“The Forgiveness Letter” copyright 2011 John J. Rigo, upcoming book “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Courtesy of Google image search. No credit available.

 

 

I found myself at the apex of my life.

It was not a twelve step program that entered my mind

but a way to seek “Forgiveness.”

 

The list was long

and difficult to put together.

Many of the names were from many years ago.

 

A great amount of time was spent in finding addresses.

Many of the people of the list

were long dead.

 

It was a form letter I composed.

It began, “This letter is written to ask for your forgiveness

for any hurtful thing said or done to you in our relationship.

Please accept my apology for such actions on my part.”

 

There is now a large pile of letters with stamps on them

awaiting in a box to be mailed.

Some will be returned “undelivered.”

 

A large number of my addresses will never respond. 

A few will write back simply saying that the apology is accepted.

A greater number will write back listing my sins upon them

and close with black bitterness in their closing written words.

 

Then there will those who are the exceptional of heart.

In their return letters

they will also accept responsibility for any hurts

brought to the prior relationship. 

 

There will be a wonderful result in sending these letters.

I did seek “Forgiveness.”

Whether is was given or not

is not important.

 

What will be important

I will then know

who my neighbors in heaven

will be.

 

 

 

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“The Magic Christmas Bells of Florence Street” copyright 2008 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

 

 

 

 

Courtesy of telegraph.co.uk

This is a magical Christmas story from my past.

It was a new beginning for my life in 71′

a new marriage and becoming the Step-Father

of three children was my accomplishment.

 

It was Christmas eve 

just a few minutes before midnight.

We just got home from a trip to a family

gathering in Dallas.

 

It was cold with clear night skies

as we began to hear the sound of sleigh bells

over our home.

 

We all stood outside the front door

of our home in amazement,

as we hear the bells from far away

come closer overhead

then pass over our house

then on to the distance in sound.

 

We could not see anything overhead

but we all knew that evening

truly  St. Nick and his sleigh

had passed

somehow

over our home.

 

 

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“Hugs” copyright 2009 John J. Rigo (Revised) upcoming book “Passion Amidst Apathy”

 

 

There is something wonderous about a hug.

It is a way of saying,”you are special to me.”

A step beyond the boundries of formal convention.

 

The assurance of a heart touching a heart.

A touch of comfort to calm a grieving heart.  

A cheek touching a cheek

with a kiss of greeting.

 

Whether a man to man

or woman to woman

or man to woman

or woman to man

there are no limits to showing

our love for another.

 

We are all souls in His creation

with an eternal bond between us all.

The hug is the sign of our sisterhood and brotherhood.

 

Let it not become forgotten in your life

it is precious honey to the wounds of this life

forever giving

forever loving

in the wonder of love

to us all.

 

 

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“What Is The Secret Key To Eternal Life?” copyright 2008 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, “Passion Amidst Apathy” The Seventh poem of the Master’s Series

 

 

“One of Seven Poems of “The Master‘s Series of Poetry.”

On this day

the Master revealed

His greatest gift to mankind.

 

This gift was rendered on a mountain of stone

reflected on a setting sun

to a multitude of many

in one of the many lessons

given to multitudes in those years. 

 

The question

that came toward the end of that day

was, “ Master, what is the greatest gift

that God gives to all of us?”  asked the young

man in the multitude of that day.

 

The Master replied,

“The greatest gift that my Father gives to all

is the secret of Forgiveness.

 

In rendering forgiveness to ones self

and also forgiveness of others

does a sinner reveal

the keys to heaven

and the eternal Love of our Father.

 

Forgiveness assures the eternal love of the Father

and being in the arms of His Love forever.”

So said the Master of my life

on this day.

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“The Master Speaks of God’s Love” copyright 2008 (Revised) John J. Rigo upcoming poetry book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

 

 

“………..pointing to a star”

 

 

The night sky was a deep black with blazing stars

over the Master and His disciples

this particular night along the sea of Galilee.

It was a time of quiet contemplation of the beauty of God’s work.

 

Within the group of His disciples

one disciple had a troubling question.

With reverence he approached the Master with his question.

“Does God’s Love for us have bounds when remembering our sins in His Eternal Memory?”

asked the disciple quietly as to not disturb the other men in the group.

 

The Master lifted His Head toward the night sky

and pointed His finger to a bright star saying,

“As you look upon the stars in the night sky

many have long changed in form

and are no more. 

 

The distance is so great in the travel of that light

that we still see those suns prior to their changing of form. 

So it is in the breath of God’s Love for us

it is also beyond the width

depth and height of such distances from us.

