The Race
11/25/08
By Todd Royce Gubler
Seasons and times, they all have their place
People so busy clamoring to win the human race
Deadlines and duties, bills, e-mails and blogs
Running and rushing avoiding life’s hindering logs
Holidays, commercial devoid of traditional charm
Buying and spending, it will only cost you an arm
Churches with callings reminding we are never enough
Doing, doing, doing. Wow this sure makes life rough
Wishes and wants, needs and desires,
Hurry, oh hurry to put out another fire
Stretched, pulled, and ripped in every which way
How many kind words will you forget to say
How many in sadness have you today rushed by
Giving not a notice and only your exhausted sigh
Love now past due, final noticed, and shut down
Spirits left on curb sides unnoticed now only frown
Kind words and actions, You too busy could not give
May have meant lifelines, how many now did not live?
Stop my child and listen, look and truly see
The race cannot be one by one but all humanity
Stop and help your neighbor, smile at someone new
Listen to the unsaid, see another’s point of view
Lift and help the fallen, bind and aide their ills
Drop your opinions and consider how others now must feel
Drop in and make true connection, instead of texting, call
Reach out for once with actions, they speak louder than all
The race may run by you and you should let it run, run, run
They will all be clamoring but you will be able to appreciate the sun
Slow down my child and listen, angels speak only when we are still
As I have Loved YOU, Love one ANOTHER, This is God’s only WILL
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
The Recieving Garden - Chapter 4 - Part 5
The Vision of The Garden of My Heart seemed to be on continuous play in my mind. It effected all that I did and for another two years the dream seemed to influence every aspect of my life. No matter what I was experiencing of going through the Garden had the answer in form of symbolism and it was if all I needed was continually waiting there in bounty to be harvested. Here is an exert from my journal showing the Garden, and my, progress:
4/3/04
It is time to visit the Garden. It is such a wonderful Saturday morning. It’s a slow gentle rain today. I absolutely love the rain. It completely inspires me. The Garden has been a continual part of my thought process now for close to two years. I have been reading and rereading the original dream this month and I am finding it even more meaningful and clear now than ever. I am in mood right now though, and I feel the need to express the current condition of the Garden.
Ah what an entrance. The remodel and redesign of the Garden entrance was in retrospect a stroke of genius. It welcomes people into this, my Holy of Holies, with out letting them all the way in. The sign above the main gate welcomes all, and many have come to feast there eyes, hearts and souls on the delights of my Garden. The Asian themed reflecting Garden just inside has been met with herald. The peace and comfort people feel here I can see is really touching them and I am loving the fact that my garden (i.e. my persona) can have such a healing and enlighten effect on people. The nice thing though is the new design lets people in only to this point and the elegant Temple Gate quietly guards and protects the majority of the Garden's beauty and power. I let very few venture through these gates. Many I see, as I sit from the watch tower and oversee the affairs of my Garden, come into this reflection area and are so completely overwhelmed they rush to put there name on the list to enter deeper and meet the Gardener. This was a bit overwhelming at first as I was shocked at how much interest there suddenly was in my work. I did let a few venture further right off the bat but in retrospect that was a mistake. For many the work on the other side of the Temple Gate was, despite them saying they were ready, far too much for their senses to handle. Although it was something they all professed to want I found that opening the Temple Gate too early left them facing a reality that most were incapable of coping with. But keeping people out of the Garden altogether does not serve the Garden or the Gardener either so the receiving area serves its purpose well and gives all that feel so inclined to venture in an opportunity to come in and receive the gift of the Garden that is Me without having to expose all of the Garden or Myself. It fulfills many who enters curiosity and still heals the hearts of many, some even complete strangers, but the Gardener is now somewhat protected from being overwhelmed with visitors as only a select few are invited to come explore the Garden deeper and this only after the Gardener as ascertained they are truly ready to receive more.
