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