One’s Reality

 

 

One’s reality is what it is

Even though it is not

And if that person could really know

Perhaps, he would be shocked.

 

In reality,

Reality is a person’s reality

And this is the reality that person has

Though viewed subjectively.

 

Life is one’s perception:

Perception based on interpretation

Looking through one’s own lens

Coming to one’s conclusion.

 

And this is one’s reality

Which does not always conform

To what many people may consider

To be their subjective norm.

 

 

 

My reality may differ from yours

But it is mine nevertheless

And if it is working out for me

Then for me it is best.

 

My mother was on a bus

While sitting in her wheel chair

Safe and sound in a seniors’ home

And I was also there.

 

She was particularly alarmed

At how the driver was driving,

This was recklessly, to say the least,

And my mother wasn’t joking.

 

I calmly said to my mother,

“One thing I will ask you to do.

Wait till the bus stops before getting off,

That’s all I ask of you.”

 

Yes, I went along with her

Because it was her reality,

That’s how it seemed to her at that time

And she was not being funny.

 

  

In reality, her reality

Was that she was riding on a bus,

And she could not in reality understand

Why the driver was in such a rush.

 

This also holds for mad people

Or rather, the mentally insane,

But they should not be taken lightly-

They are not playing a game.

 

In reality, it’s their reality-

That is how it appears to them,

They need a secure and safe place

To help solve their problem.

 

But for every one of us

Whether considered sane or insane,

In reality, reality is our reality

Whatever we may claim.

 

Stewart Russell © May 29, 2023

 

Not in Heaven

 

 

I looked for my wife in heaven,

On earth we had a grand time

But wherever I searched in heaven

I couldn’t find that wife of mine.

 

I remember when she was buried

They told me I would see her again

And at that time, I must confess,

This helped to ease my pain.

 

Searched and searched I did

Yet, I could not find my wife,

I wondered how I would survive up there

Without the joy of my life.

 

 

I looked around for my children:

My precious bundles of joy,

I searched throughout all of heaven

But found neither the girl or boy.

 

I knew I had left them on earth

Since I passed on before them both

But in heaven I could find neither

Yet, I searched from coast to coast.

 

I looked for my mother in heaven

Surely, she would have to be there

But after searching till I stressed

I could find my mother nowhere.

 

My mother was a lovely Christian

I am sure she was born-again,

Tell me, why couldn’t I find her in heaven?

Why must I endure this pain?

 

I searched heaven for my father

O, how I had loved that man!

He was a most upstanding father:

He had to be in heaven’s plan.

 

 

But though I searched and searched

Nowhere in heaven could I see

That loving father of mine,

Where, O where could my father be?

 

My family, my friends on earth,

I longed to see them again

But my diligent search through heaven

Became a search in vain.

 

I was told I would see them,

That this was the Christian hope

And as I had processed their homegoing

This truly helped me to cope.

 

I had looked forward with joy

To see all of the fore mentioned

But nowhere in heaven, I tell you,

Could I find even one of them.

 

I know they could not be in hell

So, maybe they were not really dead

But wherever they were I was sure

Should have been heaven instead.

 

Don’t expect me to say I woke up

And that this was only a dream

But go and study the Bible

And see what from it you can glean.

 

 

There is no marriage in heaven

Other than the Lamb and his bride

So, whatever we are looking forward to

We must let this be a guide.

 

Family and friends will be in heaven

In fact, we all will be family

But concerning all the details,

That will take an eternity.

 

Whatever it will be in heaven,

It will be infinitely better than on earth

So, with that to look forward to,

Let’s be grateful for our new birth.

 

Stewart Russell © June 13, 2021

 

Feeling Down

 

Daily I am reflecting

On my present circumstance,

Rehearsing the actual event

Of my recent happenstance.

Repeatedly I ask myself,

“But why did I not walk?”

“How I wish!” and “What if?”

Feature in my self-talk.

No, I am not mad

I am just feeling down

And not particularly interested

In being a clown.

Let me recount the details

Of my recent misfortune

Which I deem the real cause

For my present gloom.

