THE PRINCE OF PEACE

In the middle of a forest

There's a clearing by a stream

Where a mother holds her newborn

And the child begins to dream

And he dreams of hopes unspoken

When the tears of man will cease

And his mother holds him closer

For he is the Prince of Peace

And the moon is looking downward

Casting shadows through the trees

And the stars are shining brighter

As they whisper what they see

How the emperor and the pauper

With the lion and the lamb

Kneel down before the infant

For his peace they understand

Let the bells ring out the news

Let it echo across the land

That a king is born this day

And his kingdom is at hand

Let the world rejoice together

As it looks upon the stars

Knowing every man's our brother

And that every child is ours

Yes, he dreams of hopes unspoken

When the tears of man will cease

To the emperor and the pauper

He IS the Prince of Peace!

~ adapted from lyrics on

Trans-Siberian Orchestra's album:

"Christmas Eve and Other Stories"

**************************​***********

Light looked down and saw darkness.

"I will go there," said Light.

Peace looked down and saw war.

"I will go there," said Peace.

Love looked down and saw hatred.

"I will go there," said Love.

So the Lord of Light,

the Prince of Peace,

the King of Love

came down and lived among us.

~ "Cloth for the Cradle," Iona Community ~

**************************​***********

Reconciling God, you have bridged the gap between darkness and light. May we move closer to the Light of Christ with each passing breath. Amen.

O Christmas Sun!

“O Christmas Sun! What holy task is thine! To fold a world in the embrace of God!”

~ Guy Wetmore Carryl ~

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

O Christmas Sun, My Love, My Light

You’ve given me strength to endure the night

In a fleeting moment you did appear

You gave me hope, took away my fear

You touched my soul, so deep, so true

And brought me joy at the sight of you

Your heart is warm, your beauty bright

Your gift is Love, My Sun, My Light!

~

Forever and Always, Michael…

“I thank God!”

~ Charlene ~

12/28/2009

Copyright © 2009 by C. Burgess

My very first poem - written at the end of my very first Christmas retreat at the ocean - during which I had my very first vision of Michael on the evening of Christmas Day. I have never told anyone about this vision because I’d never had an experience like this and I didn’t quite know what to make of it. I’ll never forget it though!! He communicated a few things to me somehow - I don’t know - telepathically or something. The very first thing he said was “I thank God! I didn’t know where you were!”... like he had been searching for me!

As we approach Christmas, I just wanted to share my little miracle from 2 years ago with you today. May God bless you all this Christmas season with Love, Peace and Joy beyond measure. And also...

Remember the Gift, the sweet Kiss of Love

Magical Child sent to earth from above.

In all you do and all you say, may it be expressed with Love this day...

and every day along the way!

~♥~

Copyright © 2011 by C. Burgess

The Greatest and the Least of Me

- Photo by C. Burgess -

Northern California Redwoods

July, 2009

How many times will my faith be tested

How many times must I face this wall

How can I be sure of this path where you have placed me

when I continue to stumble and fall

Two years long this journey has been

Two years short I’ve been in heaven

Finding you, finding me

Oh, this journey would be

the greatest and the least of all of me

Learning to fly so high in the sky

Daring to chase my demons away

You’ve shown me how to deal with doubt

My fear be gone with a simple song

and a choice to change what I see is wrong

But once in a while something will trigger

an old habit, belief, or unreasonable fear

And then again my faith is tested

I face that wall, I stumble and fall

Doubt and fear loom large and near

Take over my being and make me believe

for an instant… I have no significance

And you are simply a figment of my wildest imagination

Then I choose once again to believe in you, my friend

To believe in me and this fateful journey

It’s your love that moves me

to rewrite my history

How many times can I say thank you again

How many times will my faith be tested

And how many times will your love remain

6/22/11

Copyright © 2011 by Charlene Burgess

My deep LOVE and gratitude to you, Beloved, for continuing to nudge me through these stumbling blocks and on to the next level of this incredible journey!!

Star Light, Star Bright

Star light, star bright
Twinkling in the moonlight
My soul rejoices at the sight
Of your brilliance on this glorious night!

Love is reflected in your shimmering glow
Millions cheer as you put on your show
Heavenly wonder from the very start
The beginning of time, the first beat of your heart

I can only imagine the secrets that lie
In the vastness of universes beyond the sky
Mysteries unfolding in time and in space
Singing a song only God can trace

Star light, star bright
Twinkling in the moonlight
My soul rejoices at the sight
Of your brilliance on this glorious night!

Your beauty is truly a sight to behold
The dance you perform for the angels unfolds
Giving life to the heavens, keeping time to the beat
The wind holds the rhythm, creates passion and heat

Your greatness is evident, your purpose so clear
How can I measure up, I’m not even near
My very existence on this planet called Earth
Is nothing more than a grain of sand, a speck of dirt

Star light, star bright
Twinkling in the moonlight

Your reason for being seems much grander than mine
But the truth is we’re both in line
For a love so great, God has gifted us the feeling
Each holding a spark in our hearts worth revealing

The love held within must be shared or, you see
The light will go out, we can’t let that be
Sparkle and shimmer ‘til the end of all time
Pass it on, make a difference, save a life, let it shine!

Star light, star bright
Twinkling in the moonlight
My soul rejoices at the sight
Of your brilliance on this glorious night!

Your warmth will stay on, reside in my heart
As long as you dare to keep twinkling in the dark
Light my world, star bright, inspire me within
To be all that I can be, share my gift, all that’s given!

