Jubilant July

Goodbye, June, I hope to see you again. Hello, July, come on in! Will there be jubilance and joy mixed with sweat and tears? Fireworks, reunions, and fun without fear? The Olympics will begin, what feelings will it bring? When our flag flies freely, will you stop and sing?

“O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light
(Do I see only me? BE STILL
in HIS presence, there’s no reason to fight).

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s
last gleaming
(Are we proud and united or am I just dreaming?)
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through
the perilous fight
(HE bore the
stripes and the scars; will his love shine bright?
)

O’er the ramparts we watched were so
gallantly streaming
 (Have the
events that united us lost their meaning?
)
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs
bursting in air, (
We will
gather and cheer, in a week will we care?
)
Gave proof through the night that our flag
was still there (
Will we give
thanks in a prayer?
)
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
(
Will we honor those who gave to
save?
)
O’er the land of the free and the home of the
brave?” (
And the one
who conquered the grave?
)

https://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/the-lyrics.aspx Lyrics by Francis Scott Key–afterthoughts by me)

The words of The Star Spangled Banner are meaningful for me and an old rugged cross made me completely free. I’ll never take my freedom for granted. With my freedom, comes responsibility. I’m not angry or radical, I’ll use love & common sense–be kind to my friends on each side of the fence. It’s fine to be proud and love where I live, and honor all who died, and those who still give. There are many hurting, grieving, sad, and alone. Can we help one another, put down the stone–will compassion be shown? Today, tomorrow, or the end of July? Will we wait, procrastinate, deny, and justify?

 Friends, you light up my sky like the 4th of July. God bless you all. You are loved.❣️

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Have faith ❤️🤍💙

One Fall Day

In 4 days it will have been 20 years since the tragedy of 9/11. Over the weekend I watched several documentaries. Remembering what we were doing on that day is something I’m sure we all share in common. Many of you are old enough to remember other tragedies; some of you too young to remember the impact of this one. There’s a sense of guilt I feel that I became absorbed in watching these personal interviews of survivors. To all of the victims and their families, my heart still bleeds for your loss. The aftershock and waves of sorrow that still impacts these victims are indescribable. So many died as heroes. And many heroes still live.

I was only 31 and responsible for leading a primary school. One teacher had a husband working at the Pentagon. Several parents had pilot spouses. Parents were coming in droves to pick up their children (including the preschool we had about 550 students). That night, probably like you, I couldn’t wrap my head around the attacks. But I hugged my boys very tight as I was glued to my T.V. Praying to God for leadership direction in the aftershocks. The fall of the towers and the vulnerability felt led to major personal changes. How did your life change?

My space here is not to create political or religious division. The poem I wrote below this past Saturday was not born from anything but love. For in the end that’s all that matters. Love.


One Fall Day

Religion became hate
and violence their norm.
The Cold War had ended,
new terrorists formed.

The West gripped their greed
and lived life based on things,
an enemy was planning
their terror using wings.

We all watched in horror
as the towers burned and fell.
We were stricken with grief.
It was a living hell.

Sisters, brothers,
husbands, wives,
Mothers, Fathers,
So many lives.

The shock of the loss
and the vulnerability felt,
made us close to our maker,
on knees we all knelt.

My tears wouldn't stop.
I hugged my sons so tight.
In my own tiny world,
that's all that felt right. 

Borders are created
by skin and beliefs,
religion, and politics,
is there any relief?

Terrorism since then
has been even homegrown.
Attacks on each other,
some alone and unknown.

Our weapons of choice
can be held in our hands.
In a text, hug, or wave
we declare our own lands.

Don't forget the days
that our innocent have died.
Turn your trust to God,
it's the only right side. 


K.L. Hale 

I’m taking a two week heavenly hiatus to spend time with family. May peace, health, and happiness find its way to your hearts.🤍 As it is written it’s all going as planned. But there’s hope in each day if we all extend a hand. Find the joy in the right now. And give hope and a hug to those who don’t know how.

Have faith 💚

Photo credit-9/11memorial.org

Hallowed History

History is fascinating~documentaries, books, museums, and movies~I’m completely and constantly curious. This weekend, filled with family and special memories, ended reflecting on those we’ve lost. Remembrance is more than a once-a-year. It’s revolving and repetitive.

Positions and postures held today should hopefully reflect what we’ve learned from our history. We can’t change it.


Can we accept the fact we’ve all fallen at times ~individually and at times, collectively~in our work places, our homes, our counties, our states, …and as a country?


Can we lift the living that have fallen? Can we manifest miracles for all those marginalized?


Can we remember those that died for the belief in new beginnings?

May our mission magnify mercy. May it become monumental.

K.L. Hale

Wordless Wednesday