Innocence
Important things happen at the coffee shop
Walking in to the shop down the street and up another and then just a ways down, there’s a coffee shop mostly peopled by students - especially grad students, and faculty and a few techies and professionals, couples, tourists and lap toppers. As you walk in there is a sign that says, “You are amazing.” In the back is a tree growing out of the earth, with tables all around it and a wood fence block the patio off from the surrounding bustle, where the neighborhood meets the city block.
Once that sign said v’cced people could make themselves comfortable, while those without the jab could only dine on the patio. I chose not to go at all during this time. Sometimes I waited outside and prayed while my husband got our drinks. I know for a fact that the woman who owns this joint is a beautiful human being. I couldn’t disagree more with her choice back then to discriminate. I equally choose not to hold a grudge, since the way is open now for positive connection.
Equally, the other day I was talking to another barista friend, when the woman who cut me off from expressing my views walked by, just as I was saying to the other woman, “Sometimes there are people you love and you totally disagree with them - like me and Christa.” I put my hand on her shoulder. She said nothing. But the next time my hubby went there, she was, according to him, perfectly pleasant.
This morning, whilst seated on outdoors, I suddenly felt to get up from my seat where I was waiting for hubby to bring our beverages of choice - his a chai, mine a Monet. Inside the screen door which opens in a swinging, lightly slamming way back and forth from the outdoor patio to the indoor cafe, the owner, whose name is RJ came up the stairs, and my husband and I greeted her gladly. I told her how happy I felt to see the sign. She grinned boldly and said, “You know, some people may not have heard it today.” I smiled and said, “That’s a good point. If we all believe we are worthy, there will be so much less dysfunction in the world.”
“So true. It all begins on the inside,” said the coffee shop owner, pointing to her chest.”
I put a hand on my heart and said, “100%.”
Innocence
What if we remembered our Innocence
And the worthiness we share with others
Sisters Fathers
Neighbors Fathers
Mothers
Beyond the ways we have fallen
The things we have experienced, done, seen, been, had done to us
That were appallin
That left us ballin
What if in us is still the pure BEE ing
Ready to sip the pure nectar of life’s goodness
As a blessing to all?
What if we are really here to live, uplift and have a ball?
If we remember our innocence
Pristine resonance
Can honor when, with others we feel a certain dissonance
Without dissing ourselves
Without laying shame to them
For we do not know what journey they are on
Or what they are here learn from the mayhem
Instead of focusing on how we’ve sinned
Which only means missing the mark
What if mistakes are only a place to park
To look, listen, feel our heart
To recalibrate
To remember we are here to celebrate
The life spark
To remember how to have a lark
A simple leap
A skip
A twirl
A leg lifted high
Or a coconut swirl
When it seems all we’ve sought
Has come to naught
Or taking all our efforts that seemed to come to no avail
And simply assuming they were worth being binned
Compassionate compass
Now prevail
Let us set the sail
Holy Spirit
Soft and sweet
Stormy, messy
Organized
Neat
Complete
In all your unhindered glory
Replete
Repentance means turning around
Forgiving ourselves
Can helps us make a new sound
Awaken
Find the space
To stand your ground
For your worthy beautiful self
For your gifts expressed
Rather than staid on the shelf
For earth’s beauty
For the love that we are here to be
To dance to a sacred rhythm
Free to be
Your uniquely expressed divinity
🕊️❤️🙏