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A home without a wall, |
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| Open Poetry #36 |
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Loan To The Lord |
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Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
(Often during the holiday season, we think not only of our dearest and loved ones, but in the stretch between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we often think of those who seem as though they have no families, have no mothers they could go home to for the holidays or daughters that would fly into town to visit. These are the homeless, who I have identified with ever too often. I have personally told my parents to limit their spending on me and give much of my Christmas money instead to contribute to the charity Heifer Intenational http://www.heifer.org/ It is a non-profit 501 organization which every tax-deductible purchase of a gift animal or tree seedling helps families around the world in third-world countries become self-reliant, and ensues also the plants and animals are healthy and are treated with respect under their mooto, “Ending Hunger, Caring For The Earth”. I ask all of you to make at least one kind and compassionate gesture this holiday season. You can do one or more of the following: ********************************************* 1) Give, give, give to your local or national charity. In the thread below the poem, I provide some links. 2) Volunteer at your local rescue mission, retirement home, community center, soup kitchen, Famly Rescue Ministry, Adopt-A-Family chapter, etc. 3) Sing Christmas carols for orphaned children, elderly, homeless citizens, etc. ********************************************* It’s these simple acts of kindness that bring out the Christmas cheer not only to others, but in ourselves. God Bless You all, and enjoy this holiday treat!  Loan To The Lord By: Noah Eaton 12/16/04 “Hungry not only for bread, But hungry for love!” A nation doesn’t have to be cruel, In order to be tough, Human kindness never weakens, The fire of our spirit or our heart’s stamina, Before the paling of the stars. Let us incubate away the cultural hypothermia, I’ll be the spruce that warms your little wings, I’ll be the aspen tree that will shiver, I’ll wrap the blue sky around your neck, I could be your Peter Richards, Let us come out of the cellar, Be the little match-seller, The rosemary scent on their faded blue blankets, The golden cobwebs hanging outside their doorsteps… Give a banquet, Open your eyes, Invite the poor, The crippled, lame, and blind, Although they can’t repay you, You will be repaid, He who is generous to the poor, Makes a loan to the lord. “Naked not only for clothing. but naked for human dignity and respect.” Beggars and choosers, Bus mall benches their trundle beds, Yesterday’s pristine residents, guttersnipes and street urchins, hard to recognize yesterday’s babies, as today’s ragamuffins, napping with heads against lampposts, their legs lingering in the refuge island, threet feet of personal space confiscated, it’s as if their homes are interminably relegated, breathing just to breathe, unintentionally impeding pedestrian traffic, being treated as criminals for these harmless actions, that they so often realistically cannot avoid, how could we allow the widening of this magnanimous void? There’s the steeple, here’s the sepulchre, can we see looking down this social fissure? “Speak up and judge fairly, defend the rights of the poor and needy." Give a banquet, Open your eyes, Invite the poor, The crippled, lame, and blind, Although they can’t repay you, You will be repaid, He who is generous to the poor, Makes a loan to the lord. “Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks, but homeless because of rejection” stonewall looks of refutation, an uphill struggle against repudiation, I see it in Zimbabwe where the children don’t have honey, In orphans in Rwanda yearning for a dowry, There’s Ethiopian mid-wives who only dream for a bicycle, So they can take their children to school or a convalescent hospital, Indian widows wrapped in their shawls who pray, Someday they’ll finally earn a living wage, And Iraqi children suffering war-time malnutrition, Longing for a goat to provide milk and self-sufficience, See, all we need in providing, The world’s poorest basic health care and nutrition needs, Is exactly the amount given as bonuses from Wall Street, Seems “This dinner calls for a spectacular dessert!” is the motif, The way we respond to the poor reflects our walk with Christ, We should be giving back to the community, make it right, We have to give what cannot be bought, You get back what you give out, they need all that you’ve got… Give a banquet, Open your eyes, Invite the poor, The crippled, lame, and blind, Although they can’t repay you, You will be repaid, He who is generous to the poor, Makes a loan to the lord. (Quoted lines in beginning of each verse the words of our beloved Mother Teresa) "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other" Mother Teresa |
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| © Copyright 2005 Nadia Lockheart - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 Here are just a few charities you can contribute to this holiday season, where every donation will help needy families around the world, orphaned children, the elderly, etc. **************************************** http://www.goodgifts.org/ (An alternative gift catalog which allows many various goodwill gestures with each generous contribution, from giving goats to war-torn communities to provide milk for families to building a new library in a third world country.) * http://www.mytwofrontteeth.org/ (MyTwoFrontTeeth.org's vision is to reduce the pain of poverty and help strengthen the bonds of society by bringing simplicity, efficiency, and personalization to the charitable gift-giving process, thereby encouraging all to experience the incredible power and joy of giving) * http://www.worldvision.org/ (Another great alternative gift catalog) * http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/ (U.K based regulator of a wide list of trusted, efficient charities) * http://www.greatgifts.org/ (Another great source for alternative, goodwill gift giving) * http://www.charitygifts.com/ (A charity Christmas card/gift shopping mall) * http://www.vetaid.org/ (Non-profit, international development organization working for reduction in poverty and increase in food security of people dependent on livestock.) ***************************************** God Bless You All, and Happy Holidays! XOXO, Noah Eaton "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other" Mother Teresa |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
May all respond to your clarion call!  You truly are a Mistletoe Angel! Thank you for sharing the spirit of Christmas!  Linda |
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Nightshade
since 2001-08-31
Posts 13962just out of reach |
“Naked not only for clothing. but naked for human dignity and respect.” Beggars and choosers, Bus mall benches their trundle beds, Yesterday’s pristine residents, guttersnipes and street urchins, hard to recognize yesterday’s babies, as today’s ragamuffins, This is a wonderful, wise write Noah. Thankyou for reminding us to be wary of those in need this and every season. hugs, Chris |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
You, dear Noah, are the one with the kind and loving heart. Thank you for this timely post... I hope many look into the organizations you mention. Hugs dear friend, Nancy ~ Trace my body with your words.. |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Very, very nice...James |
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iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
You are so wise and loving, dear Noah. This very subject was on my mind to day. I watched some news which showed a mother and child catching termites, roasting them, and eating them. That is how they are surviving, though they will starve soon if there is no help. Then I thought about how cheap a 5 lb. bag of rice is overseas and wondered, why in Heaven's name, are these people starving??!!! Thanks for all the links in this thread. ....jo |
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