Ravyn’s Nest

Art by Maija

IT'S OK
~It's ok to cry as long as you remember to wipe away the tears to smile again.
~It's ok to stumble or even fall as long as you remember to brush yourself off and take another step forward again.
~It's ok to shut the door on the world as long as you remember to open the door to rejoin the world again. 
~It's ok to be silent as long as you remember to speak again. 
~But most of all, it's ok to shut your heart as long as you remember to love again. 
~~Ravyn

Guest Photographer–Christian Peay

Our Sacred Vows

It is almost too much I wearily nuzzled you

I know but we must go on you whispered softly to me

Faithfully fierce

Fully fearless

Our sacred vows

Sworn proudly to protect

Surrender only to peace

Our sacred vows

We must go on I impatiently nuzzled you

We hang tough you strongly whispered to me

Our sacred vows

~~Ravyn

Collaboration–Carolyn Ford

WILL YOU?

Will you?
Will you catch me when I fall?
Will you kiss my tears as they fall?
Will your lips meet mine and linger?
Will you hold me in a tight embrace in silent surrender?
When you look into my eyes and peer past my walls,
When you hold my hands and silently promise to not let go,
Afraid, I stumble in confusion
Fearful, I hold on in hope
Will you be there in the morning?
Will you tread softly in my heart?
Will you?

~~Ravyn

Collaboration

Artwork by Pablo Picasso (1904) titled “Woman with a Crow”. Found at the Toledo Museum of Art.

Poetry by Carolyn E. Ford (Ravyn)

 

My Black-feathered Friend

Shhhh I whisper softly to my black-feathered friend

My friend who listens to my secrets better left hidden and shrouded in darkness

Shhhh I whisper softly to my black-feathered friend

My friend who sees my broken wings and yet is unafraid of the turmoil unspoken

Shhhh I whisper softly to my black-feathered friend

My friend who touches my soul blackened by deeds best left unsaid

 

Shhhh I whisper softly to my black-feathered friend

My friend who touches my tears of bitterness and regret

Shhhh I whisper softly to my black-feathered friend

My friend who smells the decaying wounds of my heart

Shhhh I whisper softly to my black-feathered friend

My friend who allows my melancholy to embrace us together

Shhhh I whisper softly to my black-feathered friend

My friend who replies healing to my sundered soul raked by sorrow

Shhhh we sigh together to await the darkness that brings promise of light

Shhhh we sigh together and wait for the invitation for resurrection

Shhhh we sigh together and wait for the rising sun to live again transformed

~~Ravyn

 

 

 

From the perch of Ravynhed

Brokeness

Letting the shards of my broken soul clatter through my fingers

Picking up each shard and silently grieving all the contained dreams deferred

Unmet expectations glaring with the shade of truth

Fruitless rationalizations spinning like a kaleidoscope

Intentions maligned by judgment of others

Hopes deferred, disappointments, disillusionments that are all colored by the darkness of a crushed dream and dying faith

Trying to crawl and get up one more time more than I have fallen

Faced with the futility that my dreams were just mirages and shadows in the sand

I light a match to cause the shards to be engulfed in flames

As the smoke mixed with my tears, I wait with my head bowed down in defeat

As I open my eyes, I see a single ember in the midst of ashes

A single ember that refused the white flag of surrender

I see hands that are not mine rearrange the shards and at times, break the shards into different shapes

Refining broken shards into something beautiful

Using love to glue the shards in place

You placed my soul in my hands

I stared in wonderment of what You re-created, recycled, and redeemed

You never given up on me and sought me to show forth Your glory

Truly, I am Yours and You are mine

~~Ravyn

 

Photographer/Writer is Carolyn E. Ford

Collaboration

Photographer is Joe Neely and writer is Carolyn E. Ford

River Dance

Let’s dance on water!

Yes, you!

Don’t delay!

Time is now!

Celebrate life for life is good.

Life is full with good and bad moments.

Let’s celebrate the good and let the bad rest in peace.

Yes, you!

Don’t delay!

Time is now!

Let’s dance on water!

~~Ravyn

Collaboration

Photographer/writer is Carolyn E. Ford

Birthday Reflections

Tomorrow on September 18^th, I will be 50 years old. My life is more than half way over. Looking back over my life, there have been regrets, victories, doubts, faith, and courage to keep moving forward even if I had to crawl.

