Light on the Pathway

On one specific night when a torrential rainstorm arrived, my landscape lamps froze and stopped shining.  The darkness was overwhelming, not just in its reality but in the emotion that I felt. Grief rushed in as rain poured from the darkened sky. I sat inside writing, remembering the stillness of sunlit afternoons and the beauty of nature glowing against the light. The darkness was haunting. The discomfort of grief created a dark moment. I needed faith to calm my soul. One Bible verse from John 1:5 offered solace. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." With this thought, I leaned on faith, remembering that God's light has led me through many darkened paths, providing hope.   

be of good faith

in life's darkened corners

thy Light leads me on

©CVarsalona, 2026

This blog post is an extension of last week's Poetry Friday blog, Light Unto My Path, based on Kim Johnson's prompt. Due to the hectic weekend, my post with two poems ended being shared on Saturday morning. Below you will find my digital art pantoum poem with a sunrise photo captured by my son from my blog.

This week, Jill Dailey, our host of Poetry Friday is inviting us to her creative Summer Camp. I enjoyed watching Jill's video on how to create a zine. Since I never worked with paper to make one, I am eager to do so.

A Light Unto My Path

On the first Thursday of each month, the Spiritual Journey writers gather together to compose their thoughts on the prompt of the month. On this Thursday, the teacher-poet, Kim Johnson, is hosting with the theme,  A Light Unto My Path. I have reflected for several days on how I should create this blog post. I poured through several homilies and podcasts of Father Mike Schmitz, a devout and energized priest and speaker. I also searched songs related to the spiritual journey and light. The reflective times I spent reading opened a path of peace. 

There are many aspects on how Christian singers, songwriters, clergy, and writers form their offerings but one photograph captured by my son, Derek, provided the start I needed. Within his photo, I not only found the beauty of dawn but observed angel formations fluttering in the clouds. This gave me pause, as did the songs that I gathered, poems I read, and spiritual leaders offering their input on Psalm 119:105: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and alight unto my path." 

As I turn my reflections into poetic thoughts, I listen to Amy Grant's beautiful song of praise, "Thy Word." It is a soothing, lift-me-up song that you can listen to by clicking here. With songs of faith and hope, I find myself in a calming state.

✒

✒ 

illumination

on my spiritual journey

a pathway to peace

Divine Radiance's gift

"Let (the) light shine out darkness"

©CVarsalona, 2026

(last line is from 2 Corinthians 4:6)

✒

Thank you to Jan Annino for hosting Poetry Friday at Bookseedstudio. Her blog shares an interesting title, Chill, and showcases a gorgeaous photo sharing a moment of cool pool indulgence. 

When a Photo Wants to Be a Poem

Thank you, Margaret Simon for today's This Photo Wants to Be a Poem, and the quote from Asclepius, "Help me shed the skin of grief and put on the armor of hope."

I was inspired by the Healer title on the oracle card. I decided to dive into the what and why of a snake icon. I found the "symbol, the Rod of Ascelepius, has been associated with health care since the 5th Century BC." (National Center of Medicine) With thoughts of healing, I am ready to revive my mind, body, and spirit by nurturing myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Margaret, the following golden hinge poem slid from my thoughts and onto this page. I read and reread my words until I realized that my poem is a prayer from my heart to God.

Help me shed the skin of grief.

Me, finding my way,
sheds tears of sorrow.
The weight of loss is heavy. My
skin shivers in darkened moments
of unresolved sadness.

Grief flows, slides away, returns, so I pray,

and put on the armor of hope.

Put it near my heart, Lord.

On each day boost 

the faith within. Add your 

armor of strength, 

of perseverance, and enduring

hope to revive my being and my spirit.

draft, CVarsalona, 2026

Need For Poetry

"The public needs poetry; I need poetry, to help celebrate and console."

-Linda Pastan 

Looking Back in Time

Poetry tiptoed into my life

Years before you made your presence.

It offered quiet time, anchoring my

Creativity through words and photos.

Flash Forward

Several years later after a tragic skiing trip,

I hobbled into a party on one crutch.

Your eyes met mine before being introduced.

You were on a business trip.

I was returning back home for a new job.

Yet, you knew we were meant to be.

Our souls found togetherness.

Marriage

There were celebrations, loving children,

And challenging issues over forty-eight years.

Faith and love were always there.

Present

Today, my words sweep the sky heaven bound

While my blossoms open with natural wonder.

©CVarsalona, 2025

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Now I turn my attention to the Poetry Friday Roundup, hosted by a wonderful Grandma, retired teacher, writer, and book / tree lover, Ramona Behnke.

Blossoming on the Spiritual Journey

Welcome to May's Spiritual Journey Thursday!

I enter the lovely month of May with hope, although my heart is filled with grief.

I dedicate today's blog and poems to my husband, Richard, who loved trees blooming with various shades of color, especially our magnolia specimens and the dwarf cherry tree. I patiently watch for more blooming during this month. 

This year, my spiritual journey has felt like a rough road with lots of gravel to step over. Yet, a well-known quote by the Japanese poet Kohayashi Issa gives me hope as I traverse the roads ahead.

A world of grief and pain. Flowers bloom, even then.

Issa's words center on the themes of resilience and hope. Springtime opens the world to beauty despite suffering, sorrow, and world chaos. It is up to me to believe in the nurturing of nature and the power of faith during this time of bereavement. What once was surreal has now become a reality. I know I need to lean on my family and present and past communities of friends for support. Marcel Proust stated that we should "be grateful to people who make us happy. They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." 

Psalm 37:3-5 Tells me to trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."  

