With the light that you carry, you must walk into the darkness,

For you play a part in making the world whole,

Seek out the sun for its rays will heal all hearts,

You must go find La Puerta del Sol.

In the Desert of Deconstruction, many trials await you there,

Be steady, be true and you’ll overcome,

And though this journey is yours, you are not alone,

Verily, all is one in the kingdom to come.

With an intrepid heart, no longer afraid,

I stepped forward into the unknown.

Though the path is unmapped, I will not be swayed,

For with Hope, I am never alone.

Questions open doors of infinite possibility,

Gateways to realms where the world can be redeemed.

It’s in these dominions where hope takes root,

Where healing can blossom and Love reigns supreme.

“To this life we are living and all that it could be,

To a world full of love, to you and to me.”

And then they clinked their glasses and exchanged a kiss,

And enjoyed each other’s presence, a moment of bliss,

The world is full adventure, grander than it may seem,

But you might never know it, if you do not dare to dream.

And the wisdom of prophets is available to all,

If in their presence, we can sit in silence,

And listen to the narratives they have to tell,

For it is in their stories we shall find their guidance.

To be in the present, fully here in the now,

To be immersed in nature, wild and free,

To leave yesterday behind, setting tomorrow aside,

That is what it means to live, put simply, to be.

And with time, the clouds parted, the sun started to rise,

A mere glimmer of light, so soft on his eyes.

Alone in the ruins, he surveilled all around him,

Nothing left, it was time, to step out on a limb.

He paused for a moment before he took that last step,

Childhood dreams he remembered, he smiled, and then he leapt.

Yes, we were incredibly different. Yet as volunteers, we became united in our actions as one collective family. There were many moments of levity and laughter and moments of sincere depth. Spending a week with these people, I came to see how we are all more alike than we are different. We all had an inner light: the Christ within.

What is this feeling stirring within me?

Ever imperceptibly, everyday transforming,

Keep talking, I’ll listen, I will try at least,

To capture the message from sun in the east.

And so Eden was restored to the time before the fall,

When two souls found each other,

And love was all they could recall.

Each moment and each circumstance,

Plays a part in this cyclical life dance,

Lessons learned, we discover our gifts to give,

Let us love abundantly in all the ways we live.

We all have our own stories, true,

No way but forward, working through.

But we needn’t brave the world alone,

You are seen, you are known.

Collectively may we breathe and share,

United, undivided, together we bare,

From the stars and moon to the radiant sun,

Love conquers all, yes, let it be done.

There she was, powerful beyond measure, empowering others. Truly, life is a journey in learning we are more powerful than we know. And, the greatest gift we can give is to empower another.

Last night you came to me,

Bathed in light for all to see,

Warm as the noonday sun,

You held me close, we were one,

And then you whispered in my ear

What I needed most to hear.

We talk about everything from Joseph Campbell to Beyonce as we explore various concepts from wandering the desert in the hero’s journey, living with passion and purpose, and embracing transformation in all of its various forms.

He transcended the confines of physical matter and like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Chris began a beautiful journey of living with intention and purpose.

What roads lie dormant,

Waiting for my wandering feet?

What paths are shadowed,

Waiting for my spirit’s light?