Self-Help » forgiveness

Christmas Comfort

Edword — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:03:47 +0000

What would you do if you were two,

(You couldn’t even tie your shoe)

And you woke up that Christmas day

To find yourself in piles of hay?

Then, looking all around, you see

That you are not where you should be;

Not home in bed, so clean and warm,

But in a little cow/sheep barn.

Still in your pyjamas, you

Jump up when you hear moo-oo.

Then you see a mouse run by,

Rushing so, you wonder why.

Then you see the animals are

Gathering near a shining star

And you wonder how a star

Came so far into this barn.

So you walk so quietly

Through the hay so you can see

What they all are looking at,

Cow and lamb and mouse and cat.

When you get there, you push through,

Past the silent animals, who

Let you pass to see that Thing

That makes you want to laugh and sing!

“Oh, so sweet!” you sigh, as grace,

Glowing from the sunny Face

Of that Baby lying there,

Fills your heart with cool, fresh air.

In His giggle, you feel joy,

Enough for every girl and boy.

And when He kicks His tiny Feet,

You feel that love is now complete.

Just when you feel you’ve had your fill

The whole, wide world gets brighter still

As two soft and graceful Arms

Hold you – keep you safe from harm.

You look up and see the Smile

That seems to stretch for mile upon mile;

That Smile that lights the moon and sun,

And gives life to everyone.

And there in Mother’s lap you sleep

And know the promise She will keep,

That Her Son spoke clear and true,

To come as Comforter to you.

~Edward Saugstad 1999

inner silence = world peace

Edword — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:31:36 +0000

On May 9, 2009, an enthusiastic gesture for peace was made in Nicosia, Cyprus, as hundreds of artists and children worldwide had their ambassadors for peace – handmade elephants – displayed on both sides of the dividing-line checkpoint.
The two mayors of the world’s last divided capital embraced in friendship, a gesture showing hope for a future of peace. History was also made by three ‘enemy’ passport holders – students helping with the exhibition – being allowed to cross the island’s severely guarded, temporary internal border! It may not have been the joyful civic tidal wave that eradicated the dreaded Berlin Wall in 1989, but every drop counts when it’s to help quench the thirst for freedom of the innocent generations to come.

Another highlight of the day came as a local shopkeeper near the checkpoint gave the artist organizers access to his wireless Internet service, allowing us, via web-cam, to broadcast live to the international Schengen Peace Foundation conference taking place simultaneously in Luxembourg – from one end of Europe to the other on Europe Day! All the delegates in attendance applauded after seeing and hearing about the efforts being made, by adults and children alike, for the important cause of lasting peace over in Cyprus.
The following day, Mother’s Day, the peace-exhibition was invited to Jerusalem by an Israeli university professor. The elephants-without-borders are on the march!

With a little mutual forgiveness, and respect for the innocent generations to come, this world can become a beautiful home for everyone.

Here’s my video-collage of the event (music courtesy of Matt Malley, former Counting Crows bass player)

(if you have a fast Internet connection, click on the HQ tab after clicking on ‘YouTube’, to see it in higher resolution)
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world peace begins in each heart …

Edword — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:30:00 +0000

Despite the fact that the world family is growing closer and closer together in communication, love and understanding, there are still certain hot-spots on our planet that require patient, collective attention. One such healing wound is called Cyprus. In mid-January, 2009, the voices of a few international artists and enthusiastic children brought cooling balm in the form of ‘Elephants for Peace.’ This was the beginning of a world-tour art/peace project created by German artist and historian, Rose Marie Gnausch, and the Art Initiative Naturalmente RoMa.

My wife and I were honored to be present for this inauguration, to be able to share our creative talents for such a noble cause, and to meet so many local, influential people whose hearts are set on peace for future generations. The next event in Cyprus will be along Ledra Street in Nicosia on both sides of the border – May 9 and 10, for the one year anniversary of this border opening – before the growing exhibition moves on to other countries. Here’s my little film collage of the initial ’sprouting’ (higher resolution, HQ, can be selected in the bottom, right corner after clicking on YouTube) …

if that doesn’t work, go to this address and wait a few minutes for high resolution streaming before playing:

http://homepage.mac.com/ed_saugstad/Sites/Go-Ganesha-Go.m4v

“Christmas greetings”

Edword — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:56:39 +0000

The Coming of the Three Kings …

drummin’ for all the lonely …

Edword — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 13:34:04 +0000

When I woke up this morning, this new rhythm was vibrating through me. I would like to dedicate it to all unsung, lonely children and adults out there, waiting to someday be hugged. May the day come soon, when no human being feels unloved.

(The bass is my heel on the floor – heard best through a proper set of speakers – and the rest comes from my fingers on the desk)

with much (needed) love,
Ed

a message

Edword — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:19:54 +0000

As I clasp my hand tightly in yours,
from my heart emerges a solemn wish:
that happiness and wisdom will come freely to you,
and that your knowledge may be bountiful.

Also, hope that the winds of reality may be gentle,
and guide you peacefully through the tides of life –
for you are my brother, and my love for you is infinite.

Ed Saugstad, age fourteen, 1972
(a message to the human race)

(Ed’s cover for the Burnsview Junior High School yearbook, 1972-73, North Delta, Canada)

and you think YOU’RE having a bad day (4)

Edword — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:43:30 +0000

and you think YOU’RE having a bad day (1)

Edword — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:42:52 +0000

pure desire

Edword — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:03:07 +0000

There once was a child
Who played with a ball
And thought of the children
With no ball at all:

He picked up that ball
And gave it a kiss
And for every poor child
A ball he did wish.

There once was a child
Who looked at the sky
And seeing the dirt there
She started to cry:

She reached out her arms
Hugged sky to her heart
And prayed that the people
Stop sending up dark.

There once was a child
Who dreamed in the night
That God is inside us
With comfort and light,

And when the time comes
For the Mother to rise
All the problems will end
In the love from our eyes.

- e.s.

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season’s greetings

Edword — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:25:22 +0000

Hi . . .
This is just a little Christmas greeting – taking an opportunity to wish you well at a special moment in time. For some, this particular moment won’t seem significant, that is, if you find in yourself no particular reason to especially enjoy the birthday of Jesus Christ, possibly because of other religious beliefs or out of disdain for the materialistic attitudes it brings out. Personally, I also respect and enjoy the special days set aside to honor others who deserve our admiration and gratitude: Buddha, Mohammed, Nanak, Moses, Krishna, Lao Tse and the many more who came, in indescribable compassion and wisdom, to guide us on the long road.

But I take this moment to honor the universal child in us – Shri Ganesha and Lord Jesus – with the sincere hope that we may all soon enjoy the unlimited joy and clarity that only a balanced child can know. And I honor universal motherhood. There are many who look forward with dread and insecurity. When I look forward, I look also inward, and I know that there is much to be enjoyed coming our way. That’s not a hunch but a certainty. I wish for you this comforting light, not just at this moment, but for always. It’s growing in our midst, uniting and strengthening us. The road leads to inner freedom. That is the wondrous beginning.