The Long Road, An Easter Poem

From Denny:  An Easter poem about how sacrifice can deliver unexpected pleasant surprises.  With global protests against oppressive governments, like the Arab Spring in the Middle East, and against greedy Big Business like the Occupy Protests in the West, it is evident there is great need in the world.

When economic times and society get hard pressed what is the one thing you can do about all the wrong going on around you?  You can be a friend.  You can slow down, even come to a full stop on your own life, and look around to see what is happening in your vicinity.

To address the needs, think of offering some real friendship and mentor those around you.  You will be surprised how many people will tell you how glad they are you took time for them as they thought no one would ever notice how much they were struggling.  It could be at work, at church, your neighborhood, the local grocery store, anywhere.  Offering the fact that you care is often the most appreciated.

It's Easter week when the concept of rebirth is all around us and the Spring weather sure is heating up a couple of months sooner than usual.  The weather patterns have definitely changed as a result of global warming and climate change.

Speaking of hot weather, here’s a poem I wrote last July 2008. Sometimes I paint my insights, sometimes I journal my dreams, and, sometimes, those spiritual visions become poetry.

Since I wrote this poem I ran across a health study (which I placed on my health blog, The Healing Waters, go here) about how friendship helps boost your immune system to overcome disease and give us longer life. That new validation dovetails nicely into this poem about the offering of friendship among strangers.

Be sure to check out the photographers' pages at flickr by clicking on the photos to enjoy their other work! (All Rights Reserved for these photographers with embed codes available for use on blogs and sites.)

Beautiful Illustrated Quotations: 14 Awesome Friendship Quotes To Get You Thinking

Beautiful Illustrated Quotations: 14 Awesome Friendship Quotes To Get You Thinking: "From Denny: Lately, so much has been happening at a dizzying pace, especially the difficulty of the chaotic economy and harrowing jobs situation for millions of people worldwide.

When turbulent times are upon us it can sure cause us to think about the many wonderful friends we've enjoyed over the years. Many are in other countries now, some passed away young, others are in turmoil from divorce or other trauma. Many others have raised families, wondering what to do with the rest of their lives.

I've certainly had my fair share of interesting friends in my life. There were those to whom I was a better friend to them than they were to me. The reverse is true of those who were much older - and definitely wiser - who helped guide me when I needed it most - that I was not the friend I wished I had been for them at that point in time. But mentors know and accept that truth. They get their laugh when it's your turn to mentor and the process starts all over again. :)

These interesting heartfelt quotes are certainly an eclectic check list to assess if you are being the kind of friend you desire to be to others. And it might be eye-opening to assess if others are being the kind of friend you need right now too."