As one can see the Garden and the Gardener had come along way by this point. All was well. All was progressing. All was as it should be and I was at my pinnacle of inspiration. I felt I had been riding a magical wave and as if ALL WAS POSSIBLE. I knew God loved me and I knew that the Garden had been given to me as a gift to remind me of this love. The Garden was flourishing.
4/3/04
It is time to visit the Garden. It is such a wonderful Saturday morning. It’s a slow gentle rain today. I absolutely love the rain. It completely inspires me. The Garden has been a continual part of my thought process now for close to two years. I have been reading and rereading the original dream this month and I am finding it even more meaningful and clear now than ever. I am in mood right now though, and I feel the need to express the current condition of the Garden.
Ah what an entrance. The remodel and redesign of the Garden entrance was in retrospect a stroke of genius. It welcomes people into this, my Holy of Holies, with out letting them all the way in. The sign above the main gate welcomes all, and many have come to feast there eyes, hearts and souls on the delights of my Garden. The Asian themed reflecting Garden just inside has been met with herald. The peace and comfort people feel here I can see is really touching them and I am loving the fact that my garden (i.e. my persona) can have such a healing and enlighten effect on people. The nice thing though is the new design lets people in only to this point and the elegant Temple Gate quietly guards and protects the majority of the Garden's beauty and power. I let very few venture through these gates. Many I see, as I sit from the watch tower and oversee the affairs of my Garden, come into this reflection area and are so completely overwhelmed they rush to put there name on the list to enter deeper and meet the Gardener. This was a bit overwhelming at first as I was shocked at how much interest there suddenly was in my work. I did let a few venture further right off the bat but in retrospect that was a mistake. For many the work on the other side of the Temple Gate was, despite them saying they were ready, far too much for their senses to handle. Although it was something they all professed to want I found that opening the Temple Gate too early left them facing a reality that most were incapable of coping with. But keeping people out of the Garden altogether does not serve the Garden or the Gardener either so the receiving area serves its purpose well and gives all that feel so inclined to venture in an opportunity to come in and receive the gift of the Garden that is Me without having to expose all of the Garden or Myself. It fulfills many who enters curiosity and still heals the hearts of many, some even complete strangers, but the Gardener is now somewhat protected from being overwhelmed with visitors as only a select few are invited to come explore the Garden deeper and this only after the Gardener as ascertained they are truly ready to receive more.
As one can see the Garden and the Gardener had come along way by this point. All was well. All was progressing. All was as it should be and I was at my pinnacle of inspiration. I felt I had been riding a magical wave and as if ALL WAS POSSIBLE. I knew God loved me and I knew that the Garden had been given to me as a gift to remind me of this love. The Garden was flourishing.
Cherished Blessings - Chapter 4 Part 4
Revisiting the garden again had almost as powerful effect on me as the first visit. There was something about being in nature that weekend that made it so easy to just stay in the moment of the dream and really ponder the depth of its meaning. It seemed every tree I saw or each encounter with the wildlife was a direct interaction and personal message from God. This vision like the first one was far more detailed than I can justly express in writing and I saw far more of the Garden then just the areas I have written about.
The Garden Experience had become my most cherished blessing and I felt I had reached a level of joy and self acceptance that I had never dreamed possible. I had such a love of self and others, everything that I encountered throughout the day seemed to remind me of who I was and what I was to become. Simple details of everyday life touched me and I found that I felt others joy and pain before they even expressed it outwardly. I was experiencing the highest level of inspiration and joy I had ever felt in my life. I would think I am as inspired as I can possibly be and then something new would come to me or I would receive another piece of the vision and again I would find myself soaring over a new peak. I can truly say I have never felt more in touch with God or my Angels than I did during that year, 2002. I would rush to therapy to go over the details of these new visits to the Garden with Margaret. She got it. She seemed to feed on the excitement and inspiration of the dream as well. This amazing level of inspiration felt to good to be true but also seemed on a constant climb with no limit to the level of consciousness and inspiration I was being allowed to receive. I found myself almost continually in deep thought and it was one of the deepest years of my life.