 

Since His Love for us is unconditional

so is His memory of our sins.

In asking His forgiveness of our sins

their memory no longer exists in eternity.”

So spoke that night

the Master of My Life. 

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“It Was My Sweet Jesus” copyright 2009 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

 

  

Courtesy of scotdodge.blogspot.com

It was my sweet Jesus

who brought me to the light

from the darkest place in my life.

 

It was my sweet Jesus

Who loved me

and kept me safe

when no one cared

whether I lived or died.

 

It was my sweet Jesus,

Who protected me against

the darkest of evils

that befell my life. 

 

It was my sweet Jesus

Who showed me the beauty of heaven

when I no longer believed in Him.

 

It was my sweet Jesus,

Who answered my prayers

when I cried out in pain and agony.

 

It was my sweet Jesus,

Who brought joy to my heart

and hope for my soul.

 

It was because of my sweet Jesus

that the eternity before me

is now filled

with the promise

of His eternal Love for me.

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“A Christmas Memory From Long Ago” copyright 2008 John J. Rigo, upcoming “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Courtesy of free-christmas-deskstop-wallpaper.blogspot.com

 

 

 

This poem comes from a true story in my life…..I think it is timeless in its message.   The lesson is that when two people share love, as I and my childhood bride did then, it truly was all the processions we needed.  

 

 

It was our first Christmas together.

We both were eighteen

with barely more

than the clothes on our backs.

 

I was just out of basic training

in the U.S. Air Force.

She had just graduated from high school

and then wrote a bus to Savannah, Georgia,

to join me

the love of her life.

 

We had rented a several room apartment

on the second floor of an old Savannah home.

It was in a falling-down condition.

 

The gifts we shared were inexpensive

but meant the world in their value

and meaning to each of us.

 

She gave me a St. Christopher‘s medal of Silver

while I gave her a Catholic missal.

She wanted to become a Catholic like me

prior to us getting married.

 

I took a picture of her opening her present.

The smile upon her face was beautiful.

It was a Christmas in 1960.

 

It will always be a Christmas

I will always remember.

The lesson I learned

that day was

the love between us

was truly

the greatest gift

we could have shared

that Christmas. 

 

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“The Magic Christmas Bells of Florence Street” copyright 2008 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

 

 

 

 

Courtesy of telegraph.co.uk

This is a magical Christmas story from my past.

It was a new beginning for my life in 71′

a new marriage and becoming the Step-Father

of three children was my accomplishment.

 

It was Christmas eve 

just a few minutes before midnight.

We just got home from a trip to a family

gathering in Dallas.

 

It was cold with clear night skies

as we began to hear the sound of sleigh bells

over our home.

 

We all stood outside the front door

of our home in amazement,

as we hear the bells from far away

come closer overhead

then pass over our house

then on to the distance in sound.

 

We could not see anything overhead

but we all knew that evening

truly  St. Nick and his sleigh

had passed

somehow

over our home.

 

 

Read Full Post »

“I Have Never Gotten Comfortable With Death” (Revised) copyright 2009 John J. Rigo, upcoming book “Passion Amidst Apathy”

  

“We need each other on a human level of communication.” comment by John J. Rigo, Texas’ Commentator

My mind still does not accept they are gone from this world.

I find myself many a time reaching for a phone

to call them.

 

It is a select group

these souls that were a part of my life.

Some are friends

that cannot ever be replaced

in the deep meaning of their unselfish love of me.

 

Others were my parents

who I never really knew as people.

There was the apple of my eye,

my step-daughter of many years.

Truly the only daughter

I ever knew in my life.

 

There were others

that I would have liked to have known better

they are now gone

without any notice from my life.

 

At times I find them in my thoughts

mind speaking with them about different things

reaching and seeking unresponsive council  from now

an unfamilar place in my heart.

 

I know they are not really gone

they are just in a different place than me

a place that beckons me as my own death comes closer each day.

 

You see I never have gotten comfortable with Death.

So my dear friends

my dearest of loved ones

make a place for me.

 

A place where again

we can laugh and love

and talk about

all that is around us

each day of the eternity before us.

 

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“I Will Never Be Loved Like That Again” copyright 2011 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

 

 

Courtesy of Google Search Images.

The realization brought a choking to my throat.

My eyes swelled in tears.

The realization came to me fully

that I will never be loved like that again.

The youthful memory of having a woman look at me like that again.

The reflection of a hero in her eyes.

Reflected also in the shining armor of a knight.

Ah sweet memories

if only the taste of those kisses

could return again,

would I know again

the joy of love.

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