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My Sister's Keeper

3/30/2012

 
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     Am I my sister's keeper?  What is my responsibility to women who are less fortunate than I am?  How can I, one person, make a difference?  Our system for dealing with women who have addiction, who are homeless, who are incarcerated feels pretty - broken? dysfunctional? inadequate?  not enough?      

     On the same day that the President is here in Portland for a sold-out $5000 a plate dinner, I visited my mentee from the My Sister's Keeper program in the Cumberland County jail.  I brought her a small journal, as I know she likes to write.  I was not allowed to bring it in with me - when I asked, I was told, "they can't have anything."   My "sister" shared that she can only send out three letters in a week, if she even has money to buy stamps, which she doesn't.  Her family lives too far away to visit.   She really, really wants to be rid of her disease and have a decent, healthy life.  She has made poor decisions, but being homeless for five months, she relapsed shortly after she and I met.  No safe place, no place of her own.  She has a chance for a program that could make a difference, but a judge this morning said in his opinion, she should go to jail for 4 years!   So meanwhile, she sits.  And waits.  And is trying to stay positive.

     As I was waiting to go in to see her, the TV had a segment on the 6.5 million dollar lottery and I couldn't help but think what I'd do if I won.  Build or renovate homes for homeless women and their children - lots of them, so no one would have to be turned away.  In-house services and programs for parenting, spiritual development, "Houses of Healing" Curriculum, art classes, day care, etc.    I don't know how many people are attending the Obama dinner, but obviously there are folks with money here.   I get crazy when I think of million dollar Super Bowl Ads, or athletes who earn $95 million for a five year contract.  Our priorities are sooo messed up.

     I am going to continue supporting my "sister" - remind her of her worth, remind her that "this too shall pass", hug her and hopefully give her some encouragement. I want to do so much more!  I want her to have a chance to be who she is meant to be!   She told me today she is thankful that I am in her life.  I told her it is I who is thankful for the opportunity to walk with her on her journey, even when the road gets super bumpy.  She has much to teach me.

Just had all this rushing around in my head, good to get it down!  By the way, for you reading this in the Portland area, My Sister's Keeper is an awesome program that has been in existence for ten years.  I strongly encourage you to check it out!

Circles of Light and Love

3/3/2012

 
This past month, my 21 year-old niece was murdered by her boyfriend, and yesterday I found out that a good friend of my son's, whose mother is my friend, died as the result of injuries sustained in an avalanche, doing something he loved - extreme skiing.  He was 29 years old. On the surface there may not seem to be much of a connection between these two deaths, but there are two that stand out for me.

The first is about the fragility of life as we know it - it can change in a heartbeat.  We didn't have a chance to say "good-bye" or "I love you" to either of these two young people.  And that hurts.

The second thing is something I'm just beginning to know.  That when things look really dark and we despair, we need only look to the circles of Love and Light that surround us.  Circles of friends, of facebook acquaintances even, family members scattered hither and yon, colleagues from work, neighbors - each circle adds to the whole of the energy of healing, and can help to dispel the darkness that threatens to engulf us.  

Since I became an interfaith chaplain, I look at death differently.  I used to be afraid to be with people who had lost loved ones, afraid I'd say the wrong thing, or not be able to offer any comfort.  What I know now, is just by entering a circle of compassionate friends, saying "I'm sorry", or "I have no words", reaching out to let them know we care - is enough. Actually, for me, it was more than enough - it was heartwarming and let me know others cared.  Such a blessing.

So I offer this blessing - a song that I love, as an antidote to despair and grief:

       Deep Peace of the Rolling Waves to You,
       Deep Peace of the Quiet Earth.
       Deep Peace of the Gentle Air to You,
       Deep Peace of the Shooting Stars.

       May Peace, Deep Peace, May Peace Fill Your Soul,
       May Peace, Deep Peace, May Peace Make You Whole.

Blessings,

More Than Just Slowing Down!

2/29/2012

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I am a Sagittarian, a fire sign, and my name means "bee", as in "busy as". Put these two things together, and I often find myself taking on too many things, and then I need the reminder to "SLOW DOWN"!   

This collage served as a reminder that there is more to slowing down than stopping activity.  For me, it means that i sit in silence, listen to the whispers of my heart, simply be, offer gratitude for the many blessings in my life, and appreciate the freedom to be who I AM.

My most enduring spiritual practice is morning meditation.  Do I do  this every day?  No, but most days I find it extremely helpful to sit in my meditation area for 30 minutes of stillness/silence, followed by brief readings and then journaling the thoughts that bounce around in my mind.

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First Post!

2/29/2012

 
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    Rev. D'Vorah Kelley

    I love words!  So this will be a place for playing with words, often with a spiritual focus, but not always - although, in truth, most things can be seen through the prism of spirituality!
      And I love collage - so I have not doubt that some of my collages will find their way to this blog also.
    Blessings,
                           Rev. D'Vorah

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