11/6/02
The Garden Experience had become my most cherished blessing and I felt I had reached a level of joy and self acceptance that I had never dreamed possible. I had such a love of self and others, everything that I encountered throughout the day seemed to remind me of who I was and what I was to become. Simple details of everyday life touched me and I found that I felt others joy and pain before they even expressed it outwardly. I was experiencing the highest level of inspiration and joy I had ever felt in my life. I would think I am as inspired as I can possibly be and then something new would come to me or I would receive another piece of the vision and again I would find myself soaring over a new peak. I can truly say I have never felt more in touch with God or my Angels than I did during that year, 2002. I would rush to therapy to go over the details of these new visits to the Garden with Margaret. She got it. She seemed to feed on the excitement and inspiration of the dream as well. This amazing level of inspiration felt to good to be true but also seemed on a constant climb with no limit to the level of consciousness and inspiration I was being allowed to receive. I found myself almost continually in deep thought and it was one of the deepest years of my life.
11/6/02
Saturday, July 26, 2008
The Second Vision - Chapter 4 - Part -3
The Second Garden Dream
Well I know the lane well now that leads to my Garden. I come here so often now and things are coming along nicely. I have been so busy cleaning and pruning and planning though that I feel I need to walk the Garden and document its progress.
As I walk up I notice the side walks are now spotless and all the moss and debris has been methodically cleared. The ivy walls are now neatly sheared and where there are bare spots, wire has been strung and new vines are being encouraged to cover them up. The trees are still beautiful and look even taller and statelier now that they have been trimmed and manicured. Impatiens and coleus have been planted and are thriving in their shade. This makes the whole entrance so much more inviting and breaks up the green monotony. The Gated entrance once covered and hidden is now quite prominent and inviting. The trees have been trimmed back just enough to let the light shine through very prominently here. There is a series of pots placed on each side with a stunning display of colorful floral draping down there sides and beckoning all that saunter down the lane to take notice. On the wall on each side of the massive gates are lion head fountains spitting water gracefully into marble bowls. The limestone casing of the gate shows now and arches gracefully above the gate framing it quite nicely. There are plans for an inscription there soon, but for now a copper plate has been hung in the center and it reads, “All are welcome to enter in Peace.” The gates themselves are quite exquisite. The have an ornate oak leaf pattern scrolled trough them. They are unlocked now and have been oiled so they open with ease and silence. Walking in the arch is actually a tunnel covered for about 15 feet or so. At the end of the tunnel there is now a sign that reads, “Please pardon the dust, Reflection Garden under Construction”. There is a table with blueprints laid out. This is the site of the new reception space of the Garden where guests may wait, relax and prepare for the rest of the Garden experience. A large Oriental type structure is being built at one end and a large pond is being dug out in preparation of the future reflecting pond. This will reflect and amplify the surrounding beauty of the landscape and add the soothing element of water to this sacred space. Guest will soon be able to sit at its banks and reflect and ponder. There will be a gravel path so guests can slowly meander around the pond and there is even a bridge being built to give guests a view from the center of the quiet pool.
The new building will serve as the new Main Gate to the true garden that is now safely behind its framed walls. Two large stone Phu Dogs have already been placed on each side of the main steps leading to the Oriental Gate House. They are there to forcefully invite all evil to leave the reflection garden and forbid evil from ever making it into the sacred garden behind them. Most of the large trees and boulders are already planted and in place now. But despite this it is still very much a work in progress and is therefore not operational by any means yet. The new Guard gate, though not finished, is completely operational and is serving its purpose well. The large ornate doors are in place and stand locked. There is a small polite signs that reads, “Please sign the registration log and wait patiently, and the Host of the Garden will be with you soon.” There is a bench there to sit on but since the space is still undergoing so much work its not entirely relaxing yet.