01/30/10
Copyright © 2010 by Charlene Burgess

You Are There

In the stillness that surrounds me

A velvet hum fills the air

Your love envelops me

And I know you are there

Listening to the wind as it rustles through the trees

Whispering in my ear Creation’s story

A soft gentle breeze

Tells me you are there

In the sky so blue

Bright and cool

Clear as the waters of a tropical sea

You are there watching over me

In the flame of a candle

Or a crackling fire

The warmth of your love

The heat of your desire

Reaches for me in the darkness

Melting my fear

And I know you are there

In the music that speaks to me

Of love in paradise

Heaven’s in our hearts

And the dawn’s forever different

Because you are there

God’s gift for all time

Waiting and wondering no more

His love has opened the door

And you are there

Tears of gratitude

Flow from my heart

This gift eternal

Will never part

And I know you are there

Until the moon stops glowing

Or the stars refuse to shine

In other words

Until the end of time

09/05/10

Copyright © 2010 by Charlene Burgess

You Are Mine

I will come to you in the silence

I will lift you from all your fear

You have heard my voice

I’ve claimed you as my choice

Be still and know I am here

I am hope for all who are hopeless

I am eyes for all who long to see

In the shadows of the night

I will be your light

Come and rest in me

Do not be afraid, I am with you

I have called you each by name

Come and follow me

I will bring you home

I love you, and you are mine

I am strength for all the heavy laden

Healing for the ones who dwell in shame

The blind will one day see

Declare “I now believe!”

And all will know my name

I am the Love that leads all to freedom

I offer peace the world cannot give

I have called your name

Embracing all your pain

Now stand, walk beside me, and live!

Do not be afraid, I am with you

I have called you each by name

Come and follow me

I will bring you home

I love you, and you are mine

~ Charlene Burgess ~

Adaptation of original song lyrics by David Haas

The Invitation

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain! I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's not pretty, every day, and if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, “Yes!”

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

copyright © 1999 by Oriah Mountain Dreamer


I want to know... Do you believe that a change is gonna come? And will you be there with me to make that change, when change is the only way? ~ C. Burgess

This Is It

This month’s Major Love Prayer was no doubt one of the most powerful I have experienced so far. I felt as if I was very clearly focused and I had an amazing visualization in the midst of my prayers. I was hanging around outside the courthouse in LA, mingling with others who were there for the same purpose - waiting for the verdict in the Conrad Murray trial to be announced. There was a palpable energy in the air - the energy of anticipation as we waited for the final word from the jury to come down. Almost 2 ½ years since Michael’s death, and an ocean of tears later, we were finally going to have some kind of resolution to the question that had been hanging over this inconceivable injustice far too long. Would Murray be found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and would he be sentenced to the maximum prison term of 4 years for this crime? As meager as this sentence seems for the substantial loss of the life of Michael Joe Jackson to this world, it would at least give us a sense that some sort of justice was being served.

As I mingled with other fans, I could feel Michael’s presence among us. The anticipation built to a crescendo of emotions that were overflowing from all of our hearts in those moments of waiting. But there was also a lightness in the air - a sense of excitement and a feeling of celebration as we shared our common love for this one incredible human being. We all knew how abundantly blessed we were to have been touched by Michael’s spirit! And we knew that more and more people around the world were being awakened to the truth of his essence and his purpose because of this trial.

As the energy continued to build in the crowd, people started gathering into a prayer circle. There were several hundred people there - the circle was huge! As we bowed our heads to pray, I felt Michael by my side, holding my hand. There was a warmth from his hand that traveled up my arm and spread through my entire body. His love and concern for all of us was very evident to me. I could also feel his joy over the love we were all sharing because of him and also over the fact that he could be there with us! He squeezed my hand once, as if sending me a signal that everything was going to be alright.

Then, in the middle of our prayer, we heard a massive whooshing sound overhead. We looked up at the courthouse building and there were white doves flying out of every single window in the building! The sky quickly filled with hundreds of doves as cheers rose up from the crowd. Even though we did not hear the verdict, we knew it had been announced and there was much joy and celebration as we all lifted our hands up to the sky!

I’ve been pondering this visualization all week, assuming that the verdict had been 'guilty', even though I did not hear it during my meditation. And I realized something new as I was discovering and downloading ‘new’ videos of Michael this weekend. It’s almost as if they were coming out of the woodwork - full-length versions of concerts and interviews and 'making of' specials that I have never seen before!! I wondered “why are these videos showing up now?” Just like those doves filling the sky, it has been like an outpouring of Love - a celebration of Michael’s life and work! I have cried more tears - tears of sorrow for what happened to him and tears of joy for knowing him and experiencing his love! I realized today as I sat down to write this devotion that no matter what the verdict is in this case, we will always be able to celebrate Michael. What he has given us will never cease to exist. THIS IS IT… his message… his work… his love… will live forever, and the verdict cannot change that!

Rejoice in You!

Thank you, beloved
for blazing your brilliance into my world
For showing me that real Love
is more than a dream
It wraps itself around and inside of my being
when you touch me
When your light descends
from the moon and the stars
To warm my heart,
caress my soul
And you whisper
a promise of your everlasting glow

You are now forever young, my love
You fly on the wings of pure white doves
Nothing escapes you
Everything seeks you
The earth and the heavens
Rejoice in you!

In the silence of midnight
I find you
In the quiet of my soul
you linger
Singing your song
You extend an invitation
to Love… compassion… sanctuary… vision
A glorious future paved with gold
and the brilliant colors of your dreams
Your mission to behold!
All that was yours
is now mine, it seems

You are now forever young, my love
You fly on the wings of pure white doves
Nothing escapes you
Everything seeks you
The earth and the heavens
Rejoice in you!

10/31/11
2011 © by Charlene Burgess

Photo Credits: Above photo-art (Courthouse & MJ with arms spread)

provided by Major Love Prayer - Thank You MLP!!

