Kaleidoscope – Thoughts Of Love, Life, Light and Lessons
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Reflection 21 The Softened Strings of Violins (Inspired by the 39 year old woman bringing hope to those hiding in the subways of Ukraine) Softened strings of violins touch our hearts with hope as we pray for softened sounds on shattered streets and lifeless dreams and flowing streams of endless blood that trickle in guttered dust above. Below we embrace each other, family, friends, strangers now our sisters, brothers in the subway, our secret hideaway where the softened strings of violins give us hope while their sad, mournful sounds, embrace our fears, played so softly, underground, so that we might not be found. The softened strings of violins sing their echoes off the subway walls with their strains of peace. Strange to think, it is hell above the place where we hide below embraced by the comfort of the softened sounds of peaceful violins. A subway, secret sanctuary beneath scorched city streets where we lived and had our homes and our children played and the elderly hoped to live out their later years, without fear and their endless tears. The softened strings of violins Bring solace to our broken hearts as they play their anguish with their bow against the anguish of our souls. Softened strings to help us sing, help us pray to help us live another day. to help us grieve for those we’ve lost. The softened strings of violins The whispers of God’s soothing love From God’s heartstrings that hold us close to Him in the sounds of the softened strings of violins. Reflection 22 Shoes on the Danube (My prayer for Ukraine) Shoes on the Danube Wedding Rings in piled vows of “til death do us part.” Scratches on stone walls etched by frightened fingertips and nails and fearful hearts Spirits in their silent form suspended on the gallows Hopelessness frozen in sallow eyes Counting starvation in ribs that protrude from withered flesh the feet of millions fleeing war masses running to escape the hate that levels homes of love into incinerated ruins. Loved ones say goodbye, they hug their children close absorbing each other’s tears as missiles assault their resilience with the fret of fear in this human calamity. Some remain to stand against the rising tide and fleet of tanks they wonder what will be tomorrow in uncertainty they are running, fleeing forced to wander migrating for a scent of peace in the arms of strangers who open borders with grieving care, resolved to share compassion as they welcome displaced neighbors on to soil where they can stand, or sleep, or rest or hope or be or live and breathe or find the place where they can be free and safe praying that their children will not be remembered one day as shoes on the Danube. Or the elderly who have lived all their lives and in dismay they dwell on this sad thought that after all these years this is what life has come to be. Shoes. Their shoes Let us try to walk in them Let us try to understand The struggle to be free. The yearning to know peace. Never forgetting the human plight and plea for peace as we see the wedding bands the scratched marred walls ropes hanging from the gallows. and the silent Shoes on the Danube.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
A Facebook post featured a young boy looking into a mirror as an elderly man peers into the boy’s eyes. Beneath the image are the words, “Life is a short trip…..Enoy it!” But within the mirror reflection we can find another truth. More than just enjoying life, we should find meaning, purpose, life, love and light in the life God gives us to enjoy. Kaleidoscope – Thoughts will share the lessons we learn through the experiences of our living. These reflections will help us to find the deeper essence of our life, of others and our world as we perceive the purpose and plan of our lives, like a celestial, nighttime spectacle of star-studded skies, turning our thoughts to the vast display of memories and meanings that have shaped our lives. Kaleidoscope Thoughts will help us to look within – within our hearts, minds, emotions, soul and our faith for the depth of the unfolding display of everything that has contributed to the essence of our being. The essence of our purpose. The essence of the joys life provides. The essence of the difference our living can make in this world. There are lessons to be learned in everything! In joy and sorrow, in hurt and pain! In hopes realized and even in dreams shattered! Through failure and triumph. We are not flawless. But we are unique with special blessings and gifts. We continue to be shaped in God’s hands. The God who gives us life to enjoy, holds us in all things. As you turn the Kaleidoscope of Thoughts of my own reflections, remember to see God in every turning reflection of your own life – a life created in God’s love. God shares love with you in every moment of your living. There is beauty and goodness, purpose and promise in each one of us. Turn the pages of these Kaleidoscope Thoughts and discern, as you turn the pages of your own life, in your own Kaleidoscope Thoughts, that the beautiful artistry of God’s creative hands can, and will display, things you have yet to discover to be the lessons that have shaped you into the person you are today. And to think, these reflections within the book cannot even begin to tell you of the full 77 years of my life. Each day, new lessons appear. In each of us. Ronald William Cadmus
About the Author
Ronald William Cadmus was raised in Newark, New Jersey, attended West Virginia Wesleyan College and graduated from Drew Theological Seminary in 1974. He was ordained as a United Methodist Minister in 1975 serving his first church in Verona, NJ. In 1981, following his position as Program Director for the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association in Ocean Grove, NJ, Ron was installed as the 48th Minister in the Line of Succession of the Historic Collegiate Church of New York City, through the invitation of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. The church is the oldest Church in America founded in 1628 and is the Mother Church of the Reformed Church in America. Presently retired, Ron Cadmus provides Pulpit Supply and Supervisory Positions for the denomination. Ron is the author of God’s Loving Embrace: The Touch That Comforts and Restores, Still, In One Peace, Fragile Ornaments, Melting Snowflakes and The Healing Light of Christmas, The Melodies of Christ and The Wondrous Seasons of Our Lives. His works also appear in A Deeper Walk, a compilation of writings from outstand Christian authors published by Thomas Nelson. He is also a lyricist with ASCAP, and is collaborator with various composers for Church Anthems and major Choral Works that are being performed in major choirs globally. He served as a Chaplain at Ground Zero for several months following the World Trade Center terrorist attacks on 9/11. His prose about the experience appears on the Artist’s Registry of The World Trade Center Museum.