I love Halloween!!!  Maybe it is from my ancestors in Ireland prancing around with gourds on this night, or maybe it was from Ms. Billy Rickman’s 1^st grade class where we were encouraged to be creative with a picture to go along with the Halloween poem we were learning.  No matter,  I just love it!  I have always been drawn to the fun and mystery!  In recent years, some people have felt children should not be exposed to such a holiday.  They fear evil steps in and departs concepts upon people.  I just disagree.  My family has always approached the holiday as one of fun and exploring!  It is a night you can make believe again (which we really are not allowed to do anymore)!  You can be an astronaut, a princess, or even a 3-eyed monster—you can imagine!  And imagination leads to creativity.

You know we all can turn any holiday into one created by evil.  We can set any agenda so the truth is hidden.  Halloween was a holiday created for imagination and joy, and specifically for children.  It is one that allows us to give to children.  Encouraging them to ask for help—asking for candy—Or to give help by handing out candy.  For some people asking is a very difficult thing, but this lets children practice in a safe way.  This holiday gives people a freedom to relax and enjoy family.  Things like a good old campfire (ours was sometimes in a wheelbarrow!), a good spooky movie (Ernest’s Halloween or Halloween Town), a good scary read (The Headless Horseman or a classic, Frankenstein!), a good snacky dinner (with weeny worms and fingernails) and of course the sharing of candy!  Enjoy the writing today as I reminisce about Halloween and let it lead you to be creative at this time of year!

Visions of All Hallows’ Eve

Dances with the devil in the night.

Eeks and shrieks are heard in the distance.

Witches and wizards tossing their capes and pointing their wands.

All make this night frightening!

 

The stark white image eliminates the dark and sends a chill up your spine.

All the pumpkins sit on their perches glow with their sinister smiles.

Their eyes come at you and follow you as you go!

Leaves swirl and twirl around them with tailspins making you run for cover.

 

Monsters unveil themselves as they scavage through their loot.

It all appears like a scene from a horror movie.

Making one shiver and quiver from spine to brain.

Covering your eyes only makes them more real.

 

And you realize the moon is so bright all these characters are spooky with the light exposing their evil features!

The giggles and large laughs can be heard as a batch of pirates and princesses scoot by.

Frankenstein and the Mummy wake to wreak havoc.

Cats dart across the street hiding from the chaos.

 

Everything is out of order.

Everything is out of control.

Is this a night of fear or a night of horror?

Am I dreaming or am I here?

 

My mind is cloudy and confused.

My eyes are heavy, but I open them slowly.

Ouch!!!  The book I was holding falls on my nose.

Oh, did I fall asleep?

 

The light I was reading by flickers.

Through my cracked window,

The wind makes a howling sound.

High pitch laughs float in.

 

I glance over at the jack-o-lantern on the table by the chair.

I had it lite to read by.

Is that fire flashing from its eyes??!!!

Oh!  My!  I am out of here!!!

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

All of the things I discussed in my intro may have sounded “excusy” reasons for Halloween celebrations, but try to let go a little.  Everyone lately has been so tense and fearful of events going on in our country.  Try to use your creativity to let your family enjoy a good ‘ole All Hallows Eve!  Boo blessings to everyone!

Love,

Rennae

PS——Don’t dress up as a politician this year–Keep it at the polls!!

 

 

Blessings

Imagine the dark as dark could be.  Absence of all light.  You are there in the pitch black.  Most of the time we become afraid in the dark, but for some reason you are not scared this time.  Matter of fact you feel safe and secure, and even warm.  The black becomes a protective space.  It is here in this dark, protective space that I can be with God.  The dark represents no distractions.  It represents no calls, no texts, no errands, no task for someone else, no news, no tv—just nothing!  All of these and more can take me away from my focus.  I can talk, and I can listen here.  I have my own individual audience with God.  We so many times think that prayers have to be formal, or said out loud, or staged, but actually prayers are between you and God.  So the next time you may experience the dark, embrace it and use it as a nurturing time for God to lead you on toward the light!

Dark Dreams

I go into the dark of the night.

Where all I can hear are the trees breathing.

I go where only I can hear the things I think inside.

Where the silence is welcomed and the dark soaks in.

 

It is here that I not only talk but also listen.

I listen to hear God speak.

I talk about my secrets.

Even though He knows them.

 

It is in this pitch that I can rest.

I can rest and breath deeply from the many distractions.

I know the ground is cold and the air is clear.

Because of the absence of sound from the outside.

 

I go into the dark to say thank you and dream.

Dreams of weaknesses, fears, loves, and hopes.

Moments of revelation and peace.

Thoughts that make these dreams happen in the dark.

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

Dreams do not always have to be rainbows and unicorns.  Your dark dreams can be secure, warm, and hopeful, if you are willing to have the conversations with God.  Diving into the dark allows you to grow in prayer.  Find your comfort spot and relax into the depths of your dark dreams this week!