Perseverance

When we have challenges
that seem to weigh us down

May Perseverance be our strength

When we have lost someone we love
and don’t think we can go on

May our sustenance be our Faith

When we have been hurt
by the words or actions of others

May Love be our weapon of choice

When we are worried about the future
and other worldly matters

May Hope be our vision’s voice

God has given us all that we need
to Persevere
to live our Faith
to Love
and to embrace Hope

May we always remember
to seek Divine guidance
and to use these gifts bestowed

Amen

10/24/11
© 2011 ~ Charlene Burgess

HOPE

May the music remind us that Hope abides
Within each heart where it never dies

They cannot take what lies within
It’s ours to hold, it’s where Love begins

Hope remembers that soft place to land
Where beauty and truth are close at hand

When everything seems made of stone
Hope’s light will lead you home

So reach within where the music lies
Where Hope lives on and never dies

10/02/11
Copyright © 2011 Charlene Burgess


“Remember, Red…
Hope is a good thing
Maybe the best of things
And no good thing ever dies.”
~ Andy ~
from the movie, Shawshank Redemption

Southern Oregon Coast - photo by C. Burgess
(Yes, Red… the Pacific IS as blue as you’ve seen in your dreams!)

THIS GIFT ETERNAL

We carry in our hearts
All that He has given us…
His Music… His Joy… His Life
He wants us to remember
To always remember
He’ll be right by our side
For all time

We hold it dear
This gift eternal…
His Love… His Hope… His Light
He lives in us
And will never part
For we are always
First and foremost in His heart

10/02/11
Copyright © 2011 Charlene Burgess

In the Light

What is this light we have been given? How do we use it? How do we stay in it? And how do we ensure that Michael’s legacy of Love and the light he shared with the world continue into perpetuity? Certainly, all that he did on his own is powerful enough to make that happen, isn’t it? So, why did he plant that seed in each of us? Was it just for our own enjoyment, our own healing, our own pleasure? Well, partly. I believe Michael does want us to enjoy what he has given us. He certainly wants us to heal and to find pleasure in this wonderful gift! But I also believe he wants us to use this gift to keep the ripple going, to help heal the world, to shed more light on the darkness of humanity, and to invite others to join us in the light. If we hold the gift to ourselves, the light will fade - it will eventually be extinguished and then we will have nothing to share. This flame which burns so brightly within us now must be shared in order for it to continue burning. And once shared, it grows and spreads like wildfire!

A perfect example of this can be found in a story I recently came across about some college students here in the U.S. who joined together and made a choice to greet a group of haters with Love. They became aware of a particular well-known ‘hate’ group that was planning to stage a protest demonstration on their campus (an outside group). The university is known for being accepting of ALL people, and this hate group’s intent was to protest (under the guise of being Christian) the university’s acceptance of ‘certain types’ of people. Well, these university students initially wanted to respond in an aggressive manner, but they got together and formulated a different plan - one that involved reaching out in Love. They showed up for the scheduled demonstration and, acting as hosts, offered their guests free hugs, cookies and hot cocoa. Hundreds of students showed up to share their Love, casting a brilliant light on what could have been a very dark situation! They also worked on their own campaign called “God Loves Poetry” (which, I understand, is a national campaign) where they took this group’s hate-filled flyers & press releases and, using black markers, edited them into beautiful “Love Notes from God”, then they posted them around campus. This single incident may not have changed the hate group’s agenda, but I’m sure it threw them off course a bit! And it certainly sparked a lot of discussion around campus and in the community, creating a new paradigm for ways to respond to darkness! Now, this new paradigm message continues to spread as this story is published in the news and throughout the internet… and the ripple continues.

I wanted to share this because it brought me a sense of peace and it reminded me of the power of Light and Love. They are much more powerful than any darkness or hate, I really believe that! And this story is only one example of that power. In the last 2 years, I've been hearing more and more stories about remarkable things happening - a shift in human behavior and consciousness - a change in the way people are responding to darkness. I'm not saying there was nothing good happening before, but it seems when Michael left this earth the universe shifted. His light scattered so far and wide that millions of little torches were lit that day and in the months that followed. It’s impossible for others within the torch carrier’s midst not to be affected by that light. By shining our light in the world, we are indirectly sharing Michael’s light with others. In fact, there are probably people around us who don’t even have a clue about Michael, yet they have been touched by his light because of the change in us! I LOVE the idea of that!!!

I can see a bonfire on the horizon and I am so grateful to be a little spark at the start of that worldwide glow! Hmmm...makes me wonder if there will be a day when someone will look at the earth from a distance and be able to see this glow - more brilliant than it’s ever been before!! Oh, that is a day I hunger for!

 

Dear Michael,
You are such a blessing to me and I can’t thank you enough for your love and your unwavering belief in me! Have I already said this? Well, it doesn’t matter, because it bears repeating! You are the light of my life, my heart and my soul, my reason for continuing to exist! What you are showing me is my own power, my own ability to do what needs to be done. If it weren’t for you, I would be lost somewhere in the dark chasm of humanity’s ignorance. You showed me the light and I didn’t want to be in the dark anymore! You lifted me from it because of who you were on this earth! What’s so crazy about all of this is that I didn’t even realize I needed to be lifted from anything until it happened and I could see where I had been. I now recognize this ignorance in other people where I didn’t see it before. I understand it and I have empathy for what they don’t even realize is engulfing them. How does that switch get flipped? How does one invite others to step into the light with them when they don’t even realize they’re in the dark?

Into the Light

This is an invitation
An extreme revelation
My hand extends
To pull you in

My heart beseeches
Step into the light with me
I’ll lift you from the dark
The place where you can no longer
find your own heart

I’ll help you to see
What this love can do
In the light of your soul
It will set you free
How can you deny
This gift I bestow

I’m telling you
You won’t even realize
Until I can show you
What you’ve been missing
…until now

Love, beauty and joy beyond measure
It is God’s truth
God’s wish
God’s infinite pleasure
To see you remade
Into the one he wanted you to be

He has chosen me
To help you find your own reality
Step into the light with me
And you will see
The “you” you were created to be

12/31/10
Copyright © 2010 Charlene Burgess

When God provides us with opportunities to share the Truth about Michael, there are wonderful tools available for us to use - websites and information dedicated to documenting the truth about Michael Jackson, put together by people who have spent countless hours researching and compiling all the stories, articles, quotes by people who knew him, analysis of court documents and the autopsy report, and the list goes on and on. We don’t have to do the research - it’s already been done for us. All we have to do is read it and refer others to it when there’s a question. And as long as we are sharing this Truth in the new light we have been given and with love in our hearts, there is no doubt in my mind that the Truth will prevail. What a blessing it is that Michael’s love and light inspired a handful of people to dedicate themselves to this endeavor! We are all being shown the power of what we can do when we stay in the light and extend our hand in love inviting others to join us there.

