A Wicker Chair in Munich

This is the outdoor dining area where the poem came to mind at the Sheraton Hotel in Munich.

 On July 21st there was a frightening incident on a Lufthansa flight from Munich to Los Angeles where a passenger suffered a heart attack.  The pilot and crew made an emergency landing in Ontario and likely saved his life.  Many people had difficulties missing their connections, but Lufthansa went out of their way to make everyone comfortable.  In the course of that day we met a wonderful family over and over.  This poem was inspired by the course of events and conversation.  May everyone who reads this, including perhaps that passenger, know that good things can come of the most difficult situations when hearts of faith do what they can do.

The way of things is strange,

As the circumstance of sorrow,

Can lead to blessings multiplied,

When fate is turned around,

By the willing hearts of faith.

For faces we did see,

In a sea of nameless faces,

Waiting for new arrangements,

Because a heart attack changed a flight,

And an airline saved a life.

In airports around the world,

A family did meet ours,

Time and time again,

And our girls were first to talk,

As we soon all became friends.

Then at dinner we met again,

And we spoke the song of life,

To bring magic back to hearts,

By making time just for each other.

As a spark may cause a fire,

So this night would then change lives,

All is possible if you do it,

And perhaps we changed the world,

From a wicker chair in Munich.

A World of Color - For "All Across Africa"

On a recent trip to Costco my wife and I found a display of hand made crafts from women in Africa sponsored by All Across Africa which does this so that these women can provide their families better lives.  I was inspired by the words of Deana, the representative there.  I was inspired by seeing the artist's face on a tag for each creation.  When I sat down at my computer, I wrote this.

From across the world,

and within the wild,

their voices cry out,

their colors come forth.

In a land of life,

behold the living,

where within the night,

all eyes see clearly.

Within the day,

they daily carry,

the burdens of family,

with the strength of heart.

In their simple villages,

walking roads of dirt,

their hands speak forth,

the love of the heart.

Their hearts speak true,

through designs worn,

and the crafts they make,

for colors speak words.

Against the blues,

they speak of potential,

the blue sky is limitless,

and so is life.

With patterns of red,

they speak of passion,

of pains and joys,

beyond mere words.

Weaving beads and threads,

these ladies weave complex,

for complex are the patterns,

that life does unfold.

For the women of Africa,

do show like no others,

the world which we live,

is a world of color.