore the call from The Man It’s the real deal, part of the plan Of what we are to be and do An amazing gift for me and you
The wind holds the clue Holy Spirit, life anew Speaks to your soul from heaven above Wrapped in a blanket of love
Listen carefully and you will know The greatest show in all of creation Is yours to unfold Your light to behold!
God will take your hand, never leave you alone As you make your stand and set the tone For love and peace and harmony The world is your stage for eternity
You may wonder, how can one person be Everything to all humanity?
By joining hands with others One cause, one message, its strength will grow It’s all for LOVE, don’t you know?
Plain and simple, it shouldn’t be hard Love is the answer to all that we are This world needs it right from the start Good for the soul, feeds the heart
Creation sings to one and all The message is LOVE This is the call!
I don’t want to leave this place At the edge of the sea I feel that you are here In the wind and the waves In the cry of a seagull In the moon that hovers in the sky Watching over me as I cry
Touching me Bringing me back to my heart once again The place where I always want to be I never want to leave that place in my heart Please….keep touching me
Every time you touch me I become a hero Barriers disappear as if by magic All the impossible becomes possible Because of you Now I know what I can do
Words will sing and dance on the page Expressing from my heart This love Your light Awareness of all the beauty around The things we must keep Ever close, ever safe
My heart sings the song And I understand What it is I need to do Because of you
