Is eternity too long to live
After we leave this world?
Will we get bored?
What are we going to do with all that time?
Eternity is very long
Will we have things to do, places to go, things to see?
They say we will be spirits
But what does that mean?
Why all this secrecy about life after we die?
There must be a wisdom in it
That we’ll only then find out
October 30th, 2019
Inspired by Emily Dickinson’s
‘Because I could not stop for death’
Wouldn’t if be easier if life
Were black and white
Something was either right or wrong
But life’s not like that
And things come in all shades of grey
And what is one to do
How is one to behave?
Does is depend on the shade of grey?
Or is grey moving into the territory of black
And we kid our selves?
The life’s questions are many
And the answers sometimes are illusive
Perhaps the passage of time
Will shed some light
On the dark recesses of life
February 27th, 2018
A lady of leisure, how I feel now
After years of looking after my children
And family, I have time
Time to write
Time to contemplate
Time to start my own projects
And those previous years, had their place
What I gained from them, I’m grateful for
But now, I can reflect and write
To my heart’s content
A lady of leisure, who I am!
It’s a conference in the clouds
Because how else could we talk
She’s in Switzerland, he’s in Shiraz
He’s in Denmark, she’s in Australia
It must be that we meet in the clouds
There is no other explanation
None that I found
It’s someone’s morning
Someone’s noon
Someone’s getting ready to sleep
Someone’s going to work
From these different times and places
We gather where there is no time and place
And all that matters is our thoughts
We communicate and laugh out-loud
How amazing , we are no longer earth-bound
Because we can meet in the clouds…
November 8th, 2015
Sacrifice hurts!
That’s normal…
But sacrifice is not a net loss!
We may give up things that are dear to us
We do suffer as a result
But then come the rewards
We live in a culture that tries to avoid pain
Tries to avoid giving up things we hold dear
We live in a culture that puts the individual first
Others, come later!
In this culture
Sacrifice may not make sense…
Why should I give up something that’s dear to me
For someone else’s benefit?
Why should I put others before me?
Why should I sacrifice my comfort and ease?
The irony is, that sacrifice
This giving up
This turning away from the self
This focus on others
Is exactly what we need
To grow
To blossom
To bloom!
Sacrifice does involve hardship and pain
Otherwise it would not be called sacrifice
But this hardship will result in amazing things
Given some time
When we give up our will
Our way
Our desires
Our comfort
Something amazing happens in time
It does take time…
There is no fast way through the plane of sacrifice!
But on the other side
Is a fragrant garden
With streams and rivers
Thirst quenching and refreshing and sublime!
Yes, sacrifice involves pain
But these are growing pains
Letting go of the ego
And the insistent self
Can only bring us joy and happiness!
Lida Berghuis
January 3rd, 2014
What is the best gift of all
I wonder to myself
A listening ear?
A kind heart?
A cheerful countenance?
These are some!
What would I want from a friend?
To let me be who I am
Don’t mind my silliness and my laughing out loud!
What is the best gift I can give?
My undivided attention
My understanding
My affection and love!
Material things are OK
But the best gifts are those
That don’t need to be wrapped
Ones that are made with
Thoughtful hands and hearts
And sometimes the best gifts come in words
Words of encouragement
Words of wisdom
Words of comfort
Sometimes it’s a phone call
From a friend
Who remembers you when
You feel alone
Or the friend that always
Has time for you!
The gifts I like don’t cost a thing
They just require love and understanding
And since they don’t take up any space
These are the gifts that I’ll carry with me
For all time and everywhere!
Lida Berghuis
December 25th, 2013
Mothering is one of the best schools in life
Patience, selflessness, being organized
Being flexible, being inventive, and being kind
Only a few things taught in this school of life
Endurance, problem solving, and creativity are other ones
One has to meet many challenges head on
When I thought I could not wake up again
To a crying child
When problems used to confound me
And I had tried all I could try
I learned to persevere
To problem solve
To open my heart
But eventually I felt burnt out
Because I was last on my to-do-list
And the first to be crossed out due to lack of time
Because I didn’t know the importance of caring for myself
Because I confused it with selfishness
Eventually it occured to me
That to be a good caregiver
I needed to care for myself
I needed an avenue for self expression
I needed a creative outlet
And I realized that
There will never be enough time
There are always things to be done
And that I needed to be an non-negotioable item
On my to-do-list
Not one that woud be crossed out
It’s counter-intuitive but it works
Because when I take care of myself
I can be a better mom!
Lida Berghuis
October 15th, 2013
lida's musings 