While expecting Dorian

I attended a church service,

It was in the open air

Which I simply could not miss.

It was held at Kings Park

And all was going well,

But what was about to happen

I doubt anyone could tell.

We were one in our praise

As we celebrated in worship,

My tenor strains were perking

My voice was particularly fit.

It was such a blessed moment

Nothing could disrupt

But Satan had a plan

And his plan was to interrupt.

Sensing the Holy Spirit

I felt I would be called to pray

So I prepared myself

To take the trek that way.

My wife had felt the same

She sensed it would be me

So it came as no surprise

When so it turned out to be.

After some leisurely steps

I started off a running

Unaware at that time

Satan was out for me gunning.

I skated on the platform

Friction momentarily denied,

Gravity took over control

And my shoes assisted the slide.

At first, it appeared to be funny

But that was not for long,

Thrice I tried to get up

But simply fell back down.

My left foot was like jelly

It wouldn’t hold my weight

That is now the setback

In this unsuspecting fate.

Presently, I am feeling low

I would like to get around,

If only I had walked back then

I would not have fallen down.

Thrown across the platform

In my eagerness to pray

It is still baffling to me

Such could happen that way.

Now feeling down is not me

I am usually quite upbeat,

But now, often on my back

Feeling down is my treat.

Having longed for some rest

This is how it came,

Maybe I should accept my lot

And give thanks in Jesus’ name.

Easier said than done

Especially when one is down,

How I wish right now

I could freely move around!

The simple task of walking

Now is one of discomfort

But thank God for a family

That renders much support.

Many are the consolations

Yet, I am feeling down,

I guess it is our human nature

When upon us life frowns.

One of my pastimes is riding

From that I am now barred,

And I’d love to see my mother,

That too is quite hard.

I am also missing church

Where I often meet my friends,

These and more I must say

Are driving me round the bend.

I like to be up and around

With a little rest, of course,

But I am really feeling down

Since my rest has been enforced.

Feeling down is where I am

Feeling down is where I’m at,

Feeling down, right now, right here,

But of rest, I have no lack.

When I think of friends

Currently suffering more than I,

I feel a little ungrateful

But my feeling down I can’t deny.

Feeling like I am feeling?

Feeling down I mean,

It happens every now and again

But Jesus is on the scene.

Stewart Russell © September 2019

The Persistent Coolie Man

“My Mother tell me to tell you

That she is not at home

And as you can very well see

I am here and all alone.”

“Do you know when she’ll be back

Or when I can call again?

This is the third time I’ve visited

And each time I’ve called in vain.”

“Let me go and ask her

Because I really do not know,

Just hold on a little longer

And then after that you can go.”

“You do not need to ask her

I will come back another time,

In the meantime go and tell her

Remember to close the blind.”

“You should never lie,”

We often would tell a child

But when the “coolie man” came

We instructed that child to lie.

Stewart Russell © November 2018

Relieved by My Mom’s Snore

I jumped with a start

There was fear in my heart,

It was early morning

And still quite dark.

 I sat up in my bed

Weird thoughts in my head,

Could it have happened?

The very thing I dread?

Then I heard the sound

Of a person in sleep,

It was my mother’s snoring

Her slumber was deep.

Her snoring was annoying

It could keep you awake,

Hence that was something

That I just could not take.

It was like a death rattle

Like soon she’d be no more

And that thought alone

Scared me to the core.

But on that occasion

It was like music to me,

Mom had not been raptured,

What a welcomed reality!

It was in my late teens

Or perhaps early twenties

And all like back then

The rapture frightened me.

I was afraid it had happened

And I had been left,

I was more afraid of the rapture

Than I was of death.

My mother is a Christian

Of that I am sure,

I knew it had not happened

When I heard her snore.

That’s the teaching I received

As I grew up in the church,

I must prepare for the rapture

Or be left in the lurch.

It is critical we be ready

For some rapture will occur,

We know Jesus will return

Though as to how we differ.

My mother is still alive

But I live with her no more,

Still I remember that early morning

When I was relieved by her snore.

Stewart Russell © October 2018