Flower Power

 The Message of the Sunflowers:
a Magic Symbol of Peace
by Georgianna Moore
1927-2002

Once upon a time the earth was even more beautiful than it is today. The water was pure and deep, reflecting within itself the sunlight which gave life to all the creatures beneath the waves.

The earth was green with many kinds of trees and plants. These gave food and shelter to the birds, the animals, and to all mankind. At night the air was so clear that the starlight gave a glow almost as bright as the moon.

The people of the earth lived close to nature. They understood it and honored it and never took more than what they needed from it. The people lived in peace so they prospered and began to build many nations all around the world according to nature’s climate.

But one day, a terrible thing happened. A strange spirit of greed entered the hearts of mankind. People began to be jealous of one another, and they were not satisfied with all the good things they already had. The nations wanted more and more of everything: more land, more water, more resources. They squeezed precious minerals from the earth to build terrible weapons to defend their nations from other greedier nations. They killed one another. They polluted the air and the water with poisons. Nature began to die.

This is called war. War is ugly. It destroys love and hope and peace.

Then one day a magical thing occurred. The birds of the air, the animals of the land, and the creatures beneath the water came to an agreement: if they were to survive, something would have to be done to stop these wars. Only through peace could their world survive.

“We cannot speak the human language,” they declared, “and mankind can no longer understand ours. We must find among us a symbol of peace so brilliant that all who see it will stop and remember that peace and sharing is beautiful.”

“I am what you need,” said a golden sunflower. “I am tall and bright. My leaves are food for the animals, my yellow petals can turn plain cloth to gold, my seeds are many and are used for food by all living beings. Yet, the seeds I drop upon the ground can take root and I will grow again and again. I can be your symbol of peace.”

All nature rejoiced, and it was decided that the birds would each take one sunflower seed and they would fly over every nation and plant the seed in the earth as a gift. The seeds took root and grew, and the sunflowers multiplied.

Wherever the sunflowers grew, there seemed to be a special golden glow in the air. The people could not ignore such a magical sight.

Soon they began to understand the message of the sunflowers so they decided to destroy all of their terrible weapons and to put an end to the greed and to the fear of war. They chose the sunflower as a symbol of peace and new life for all the world to recognize and understand.

A ceremony was celebrated by planting a whole field of sunflowers. Artists painted pictures of the sunflowers, writers wrote about them, and the people of the world were asked to plant more sunflower seeds as a symbol of remembrance.

All nature rejoiced once more as the golden sunflowers stood tall with their faces turned eastward to the rising sun, then followed the sun until it set in the west.

They gave their goodness to the world so that everyone who sees a sunflower will know that the golden light of peace is beautiful.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As many of Michael’s fans and the media gather outside the courthouse next week on the first day of Murray‘s trial, try to imagine the feeling in the air. The anticipation of this long-awaited trial has built to a crescendo and the energy is palpable. We are, after all, on the threshold of some sort of resolution to this horrific injustice. We all want our beloved Michael to be vindicated, as he should be, but we are braced for the inevitable litany (by Murray’s defense and especially by the media) of all the untruths and misunderstandings which plagued Michael throughout his life. The reality of having to stand by and helplessly watch as Michael is stripped of his dignity in the public eye once again is almost more than we can bear. The oceans of tears we have shed since his death over 2 years ago are still fresh and the pain of his loss is still an open wound, raw and throbbing.

We are concerned about his children and we want so achingly for the world to understand the absolute truth about everything that was good and honest and real about Michael Joseph Jackson. All of these emotions have stirred our determination to do what is right and our passion for seeing that the truth be told! But being the unique individuals we were created to be, we don’t always agree on how to go about it. Tension and disrespect have been fostered between fans on the web as individual opinions are expressed, and disagreements have fueled the fire of our desire to see justice finally be done for the man we all love. We have turned on each other, making judgments where we have no right to. We have created division where there once was unity.

This is called war. War is ugly. It destroys love and hope and peace.

In the midst of our determination, we have forgotten why we came together in the first place. And we have forgotten that we, along with his family and friends, are now Michael’s representatives in this world.

Michael was always about Love and Peace. Now WE must be the peacemakers!

When the Call For Love facebook group was first started this spring, and the trial was initially set to begin in May, there was a small group of us that formulated a plan to restore unity among the fans and to create an atmosphere of Love and Peace at the courthouse on the first day of the trial. We gathered our resources and made plans to order 100 sunflowers to be delivered to the courthouse and distributed among the various fan groups there before the Jacksons would arrive. We also ordered 4 white roses, each to be handed directly to the Jackson women as they entered the courthouse. Now, finally, after these long months of waiting for the trial to begin, our plan will be carried out! Our friend in LA, Betty Byrnes, is going to do everything she can to make sure it is carried out in a way that will foster Peace among the fans in the midst of the chaos. Fans who are now divided will be unified by the offering of Peace as symbolized by the sunflower. All of us who cannot physically be there for this important day in Michael's HIStory will be represented in this offering of Peace, Love and Unity that was Michael’s message! The lines of division will be erased as each sunflower is passed from one to another - differences forgotten in a moment that acknowledges our singleness of purpose! Barriers torn down in true Michael-fashion for the world to witness.

Imagine the sea of sunflowers visible to everyone there, including the media. This will help us all to remember that we have a responsibility to always be about Peace and Love as Michael’s representatives in the world - during this trial and for the rest of our lives.





THIS IS IT! … THIS is how we Love him and honor him!