Love,

Rennae

 

 

Journey

 

Hurt.  A simple word that causes such damage.  A feeling that can crush a person deep into their psyche and soul.  I do not quite understood people that thrive on hurting others, but there are such people.  They seek power, fame, money, or some other earthly want, and they will hurt anyone to get that.  More times than not, I have also found that karma hits this type of person very hard when the least expected.  Life is very hard sometimes, because we all have experienced these hurtful people.  However, what I have found is that people with love, compassion, and care polarize these vindictive people.  When you find yourself in this spot, there are those standing hand in hand with you healing you with their auras.  Hurt will happen.  It may be superficial or it may dig deep, but it cannot destroy you because you are held together with the band of the Holy!

Injury to the Soul

I hurt so badly.

It doesn’t just hurt physically,

But I hurt in my heart,

In my soul, and in my spirit.

 

I do not want to hurt.

I want joy and smiles and happiness.

But just when I feel I am past things,

Someone, something, or the smallest detail takes me back to the experience.

 

How can the world and the people of the world be so cruel?

How can they be so interested in only themselves?

How can they carve themselves into the very special parts of your inner soul?

How can they soak your mind with their hurt?

 

We are good at describing love and joy,

But describing hurt is so difficult.

You feel the pain in every vein,

Every muscle, and every cell.

You do not know whether to explode with tears

Or implode with shaking.

 

You feel like every step is a deep, deep struggle.

When the pressure seems to be at the breaking point,

God sends that one thing.

That one small thing—a smile,

A soft spoken word,

Or a note from a caring person.

 

A simple, kindness can warm that hurt.

You start realizing cruelty can be overcome.

These hurters are fewer in number than you thought.

Joy can be brought back by others!

 

This one special act starts relieving the pressure.

You can feel the relief.

You can feel the peace returning.

The Holy Spirit in others conquers your pain.

 

God delivers you.

His sons and daughters request you live.

They demand that you live a full life with them.

They take you and lead you to the healing.

Hand in hand they stand with you in the realm of grace.

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

When hurt comes your way, pray for that poor soul that has administered the hurt.  You have all of what they need—love, care, and peace.  This is easier said then done, but this is growing in God!  They will never know the healing power provided by the sons and daughters of the Holy One!  But you will!  Peace be with you through your journeys of hurt this week.

Love,

Rennae

 

 

 

 

Journey

 

 

 

I wish that I could say I am the only one that has experienced or faced what is in my piece today, but this is not true.  So many people are struggling every day with pain and suffering.  They are either trying to overcome emotional hurt or physical hurt, and in many cases both.  The very sad part is that others just can’t understand what people with constant pain are going through.  Especially, if they have never experienced hurt in this way.  It is so very easy when pain overcomes you, to just quit or give up.  When you see other people without pain do the simplest task, you can become very discouraged.  Why?  Because it takes you all the strength you can muster to even try to do the task.  It is at that point that we have to reach for God and trust to know His path for us.  Our path is not the same as others.  It is at that moment we must put our trust in Him.

You have to ask God for His strength.  This may sound really out there, but I actually have to talk to myself in my little head!!  Why?  To get it through to myself.  I have to say you can do this, because God’s strength is in you.  You are not the strong one, but God is.  We are really good at the negative mind talk, but the positive mind talk is what we need.  You have to gain strength not from the weak words but from the powerful words that God has placed in your heart and mind!

Now, if you are the one that has not been through pain in this way, learn to be compassionate.  Practice empathy, but most of all pray for this person.  You may feel helpless in knowing what to do, especially it is a loved one, but for sure you can pray and provide good thoughts.  You can also comfort them with kind words and words of encouragement.  They really are not expecting a solution from you, but they are seeking support.  Think about these things as you read today.

The Real Struggle

It is a struggle every day.

It is hard to move and motivate myself.

It is easy to listen to the negatives.

It is also easy to just be where you are and stay still.

 

But I don’t want to just be.

I want to put the devil in his place for tempting me.

Tempting me with negative thoughts.

Creeping around in my mind to find the most vulnerable areas.

 

It is so difficult to move one leg then another.

Bathing, grooming, and preparing a meal is such a chore.

Every day things become monumental assignments.

I seek sleep to hide away from the pain.

 

Do I melt into the fabric and walls of my house?

Do I disappear from society?

Maybe my bedroom can be the castle I need.

This is all what the devil would want.

 

The struggle is so real.

And he is there nagging it on.

I have to constantly talk to my brain.

I have to tell it to move body parts and think other things.

 

God is there with me.

He is helping me to defeat the dark one.

He tells me He is beside me.

He reminds me I have so much more to live for.

 

So, evil one, you may try to grab my soul.

You may try to seep into my thoughts with your nasty ways.

But try is all you can do.

Because the Great Warrior will take you down every time.

 

I will move.

I will stand tall and know my purpose.

Because I have become a warrior as well.

The day I said yes to the Great One Himself!

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

Reach out today.  Give comfort to someone that you know is hurting.  If you are the one in pain, reach deep inside yourself and keep the hope alive.  Your mind talks have to be positive to present hope.  Keep your prayers going even if they are small ones to the Devine that say help me.  Use your good times to invest with the people that encourage you and lift you up.  The most important thing to remember is you are never alone!  There is always someone who cares and the Great Healer is there!  May God bless those of you with and without pain this week!

Love,

Rennae

 

 

 

Journey