Work It Out

Monday, January 19, 2009 [According to the Kabbalistic calendar, today is a negative day]

The following is a poem that I wrote almost two years ago.  It was created at a time in my life when I looked around and noticed that so many people had conflict within their own families. More often than not we were more compassionate with others, acquaintances and even strangers, than we were with our own nuclear family. Sometimes exhibiting patience stretches us to the very limits of our inner and outer selves.  Resolution to gain and keep control of our turbulent emotions generally occurs as the calm after the storm. Would that we could experience the calm prior to the storm.  The storm may then never happen.  

The Home Fires

I made a vow

to keep faith alive

to keep the home fires burning

and the lines always open

I took an oath

to never disconnect

to ever communicate

and to honor the value of family

I chose a family

before soul was body

when consciousness was clear

and spirit was freely displayed and boundless

I figured that in a time

when telethons spark excitement

and good will missions make the news

keeping my word may seem a little trite

but

I will ever aspire to keep the home fires burning

while I continue to reach out across the patchwork

of a distant yet close family network ever expanding

and I will always and forever honor my word to you

Deborah Desser-Herchan

©March 10, 2007

How wonderful that we volunteer, tithe and give charity.  Cumberland is thought provokingly quoted as saying "It is an old saying, that charity begins at home; but this is no reason is should not go abroad".  

Wishing you love, light and boundless energy.

Words That Rhyme

Thursday, January 8, 2009 [According to the Kabbalistic calendar, today and tomorrow are positive days].

I have always wanted to be a teacher.  Education and knowledge of any subject always fills me with a sense of accomplishment and pride.  When I have learned something I am always eager and happy to pass it along, share it with others.  It doesn't matter what the lesson learned is;  the definition of a new word, a recipe, history, or, something that I consider most valuable, spiritual discovery.

My main concern is, that while sharing, it is done in the spirit of teaching, not preaching.

Teaching.  Preaching.  When does one cross over to the other side?  Is it tone of voice?  Body language?  Is it the volume of one's voice?  Webster's defines 'preach'  as delivering a sermon, to advocate earnestly and to exhort in an officious or tiresome manner, while 'teach' is defined as to cause to know a subject or to guide the studies or impart knowledge.

I remember playing 'school' with my sisters Rachelle and Cynthia.  I loved being the teacher.  We would make up little tests and then correct them.  We so enjoyed marking the papers with a big 'E' for excellent and putting little gold and silver stars at the tops of the pages for work well done.  I don't ever remember playing congregation and wanting to be the preacher.  Perhaps it was best said by Pope - 'Men must be taught as though you taught them not'.

Currently I study with a couple of spiritual teachers.  I value their lessons, their knowledge and sensibility. But even more, I value that they impart and guide and, well, teach.  For while I really like being a teacher, what has given me enormous pleasure is the ability to be a student. 

To all of the teachers out there, both academically and spiritually, I say thank you. 

Checks and Balances

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 [According to the Kabbalaistic calendar, today and tomorrow are considered negative]

To all my family and friends who commented on my new blog, thank you.  Today I am sharing one of my poems, written back in December 2007.  Balance is key in all that we do.  For every up, a down.  For every no, a yes.  Going even deeper, the issues of race and color are as much in need of balance, so please, read on.....

Black and White

white on white

snow blindness

nothing, nothing

no forefront

no backdrop

peripheral nothing

each layer jockeying

for position

there is none

black on black

no definition

one darkness

ebony upon ebony

no gradient shades

to highlight the other

silhouettes exist not

all is dark

white

meets black

black on white

white under black

light illuminating

the black of which

now has introduced

a shadow

of a doubt

fuzzy indistinction

curiously clear

much like

a blue tree in a red forest

black letters stand out

dark iris pronounced

on white orb

not white without black

black lost without white

gray is not the rightful heir

black and white

visual

perfect

one

Deborah Desser-Herchan

December 22, 2007

Today I leave you with the following thought.............

"Mortals are equal; their mask differs"

                                    - Voltaire