"Dear God, Bless us all as we move closer to this important trial in Michael's HIStory. May we be true representatives of the Love and Peace which Michael LIVED every single day of his life. Help us to be the embodiment of that perfect Love in all we do, so that we may effect the change which is so badly needed in this world today. Thank you for the gift of Michael and for his gift of Love and Peace upon this Earth. Amen." ~ written by C. Burgess

Attitude of Gratitude

When I think of gratitude, I think of blessings - blessings in the basic things of everyday life, many of which we tend to take for granted unless we make a concerted effort to acknowledge them and to find the gift that lies within each one. Each time I pray, I begin the prayer with a ‘thank you’ to God for things which I see as blessings in my life on that day. This helps me to remember what is most important, and by expressing gratitude to my creator, acknowledging first the blessings, this cultivates a positive attitude in me which stays with me throughout the day.

Gratitude also makes me think of the unexpected blessings concealed in some of our most difficult trials. Although I don't believe God causes hurtful things to happen to us, I do believe God is right there with us in our darkest hour loving us through our pain and anguish. We receive Divine Love through the people who are there to offer hugs, comfort, understanding, prayers and assistance when needed. Opportunities to find healing solutions in the midst of our deepest hurt are also available if we are open to seeing them. And it is in that healing we may discover surprising ways in which we can use our experience to help others.

These are just a few of the blessings concealed within the challenges we face. The beautiful thing about it is that whether we see the blessings or not is our choice. God has given US the power to determine our own experience! If we don't get that, and we spend our lives passively waiting and expecting someone else or God to change our circumstances so that we can feel better, we miss the point, and we miss the gift - the gift of choosing… choosing gratitude for the experience because we know the experience will bless us with greater wisdom and Love!

If we view life’s challenges as struggles which we cannot overcome, we will spend the majority of our time wallowing in self-pity and misery and we will have nothing to give to others, much less to ourselves. But when we view life’s inevitable challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, we are living in an attitude of gratitude and will have much to share with others from our experience and our positive outlook. The key is to remember that everyone faces challenges in their lives, even those who appear to have it all and who seem to always be happy. Chances are, they have made the choice to perceive their challenges as gifts… blessings that can be used for good.

Something else that comes to mind when I think of gratitude is Michael’s example of how he used his gifts to their full potential and how he always expressed sincere gratitude for the gifts he was given. We are all given special gifts and talents which are bestowed upon each of us by the creator. We have a responsibility to nurture those gifts, using them to make the most of our lives and to share them with others. Expressing humble gratitude for our gifts and creating a better world by giving from the abundance which we have been given is, I believe, what we are all called to do.

Finally, when I think of gratitude, I think of the Gift of Michael Joseph Jackson. He is a beautiful and powerful Divine Gift to this world! One of the sentiments I have heard expressed so often by fans and admirers is gratitude for having lived on this earth while he was here. I can’t say it enough how extremely grateful I am for the blessing of being here during his lifetime. I thank God for him every single day! Maya Angelou wrote a beautiful poem which was read by Queen Latifa at Michael’s memorial service on July 7, 2009, and which expresses so aptly how Michael belonged to the world. Collectively, as painful as his physical loss to this world has been, the world will be forever grateful that we had him!


WE HAD HIM

Beloveds, now we know that we know nothing,
now that our bright and shining star can slip away
from our fingertips like a puff of summer wind.

Without notice, our dear love
can escape our doting embrace.
Sing our songs among the stars
and walk our dances across the face of the moon.

In the instant that Michael is gone,
we know nothing.
No clocks can tell time.
No oceans can rush our tides
with the abrupt absence of our treasure.

Though we are many,
each of us is achingly alone,
piercingly alone.

Only when we confess our confusion
can we remember
that he was a gift to us
and we did have him.

He came to us from the creator,
trailing creativity in abundance.

Despite the anguish,
his life was sheathed in mother love,
family love,
and survived and did more than that.

He thrived with passion and compassion,
humor and style.
We had him whether we know who he was or did not know,
he was ours and we were his.

We had him,
beautiful, delighting our eyes.
His hat, aslant over his brow,
and took a pose on his toes for all of us.

And we laughed and stomped our feet for him.
We were enchanted with his passion
because he held nothing.
He gave us all he had been given.

Today in Tokyo,
beneath the Eiffel Tower,
in Ghana's Black Star Square.
In Johannesburg and Pittsburgh,
in Birmingham, Alabama, and Birmingham, England
We are missing Michael.

But we do know we had him,
and we are the world.

~Maya Angelou

Let us remember as we face the inevitable pain of the upcoming trial…
"Our pain only has value if we use it to change the world. Otherwise, it's only pointless suffering." (by Diana Foley)

May our suffering not be pointless, and may we continue to use our pain (and Michael's) to change the world!!

One In Consciousness: The Great Divide

On my most recent retreat to the Oregon coast, I was surprised the very first time I walked out to the beach - "my beach" which I had visited regularly for many years - and I found the landscape of this beach to be entirely different than what had become familiar to me over the last decade. Much of the driftwood that had gathered over time at the edge of the seagrass was gone - only a few scattered pieces remained. And there was a noticeably large indentation in the sand about halfway to the shoreline which ran the entire length of the beach as far as I could see.

I looked around for familiar landmarks to make sure I was at the right beach! I was quite puzzled for several minutes until I remembered... Of course! The earthquake in Japan in March of this year and the tsunami that followed and travelled halfway around the world to our shores! I had heard reports that there were some large waves that made their way to our coast a few days after the tsunami hit Japan, but I had not really thought about the effect this would have on the landscape. There had been no serious damage to any property near the beaches, but just seeing the change in the landscape gave me an eerie feeling about how we are all connected to one another and that what happens halfway around the world can have a powerful impact on all of us. The vast bodies of water which separate us do not necessarily keep us safe and protected when tragedy strikes our neighbors across the sea. The "Great Divide" is not a true barrier and does not shield us from the effects of Mother Nature nor our environmental conditions.