As I unlock the new gates and walk inside the framed building it is sheeted with plastic to hide the construction going on inside the building and to quickly guide you through to the other exit. As I walk out the back of the new structure I step out onto a very French looking patio area raised about 5 feet higher than the surrounding landscape. From this patio I am directly in front of the lovely swan fountain that marks the center of the garden. It has now been gilded in gold and has the most amazing display of flowers around its base. It seems to glow now. It is an absolutely breathtaking centerpiece. It stands there now with an encircling polished granite path. Large fir trees have been added now and enclose this grand area and seem to frame three separate entrances into the North, East, and West Gardens. The patio I stand on acts as the entrance to the South Garden that will soon be the reflection area. This area has been transformed into an impressive courtyard and is quite manicured and complete. The patio has wide gentle steps that invite you to descend toward the fountain. I am quite pleased with the progress of this part of the garden.
I continue into the Garden and up the path toward the North Garden, the Rose Garden. The newly added fir trees block one from seeing this garden from the patio so you must wander around the fountain and up through the fir canopy. An arch has been carefully trimmed in the large firs to create a natural entrance to the Rose Garden. As I walk through the arch is obvious this part of the Garden is also under major renovation. There are piles of leaves and branches, weeds and debris heaped here and there amongst the garden. It seems that the front fourth of the great raised rose bed has been thoroughly weeded and prepared. It actually looks quite sparse in this quarter since there are only a few roses left in this space. Now that that section has been weeded it has maybe 8 or 9 roses in a space of over 100 feet long. The few roses that remained have been cut way back and fertilized and have had the soil worked around their bases. Also the Cypress and Ewe shrubs in this front quarter of this Garden had been neatly trimmed and sheared to absolute perfection. The bulbs in the side gardens have also been pulled up, thinned and neatly replanted and labels have been placed to show what was planted where. Truly the garden looked a bit stark and naked but you could tell it was receiving a lot of care and thought and would soon be something quite spectacular again. Now the remaining three quarters were still quite a mess and in need of the same attention as the front although at the back the large wisteria had been carefully pruned back. Only a couple had survived and were in the process of growing back and where the others had failed new ones had been planted and were being trained up the columns. Sprinklers and hoses ran here and there through out the garden though, ensuring that all plants that have survived were now flourishing. There were forms placed along the path where urns and lights would soon be added and from the valance of the trellis large pots of hanging geraniums were a burst of pink color in front of the impressive valley in the beyond. The pillars had all been power washed and were once again powder white. The area still needed a ton of work but it was looking like someone now cared.
Well I know the lane well now that leads to my Garden. I come here so often now and things are coming along nicely. I have been so busy cleaning and pruning and planning though that I feel I need to walk the Garden and document its progress.
As I walk up I notice the side walks are now spotless and all the moss and debris has been methodically cleared. The ivy walls are now neatly sheared and where there are bare spots, wire has been strung and new vines are being encouraged to cover them up. The trees are still beautiful and look even taller and statelier now that they have been trimmed and manicured. Impatiens and coleus have been planted and are thriving in their shade. This makes the whole entrance so much more inviting and breaks up the green monotony. The Gated entrance once covered and hidden is now quite prominent and inviting. The trees have been trimmed back just enough to let the light shine through very prominently here. There is a series of pots placed on each side with a stunning display of colorful floral draping down there sides and beckoning all that saunter down the lane to take notice. On the wall on each side of the massive gates are lion head fountains spitting water gracefully into marble bowls. The limestone casing of the gate shows now and arches gracefully above the gate framing it quite nicely. There are plans for an inscription there soon, but for now a copper plate has been hung in the center and it reads, “All are welcome to enter in Peace.” The gates themselves are quite exquisite. The have an ornate oak leaf pattern scrolled trough them. They are unlocked now and have been oiled so they open with ease and silence. Walking in the arch is actually a tunnel covered for about 15 feet or so. At the end of the tunnel there is now a sign that reads, “Please pardon the dust, Reflection Garden under Construction”. There is a table with blueprints laid out. This is the site of the new reception space of the Garden where guests may wait, relax and prepare for the rest of the Garden experience. A large Oriental type structure is being built at one end and a large pond is being dug out in preparation of the future reflecting pond. This will reflect and amplify the surrounding beauty of the landscape and add the soothing element of water to this sacred space. Guest will soon be able to sit at its banks and reflect and ponder. There will be a gravel path so guests can slowly meander around the pond and there is even a bridge being built to give guests a view from the center of the quiet pool.
