Rest in My Radiant Presence

When the world around you

seems to spin faster and faster

until everything is a blur,

When the challenges you face

are consuming you,

Go to that cushion of calm

at the center of your soul

where you live in union with me.

Return to this soothing center

as often as you can,

For this is where you are energized…

filled with my Love, Joy, and Peace.

The world is a needy place;

do not go there for sustenance.

Instead, come to me.

Depend on me.

And your weakness will dissolve

into nothingness

as I saturate your being

with my Light.

When you find your completeness

in the Power of my Love,

you can help other people

without looking to them

to meet your own needs.

Live and rest in my radiant Presence,

precious one.

And your light will shine brightly

into the lives of others!

03/25/12

Copyright © 2012 by Charlene Burgess

Gift of Light, Power, Truth & Joy

Now it’s time to open your present.

Gifts of tin and glass wear out in a day

and are gone.

But I have a better gift for you.

It is a ring for you to wear.

It sparkles with a special light

and cannot be taken away by anyone.

It cannot be destroyed.

You are the only one in all the world

who can see the ring that I give you today.

As I was the only one who could see it

when it was mine.

Your ring gives you a new power.

Wearing it, you can lift yourself

into the wings of all the birds that fly.

You can see through their golden eyes.

You can touch the wind

that sweeps through their velvet feathers.

You can know the joy of going way up high

above the world and all its cares.

You can stay as long as you want

in the sky,

past the night,

through sunrise.

And when you feel like coming down again,

your questions will have answers

and your worries will have gone.

As anything that cannot be touched

with the hand or seen with the eye,

Your gift grows more powerful

as you use it.

At first you might use it only when

you are outdoors,

watching the bird with whom you fly.

But later on, if you use it well,

it will work with birds

that you cannot see.

And last of all you will find

that you’ll need neither ring nor bird

to fly alone above the quiet of the clouds.

And when that day comes to you,

you must give your gift to someone

who you know will use it well,

And who can learn that the only things

that matter are those made of truth

and joy,

and not of tin and glass.

Every gift from a friend

is a wish for your happiness,

and so it is with this ring.

Fly free and happy

beyond birthdays

and across forever,

And we’ll meet now and then

when we wish,

In the midst of the one celebration

that never can end.

Excerpt from…

“There’s No Such Place As Far Away”

by Richard Bach

Walk By Faith

As you take steps of faith each day,

I will show you how much you can do!

When you received the Gift

of my Light and Love,

I empowered you to live beyond

your perceived ability and strength.

And now you know...

If you live your life too safely,

you will never feel the thrill

of my Spirit working through you!

In the challenges you face,

my strength in you is limitless.

Stay close to me, and together

we will accomplish God's purposes.

03/17/12

Copyright © 2012 by Charlene Burgess

Where There Is Love

With a promise to carry on, dear friends, I made a clean break with everything that defiled or distracted me, both within and without. I had made my entire life a fit and holy temple for the worship of God.

Trust me. I've never hurt a soul, never exploited or taken advantage of anyone. I told you earlier that I'm with you all the way, no matter what, and that has not changed. I have, in fact, the greatest confidence in you. If only you knew how proud I am of you! I am overwhelmed with joy despite all the world’s troubles.

When I arrived, I couldn't settle down. The fighting among men and the fear in your hearts kept me on pins and needles. I couldn't relax because I didn't know how it would turn out. Then the God who lifts up the downcast lifted my head and my heart with the awareness of your intense devotion. True reassurance came to me in how much you cared, how much you grieved, how concerned you were for me. I went from worry to tranquility in no time!

I know I have distressed you greatly with my departure. Although I felt awful at the time, I don't feel at all bad now... now that I see how it turned out. I'm glad that you were jarred into turning things around. You let the distress bring you to God through me. Distress that drives us to God turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain.

And isn't it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to me? You're more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you've come out of this with purity of heart. And that is what I was hoping for. My primary concern was for you—that you would realize and act upon the deep, deep ties between us. And that's what happened!

When I saw how you felt—your exuberance over me and your love for God—my joy doubled. It was wonderful to see how revived and refreshed you were by everything I did. I went out on a limb in telling God how great I thought you were, and you didn't cut off that limb. I hadn't exaggerated one bit. God saw for himself that everything I had said about you was true. He can't quit talking about it, going over again and again the story of your prompt obedience, and the dignity and sensitivity of your generosity and love. He is quite overwhelmed by it all!

And I couldn't be more pleased—I'm so confident and proud of you!

2 Corinthians, Chapter 7 ~ The Message
Adaptation by C. Burgess

ANGELS

“There is a medieval belief that angels want to sing to us. It makes them happy to do so. All we have to do is listen.” ~ F. David Peat

“As we journey through our lives, may we walk with awareness of our accompanying angels, knowing we may experience them in many ways. Angels may bring comfort when we are suffering, peace that calms raging inner wars, hope in times of despair. And during normal, everyday times, when nothing significant seems to be happening and we seem to be just plodding along, our angels, with their gentle humor, joy, laughter, and warm presence, can add a wonderful lightness to our lives. IF, that is, we remember to ask them for what we need! Be sure to include your angels in all your days; be open to their surprises, talk to them, ask them for any help you need, from the most mundane to the very important. You may be amazed at what happens -- and don’t forget to thank them for always being there!” ~ Anne Strader

“No one on earth could feel like this,
I'm thrown and overblown with bliss
There must be an angel
Playing with my heart.”
~ Annie Lennox & David A. Stewart

“Living with an awareness of the companioning presence of angels . . . we come to realize angelic joy is working with us, surprising us, and reminding us that we are loved beyond measure. Limit not the myriad ways your angelic companions may knock on the door of your heart. Spending time in the Silence draws them nigh.” ~ Nan Merrill

“Blessed are You, Who understood my tears,
You comfort me with love's embrace.
Though my eyes cannot see You,
I feel your gentle Presence,
like angel wings lifting my spirit.
You turn my mourning into joy,
I dance to a new song.
Blessed are You, O loving companion
of my heart.” ~ Nan Merrill

“... walking and talking with an angel is really fundamentally no different from walking and talking with an ordinary human being. Both the angel and the person are expressions of the ultimate mystery; both are emanations of the Beloved ... There is only one sacredness and we all have it.” ~ David Spangler

Native American Prayer

Oh, Great Spirit
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world,
hear me, I am small and weak,
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold
the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made
and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand the things
you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have
hidden in every leaf and rock.

I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy - myself.
Make me always ready to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset,
my Spirit may come to you without shame.

(translated by Lakota Sioux Chief Yellow Lark in 1887)
published in Native American Prayers - by the Episcopal Church

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