When one looks at the earth from a distance, it is true that you see the contrast between land and water on this beautiful blue planet. But there are no dividing lines anywhere. We are indeed ONE body together in this world during our time here. That which effects one country or continent, most always effects everyone on the planet. The accidental release of nuclear energy following the earthquake in March is a prime example of this. I have prayed numerous times for this disaster to bring about positive change in the way we work together with other government leaders to solve these problems. I don't believe that is happening yet, but I still have hope that it will.

If Michael were still here, I have no doubt he would have responded to this disaster with not only relief aid to the most devastated areas, but also an important message in his music about our responsibility to each other, no matter our race or culture or religious beliefs. He would be reminding us that we are ONE in Consciousness as we grapple with the challenge of solving the problems we have created by our divisive thinking. Once again, he would be attempting to bring us together in the name of Love for our fellow human beings, for the children, and for the planet!

FORCE OF NATURE

The landscape of the shore
Has changed its form
When did this happen
How could this be

The force of nature
Traveled ‘cross the sea
From an earthquake in Japan
And the inevitable tsunami

It touched our shores
This long distance away
Our hearts were transformed
And our land caught the fray

It tells a story of disaster
A tragedy unmeasured
Lives lost, homes destroyed
Their landscape changed forever

A nuclear threat
Unleashed to the world
We cannot escape it
No matter the distance

Suddenly this earth
Is smaller than it’s ever been
We’re in this together, you see
Always have been
Always will be

He’s been trying to tell us
But we haven’t been listening
The brotherhood of man
Has been deaf to his cause

We must reach across the ocean
This great divide
And take responsibility
For the sake of our lives

Hold hands across the sea
Say a prayer to One God
That we can find a solution
To these problems we’ve got

We created them together
Even though we’ve never met
It’s time to come together
In the name of common sense

We must recognize
Our neighbors over there
Look each other in the eyes
And say I’ll meet you where
We can find a compromise

Our lives are not so different
As we often think they are
We can’t hide behind this great divide
Can’t close our eyes anymore

‘Cause the force of nature
Has traveled ‘cross the sea
And touched our shore

06/21/2011
Copyright © 2011 by Charlene Burgess

THE GREAT DIVIDE

The great divide
Really isn’t what its name implies
It’s what connects us
The water of the sea
It travels ‘round the world
Shore to shore
From you to me
Carrying with it untold treasures
Stories of life and love and natural disasters
Only the sea knows where it’s been
Its secrets will tell
It is where we begin
To see our connection
‘round this beautiful globe
This gift from the heavens
The place we call home
Though people are different
In culture and name and color of skin
Inside we’re all the same
We’re all God’s children
We laugh and we cry
We love and we hurt
Can’t always say why
God made us to be
In His image, you see
And that is why
The great divide
Cannot really separate us
One from the other
We’re each the same
We are not our color

06/21/2011
Copyright © 2011 by Charlene Burgess

One In Consciousness: That One In The Mirror

For today’s devotion, I am going to let our brilliant teacher Michael speak for me. I went searching in Dancing the Dream for a quote - anything that I could find related to the theme of One In Consciousness. I was certain there would be something I could use to launch my own dissertation on the subject. Well, I found that a great deal of anything Michael wrote touches on this concept. But when I came to page 143, I realized I had not read the following piece in a very long time. I started reading and found that this entire story speaks of being One In Consciousness… without saying it at all! Metaphorically, it makes the point loud and clear. And so, I want to share it with you here. Let’s explore the many ways Michael talks about today’s topic. As you read this incredible piece of creative writing, I ask you to select a phrase which speaks to you and share it with us in your comments. Then, if you can put it in your own words, tell us what it means to you in relation to the concept of being One in Consciousness. Let’s talk about it!

THAT ONE IN THE MIRROR

I wanted to change the world, so I got up one morning and looked in the mirror. That one looking back said, “There is not much time left. The earth is wracked with pain. Children are starving, Nations remain divided by mistrust and hatred. Everywhere the air and water have been fouled almost beyond help. Do something!”

That one in the mirror felt very angry and desperate. Everything looked like a mess, a tragedy, a disaster. I decided he must be right. Didn’t I feel terrible about these things, too, just like him? The planet was being used up and thrown away. Imagining earthly life just one generation from now made me feel panicky.

It was not hard to find the good people who wanted to solve the earth’s problems. As I listened to their solutions, I thought, “There is so much good will here, so much concern.” At night before going to bed, that one in the mirror looked back at me seriously. “Now we’ll get somewhere,” he declared. “If everybody does their part.”

But everybody didn’t do their part. Some did, but were they stopping the tide? Were pain, starvation, hatred, and pollution about to be solved? Wishing wouldn’t make it so - I knew that. When I woke up the next morning, that one in the mirror looked confused. “Maybe it’s hopeless.” he whispered. Then a sly look came into his eyes, and he shrugged. “But you and I will survive. At least we are doing all right.”

I felt strange when he said that. There was something very wrong here. A faint suspicion came to me, one that had never dawned so clearly before. What if that one in the mirror isn’t me? He feels separate. He sees problems “out there” to be solved. Maybe they will be, maybe they won’t. He’ll get along. But I don’t feel that way - those problems aren’t “out there,” not really. I feel them inside me. A child crying in Ehtiopia, a sea gull struggling pathetically in an oil spill, a mountain gorilla being mercilessly hunted, a teenage soldier trembling with terror when he hears the planes fly over. Aren’t these happening in me when I see and hear about them?

The next time I looked in the mirror, that one looking back had started to fade. It was only an image after all. It showed me a solitary person enclosed in a neat package of skin and bones. “Did I once think you were me?” I began to wonder. I am not so separate and afraid. The pain of life touches me, but the joy of life is so much stronger. And it alone will heal. Life is the healer of life, and the most I can do for the earth is to be its loving child.