The new building will serve as the new Main Gate to the true garden that is now safely behind its framed walls. Two large stone Phu Dogs have already been placed on each side of the main steps leading to the Oriental Gate House. They are there to forcefully invite all evil to leave the reflection garden and forbid evil from ever making it into the sacred garden behind them. Most of the large trees and boulders are already planted and in place now. But despite this it is still very much a work in progress and is therefore not operational by any means yet. The new Guard gate, though not finished, is completely operational and is serving its purpose well. The large ornate doors are in place and stand locked. There is a small polite signs that reads, “Please sign the registration log and wait patiently, and the Host of the Garden will be with you soon.” There is a bench there to sit on but since the space is still undergoing so much work its not entirely relaxing yet.
As I unlock the new gates and walk inside the framed building it is sheeted with plastic to hide the construction going on inside the building and to quickly guide you through to the other exit. As I walk out the back of the new structure I step out onto a very French looking patio area raised about 5 feet higher than the surrounding landscape. From this patio I am directly in front of the lovely swan fountain that marks the center of the garden. It has now been gilded in gold and has the most amazing display of flowers around its base. It seems to glow now. It is an absolutely breathtaking centerpiece. It stands there now with an encircling polished granite path. Large fir trees have been added now and enclose this grand area and seem to frame three separate entrances into the North, East, and West Gardens. The patio I stand on acts as the entrance to the South Garden that will soon be the reflection area. This area has been transformed into an impressive courtyard and is quite manicured and complete. The patio has wide gentle steps that invite you to descend toward the fountain. I am quite pleased with the progress of this part of the garden.
I continue into the Garden and up the path toward the North Garden, the Rose Garden. The newly added fir trees block one from seeing this garden from the patio so you must wander around the fountain and up through the fir canopy. An arch has been carefully trimmed in the large firs to create a natural entrance to the Rose Garden. As I walk through the arch is obvious this part of the Garden is also under major renovation. There are piles of leaves and branches, weeds and debris heaped here and there amongst the garden. It seems that the front fourth of the great raised rose bed has been thoroughly weeded and prepared. It actually looks quite sparse in this quarter since there are only a few roses left in this space. Now that that section has been weeded it has maybe 8 or 9 roses in a space of over 100 feet long. The few roses that remained have been cut way back and fertilized and have had the soil worked around their bases. Also the Cypress and Ewe shrubs in this front quarter of this Garden had been neatly trimmed and sheared to absolute perfection. The bulbs in the side gardens have also been pulled up, thinned and neatly replanted and labels have been placed to show what was planted where. Truly the garden looked a bit stark and naked but you could tell it was receiving a lot of care and thought and would soon be something quite spectacular again. Now the remaining three quarters were still quite a mess and in need of the same attention as the front although at the back the large wisteria had been carefully pruned back. Only a couple had survived and were in the process of growing back and where the others had failed new ones had been planted and were being trained up the columns. Sprinklers and hoses ran here and there through out the garden though, ensuring that all plants that have survived were now flourishing. There were forms placed along the path where urns and lights would soon be added and from the valance of the trellis large pots of hanging geraniums were a burst of pink color in front of the impressive valley in the beyond. The pillars had all been power washed and were once again powder white. The area still needed a ton of work but it was looking like someone now cared.
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