My life has been amazing. I have my Ph.D. degree, I have been a scientist, I have been a pharmacist, I have been a photographer, I have been a writer/poet, I have been a musician, I have been the companion of some of the most amazing furkids in my life, I have traveled outside this United States, but most of all, I have a living and dynamic relationship with GOD.

My walk with GOD has been peppered with detours, obstacles, and stepping stones. I always knew since I was small that GOD exists. I never had any doubt about HIS presence but I did doubt HIS love for me. However, HE continues to reminds me and confirms HIS love for me. HE has called me to ministry of prayer, music, and healing. I am truly the wounded healer. I am not a victim but a survivor of chronic health challenges—pain, arthritis, lupus, bipolar mood disorder, and sleep apnea. Some days are better than others but every day is good when I wake up in my right mind and my eyes fixed on JESUS, the author and finisher of my faith.

The biggest life lesson that I have learned is to let go and let GOD. I hate to give up but sometimes, you got to walk away so you can see the horizon of something better for yourself. You have to close the doors softly and let GOD reveal HIS perfect will for you. Scary? Heck yes but GOD is with you every step and misstep of your journey. You are never alone and you are unconditionally loved.

GOD continually reveals HIMSELF to me. He is the Master Quilter, the Recycler, the Refurbisher, my Redeemer, the I AM THAT I AM, my Physician, my Best Friend, my Refuge, my Author, my Strong Tower, my Savior, and my Shepherd. In HIM, I will never be disappointed. HE is my Emmanuel (GOD with us) and my Protector. Here’s to many more adventures!

~~Ravyn

Collaboration

Photographer is Jodi Duplay and writer is Vanessa Leigh

The Sun Dance

Hey, guess what you + I are? We are WANTED! We are LOVED! DESIRED! + PURSUED! We are fearfully + wonderfully made. Even more so, we are bought by the highest bid, purchased at the highest price – by selfless grace, no less.

This love is FOREVER. This love is UNCONDITIONAL, which means no return policy or shifty disclaimers. This love is one that is of such unwavering, unshaken, undeniable, breathtaking TRUTH that blocks + defends the lies the enemy + the world tries to tell you. We have the God of angel armies on our side. And God’s saying to you “you’re my girl” or “dude, you GOT THIS.” This love never makes you feel like anything less than the most stunning, skillfully-crafted, pretty thing of all time ever to existed – because YOU ARE just that + then some. This love devastatingly makes you feel + know that you are a TOTAL BABE, so worthy + drenched in beauty, glowing from head to toe + back again, no matter what hurts, scars, past + marks you have on your being.

There is a wild damn symphony playing in TRUTH about you that lifts your spirit so high that you can know true JOY + PEACE no matter the situation or obstacle you face. It’s not wayward; It is ultimate.

And man, if that doesn’t have you dancing like a crazy fool, then I don’t know what will. There is true joy. There is true peace. We are undefeated because the God of the UNIVERSE is on our side – the author + completer of our lives. He is writing our stories, friends. He knows you individually by name. He knows the number of hairs on your head + freckles on your body. Be lit up – from the inside out. Go + breathe this truth today. Let this wave wash over you. You are loved, friends, + there is nothing you can do about it.

~~Vanessa Leigh

 

Collaboration

Photographer is Joe Neely and writer is Carolyn E. Ford

Ready to Shine

I have been on the sidelines too long.

Always waiting behind the stage curtains,

Applauding others but never myself.

Time for others now to applaud me.

So, I tip my hat in anticipation of the applause.

I exit from the stage curtains and enter the stage.

I have been waiting and anticipating.

Now, it is my turn to shine and bask in the limelight.

I am ready to shine!

~~Ravyn

Collaboration

The photographer is Rob Blair and the writer is Carolyn E. Ford

The Art of Letting Go

People think holding on is a sign of strength.

I say letting go is the truest sign of strength.

Sometimes we have to get lost or take detours to find our way again.

Failure is just an opportunity to pick yourself up and try again.

Letting go is showing how much I love you.

Letting go is allowing you to stand on your own two feet.

Letting go is letting you trail blaze your own journey.

And if is meant to be, our paths will cross again.

Let go and let GOD.

Let go and be engaged.

Let GOD and be empowered.

~~Ravyn

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