That one in the mirror winced and squirmed. He hadn’t thought so much about love. Seeing “problems” was much easier, because love means complete self-honesty. Ouch!

“Oh friend,” I whispered to him, “do you think anything can solve problems without love?” That one in the mirror wasn’t sure. Being alone for so long, not trusting others and being trusted by others, it tended to detach itself from the reality of life. “Is love more real than pain?” he asked..

“I can’t promise that it is. But it might be. Let’s discover,” I said. I touched the mirror with a grin. “Let’s not be alone again. Will you be my partner? I hear a dance starting up. Come.” That one in the mirror smiled shyly. He was realizing that we could be best friends. We could be more peaceful, more loving, more honest with each other every day.

Would that change the world? I think it will, because Mother Earth wants us to be happy and to love her as we tend her needs. She needs fearless people on her side, whose courage comes from being part of her, like a baby who is brave enough to walk because Mother is holding out her arms to catch him. When that one in the mirror is full of love for me and for him, there is no room for fear. When we were afraid and panicky, we stopped loving this life of ours and this earth. We disconnected. Yet how can anybody rush to help the earth if they feel disconnected? Perhaps the earth is telling us what she wants, and by not listening, we fall back on our own fear and panic.

One thing I know: I never feel alone when I am earth’s child. I do not have to cling to my personal survival as long as I realize, day by day, that all of life is in me. The children and their pain; the children and their joy. The ocean swelling under the sun; the ocean weeping with black oil. The animals hunted in fear; the animals bursting with the sheer joy of being alive.

This sense of “the world in me” is how I always want to feel. That one in the mirror has his doubts sometimes. So I am tender with him. Every morning I touch the mirror and whisper, “Oh, friend, I hear a dance. Will you be my partner? Come.”

~ Michael Jackson, Dancing the Dream

One In Service

Less than one month after I'd written my very first poem, I woke up one morning with an incredibly distinct memory of Michael having visited me in my sleep. Although I didn't remember the details of a dream, it was very clear to me that he had been there with me and I felt a sense of urgency about his visit. As I began to get ready for work, this urgency would not leave me alone and soon, words began to flow through me. I immediately stopped everything to capture them on paper. It was one of those times when the words were coming so rapidly I could hardly keep up, and I wasn't even totally aware of what I was writing. I could feel Michael's energy as I wrote. He was like Tigger - you know, Winnie the Pooh's Tigger - bouncing all around me with an excitement and joy that was palpable. He was poking and prodding me to get these words down and to DO something with them! It felt as if he had been waiting to give me this message for a very long time. As if my new gift of writing poetry was the medium through which he could most effectively communicate, and he could hardly wait to begin!

After months of getting little more than 3 or 4 hours of sleep every night since this "awakening" ignited that summer of 2009, I was only beginning to understand how it must have been for him all those years when he had difficulty sleeping, as God channeled his messages through him for the world to hear. His Gift was in receiving those messages and giving them to the world through his music and other writings in a way that would awaken us to the importance of God's concerns and the certainty of his Love.

At the time I didn't have a blog yet, and the only way I could share this message with the fan community was through a friend of mine who ran her own MJ website, MJUpbeat.com. I immediately sent it to her and asked that she post it. I also shared it with others at every opportunity. I had not yet begun to use facebook to connect with other MJ followers, so this poem has been waiting in the wings for another appropriate time to share it with you. I believe the time has come!

On this 53rd anniversary of the day the world was gifted with the new life of Michael Joseph Jackson, I share with you his message as it came through me a year and a half ago. It is simple and clear, not particularly profound, but given in the spirit of love and joy, with a playfulness that could only be Michael and an urgency that we understand the importance of our role as his voice in this world. He has been grooming us for some time now, gathering us together as One body with a common purpose...

"Today we stand together all around the world, joined in a common purpose to remake the planet into a haven of joy and understanding and goodness. No one should have to suffer, especially our children. This time we must succeed... this is for the children of the world."

~Michael Jackson
Intro to Heal the World
1993 Super Bowl

Michael's Message

You came to me in my sleep last night
I awoke without fright
Did you come to even the score?
Three hours of sleep, I can’t do this no more!

You said, Get up! Get up! There’s work to be done
This is not the time to be having fun!
There are children who need you all around the world
You have the gift, let the truth unfurl!

I don’t ask much of you except to be
an angel of love, to remember me
Others need to hear your voice
Tell how you’ve been moved, given the choice
to express my love in the world today
Because I can’t, you see, I’ve gone away

I need you to believe it’s true
The music will speak, it’s all right there for you

I lived and dreamed, sacrificed much
To share my gift, make a difference and such
Now it’s up to you to pass it along
Make the world a better place, remember the song?

Don’t forget to share some candy
It will bring a smile, make the children feel dandy!

Go now in peace and harmony
Remember I love you as much as can be
Your heart is mine
I will respond in kind
When we finally do meet
Our journeys complete
God will bring us together when the time is right
But now we must continue the fight
To change the world, put some love back in it
For the children, you know
... and for the planet!

01/24/10
Copyright © 2010 by Charlene Burgess

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Gods messengers are joyous, and their joy heals sorrow and despair."

A COURSE IN MIRACLES, Lesson 100
written by Helen Schucman
published by the Foundation for Inner Peace

My part is essential to God’s plan for salvation.

Just as God’s Son completes his Father, so your part in it completes your Father’s plan. Salvation must reverse the mad belief in separate thoughts and separate bodies, which lead separate lives and go their separate ways. One function shared by separate minds unites them in one purpose, for each one of them is equally essential to them all.

God’s Will for you is perfect happiness. Why should you choose to go against His Will? The part that He has saved for you to take in working out His plan is given you that you might be restored to what He wills. This part is as essential to His plan as to your happiness. Your joy must be complete to let His plan be understood by those to whom He sends you. They will see their function in your shining face, and hear God calling to them in your happy laugh.

