what I am about to do today

what I am about to do today
to share God’s love
to offer bits of wisdom
ripples on the waters
seeds in the wind
offering grace freely
the gift deep within
shared, an offering
of what I have received
not be held back
rising from my knees

October 6, 2011
Steve Job’s Commencement Address,
Stanford University, 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc&feature=share
“For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself, "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "no" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”
The death of Steve Jobs
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=243405429044126&set=o.149289703122&type=1&theater
http://www.apple.com/stevejobs/
obituary of Aaron Jamison
http://www.registerguard.com/web/updates/26979568-55/jamison-aaron-springfield-cancer-guard.html.csp
and the poems, “Unsung Heroes”
and “Leaving a Mark”
-------------------
Unsung Heroes

In the footnotes, end notes
bits of history
in the details
the forgotten moments
in unsung heroes of time
who left a mark
maybe separated, removed
the one who started the snowball
rolling down the hills
behind the scene, encouraging
germs on an idea
those whom we have forgotten
unsung heroes in time


October 4, 2011
Live in Keene with Dayton Duncan
http://www.nhpr.org/live-keene-dayton-duncan
The Exchange
http://www.nhpr.org/exchange
=================
Leaving a Mark

What if when we die
we get to see
to have our own cinema
sitting at God’s feet
our film, our journey
the Wonderful Life we led
what if we were able
to see the ripples we left
what if we read in the book of our life
all the lives we changed
not just those in the first person
not just face to face
what if the concentric circles
their descendants in time
all who were touched by our lives
were written there as well

What would that story be like
how thick would that book be
for someone so giving, so richly blessed,
someone who gave of themselves
to show others beauty
sharing a laugh or three
offering comfort in their pain
choosing joy instead
How many pages would there be
how many lives changed
for someone to see in paradise
sitting at God’s feet
how much laughter, joy
pouring from the heart of God
welcoming someone such as he
into the courts of eternity.


October 3, 2011
written about Aaron Jamison
http://www.facebook.com/judasforgiven
http://judasforgiven.blogspot.com/
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/choosejoy
http://amzn.com/w/286JOQLNRZ2M0
He identified his religion as Christianity, but then added
"Judge Christianity by Christ... not by Christians."
see article by his mother, Jan Coffman Jamison
http://www.facebook.com/janray
of September 30, 2011
Crossroads
http://jan-auntiejan.blogspot.com/2011/09/crossroads.html?spref=fb
and see article by his wife, Kristin Foss Jamison
http://www.facebook.com/blessedsongbird
of October 1, 2011
http://kristinjamison.blogspot.com/2011/10/extreme-makeover-god-edition.html?spref=fb
and my conversation October 2, 2011
with Kristin’s mom, Ruth Foss
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1656220806

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.
See all 13,510+ of my poems at Poetry Where You Live.