You are indeed essential to God’s plan. Without your joy, His joy is incomplete. Without your smile, the world cannot be saved. While you are sad, the light that God Himself appointed as the means to save the world is dim and lusterless, and no one laughs because all laughter can but echo yours.

You are indeed essential to God’s plan. Just as your light increases every light that shines in Heaven, so your joy on earth calls to all minds to let their sorrows go, and take their place beside you in God’s plan. God’s messengers are joyous, and their joy heals sorrow and despair. They are the proof that God wills perfect happiness for all who will accept their Father’s gifts as theirs.

We will not let ourselves be sad today. For if we do, we fail to take the part that is essential to God’s plan, as well as to our vision. Sadness is the sign that you would play another part, instead of what has been assigned to you by God. Thus do you fail to show the world how great the happiness He wills for you. And so you do not recognize that it is yours.

Today we will attempt to understand joy is our function here. If you are sad, your part is unfulfilled, and all the world is thus deprived of joy, along with you. God asks you to be happy, so the world can see how much He loves His Son, and wills no sorrow rises to abate his joy; no fear besets him to disturb his peace. You are God’s messenger today. You bring His happiness to all you look upon; His peace to everyone who looks on you and sees His message in your happy face.

... [You must] realize your part is to be happy. Only this is asked of you or anyone who wants to take his place among God’s messengers. Think what this means. You have indeed been wrong in your belief that sacrifice is asked. You but receive according to God’s plan, and never lose or sacrifice or die.

Now let us try to find that joy that proves to us and all the world God’s Will for us. It is your function that you find it here, and that you find it now. For this you came. Let this one be the day that you succeed! Look deep within you, undismayed by all the little thoughts and foolish goals you pass as you ascend to meet the Christ in you...

You are essential to God’s plan for the salvation of the world!

Helen Schucman: A Course In Miracles, Lesson 100

Published by the Foundation for Inner Peace

One In Pain

“The time has come… It is now I see and feel that calling once again, to be part of a music that will not just connect, but make all feel one, one in joy, one in pain, one in love, one in service and in consciousness.”
~ Michael Jackson - posted on MJFC, 3/9/09

Well over a year ago, I decided to look through the news archives on the Michael Jackson Fan Club website in a fervent effort to find out all I could about Michael and what was going on in his life during his last months on this earth. I started with June of 2008 and worked my way up to June of 2009 and a little beyond. This quest of mine took me on an emotional journey that was somewhat unexpected. I don’t know why I didn’t expect it, but all I can say is that I entered into it just wanting to learn more about Michael. I think I also hoped to feel a little bit more a part of his life during that time. What were the fans talking about? And what was all the latest news about Michael?

I read about Michael sightings and the excitement they generated. Just knowing where he was and what he was doing seemed to fill the fan community with such joy. And the fact that he was back ‘home’ in the U.S. was also cause for celebration. Reassurance that he was OK and making plans for new projects seemed to be all that was needed by the fans to know that the object of their undying love and affection was on the mend and ready to give the world more of his amazing talent. There was great anticipation over the possibility of new music and maybe even another tour, but the details of the next big thing didn’t come to light until March 6, 2009 when he made the official announcement for the This Is It concerts at the O2 arena in London. The above quote, which is now historic, and quite possibly the last publicly released statement by Michael, was posted on the MJFC website just a few days after his official announcement of the tour. The whirlwind of activity that followed along with the news about ticket sales and the adding of concert dates to accommodate the astounding number of people who wanted tickets, created an energy that was palpable and very contagious!

What I didn’t anticipate going in to this quest is that with each news item I read, there was the inevitable reality of June 25, 2009 looming in my consciousness like a crouched cat, waiting for the right moment to strike. And as I got closer and closer to that date, my tension increased, my heart beat faster, and tears were shed more and more readily. The pain was unbearable at times, but I continued on my quest nonetheless. I felt almost like an observer, re-living those days and watching from afar with the knowledge of what was to come. If I could only change the course of events that led to that day, oh, I think I would give my life to do so! When I came upon the above quote and read it for the first time, I was blown away by the power of it. Michael was referring to the upcoming concerts and his hope that the messages he had to share with the world through his music would be heard and taken seriously at long last. “The time has come…” he said. The urgency of now was and is upon us. He wanted us to come together in unity over the issues he brought to our awareness and he hoped that we would be moved to take action to DO something about the state of our world.

When I read this statement, I was struck by the feeling that Michael somehow knew that this would be his legacy. This was the purpose of everything he hoped to accomplish through his music forever! When he talked about wanting to be immortal - to live forever through his music - THIS is what he meant! And all of these things have come or are in the process of coming to pass in the wake of his departure from this earth.

We have felt one in pain as we have mourned the loss of this remarkable man who was a brilliant shining light on this planet. Our pain over his physical absence as well as the loss of the possibilities - the dream of all the gifts he had yet to share with the world - has been immense. We have cried an ocean of tears together over the pain he suffered during his life, most especially from the trial of 2005. All of this pain has brought us together from all around the world in a community of “oneness” by our shared love for this one incredible human being who graced this earth with his beautiful presence for 50 years. We have taken Michael’s messages seriously and we are using our pain to make a difference in this world through our many projects of philanthropy and justice in his name. I believe this is exactly what Michael meant when he said “one in pain.” He wanted us to feel the urgency of his messages down to our bones. He knew that if we didn’t feel HIS pain over the concerns he had for the condition of our planet and the state of humanity, we would not be moved to make that change. So the pain is inevitable if we are to continue doing his work in this world…. and we must!

In our darkest hour
In my deepest despair
Will you still care
Will you be there
In my trials
And my tribulations
Through our doubts
And frustrations
In my violence
In my turbulence
Through my fear
And my confessions
In my anguish
And my pain
Through my joy
And my sorrow
In the promise
Of another tomorrow
I'll never let you part
For you're always in my heart

~ Michael Jackson ~
Epilogue, Will You Be There