My heart desires to be calm and be of good faith. When I signed up to host the Spiritual Journey, I felt blossoming would be an appropriate theme for May since it connotes a renewal, a new beginning, and personal growth. I did not think that I would face the sudden death of my husband and go through a period of grief. I understand the future will be difficult without my partner, but I know I must move forward with hope. 

I often write about the beauty of life. For this poem, I decided to find a format that I have not tried. I chose the Japanese kouta poem. According to AI, this poem is "about ordinary life focusing on the beauty and significance of everyday moments and experiences". It contains a quatrain with the syllable count of 7, 7, 7, 5 or 7, 5, 7, 5. 

Somewhere in heaven, you sit

with the blossoming flowers

Please pick a bouquet for me

like you did on earth.

©CVarsalona, 2025, kouta poem

Ramona Behnke, a Spiritual Journey writer, reminded me of a quote I wrote.

"Writing is the opening of my heart to the whispers of my soul."

The above statement is what I feel tonight.

Calmness surrounds me.

I know Richard's suffering is over.

I sit alone, grateful for the gift of writing

Sam Cooke's song, That's Heaven To Me, plays in the background.

"Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul."

-Henry Ward Beecher

I send bouquets of gratitude to all of the Spiritual Journey Thursday writers.

You are a truly supportive, faith-filled group.

May we all benefit from the blossoming of nature and

our own personal growth during the merry month of May.

I look forward to reading each person's Spiritual Journey blog post.

Please add your blog below whenever it is ready.

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Navigating Reality - Lament Poem

The days of Lent 2025 have brought me to another phase of my spiritual journey. The urgencies of life have intermingled with the role of caregiving for my beloved husband of 48 years. From mid-February to the first days of April, Richard suffered from a silent disease, a rare type of cancer, a neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas that metastasized to the liver. His life was filled with celebrations, challenges, and devotion to his family.

Family, neighbors, friends, and the medical care of the Virginia Cancer Specialists helped Richard navigate the reality of his life. As with any cancer disease, there were challenges, sorrows, and a tremendous amount of unease. Faith and hope led me forward as I tried to be a caregiver.

When I heard that my Spiritual Journey community of writers and poets under the direction of Ruth Hersey were writing poems of lament, I knew the Lord was with me. I desired to write but each day as a caregiver left me with little time to write. Thoughts were floating in my head, waiting for spaces of time to let my heart speak on the theme of lament during Richard's and my Lenten journey. The lament format can be found in the Bible Psalms. There are approximately 65 Psalms in the Bible that are poems of lament. These poems express sorrow, grief, pleas for help, and deliverance to God. They address the Lord, share complaints, express emotions, ask for the Divine help, and vow to continue to trust, hope, and praise.

My lament poem narrates the ending days of my beloved husband's life. His quality of life was compromised but through the kindness of the medical teams, family, and friends he found his way to unburden his sorrow. With hope and faith surrounding him, Richard was provided a forever resting place.

Last Days of Richard's Spiritual Journey

In the sterile silence,

Drifting words rose

From the depths of his soul

Into the morning light.

I wish I had four more months!

The ordeal of terminal illness,

Filled his eyes with unquestionable fear.

I prayed seeking answers.

When will this sorrow end, Lord?

Between restless sleep and days

Of not eating or barely drinking,

He whispered to me,

You know what is happening!

My heart broke hearing the truth.

How could I soothe his tattered soul?

Tears continued to flow; inner turmoil

increased. Cancer tore his soul as

Sorrow sneaked into the room

Splitting quiet in half.

Be gentle with your breath!  

Let go of fears!

Repetitive requests to take medicine

were negated. Agitation increased.

Lord, please hear my prayer! 

With haste, an on-call oncologist advised

An emergency hospital visit.

The 911 team responded within minutes.

Uneasiness floated through the air.

Time slipped by as the ravaged body

Fought for some renewed comfort.

The plea to return home became impossible. 

When did months turn into days, Lord? 

Three days later, a transport arrived

For his journey to the hospice center,

A place of serene quiet. Life

Unexpectedly turned a corner.

Tears fell like dewdrops in spring.

The inevitable happened.

Nurses gathered; the chaplain prayed.

The priest performed the last rites.

Hope soared upward on the

Ever-present wings of love.

The hands of the Lord opened

Offering the gift of a forever home.

Praise to you, Lord, for the blessing! 

His spirit ascended into the inked sky.

Draft ©CVarsalona, April 2025

↴ 

life was shortened

unforeseen happening

nature shared its blooms.

©CVarsalona, 2025 photo and poem

Spring awakens its flowers for Poetry Friday at Irene Latham's blog.

Stop by to be dazzled by Irene's poems and many other writers' work.

NOTE: Later today, a Funeral Mass will be held at St. John Neumann Church in Reston, VA. Richard will find his place among the angels and stars.

I will read the roundup blogs when I can.

I add this lament poem to my 2025 National Poetry Month Project.

Pause & Reflect on the Spiritual Journey

I have been on a journey of growth both physically and spiritually for many decades. Each decade brings a different perspective on life. It has not been a smooth journey, but I have weathered many storms with family support, faith, and hope. Today, I look backward to pause and reflect. I restyled one of Linda Mitchell's clunker exchange lines, "You listening/my face deep in shadowed spaces", to embed in the following free verse poem.

When the moon's soft light

shines through an inked sky,

I pause to reflect.

My face deep in

shadowed spaces releases

troubling thoughts to

float in celestial silence.

Are you listening?

I wait on the Lord

for guidance.

@CVarsalona, 2024

The following inspirational quote from Henri Nouwen guided me as I worked on the June prompt for the Spiritual Journey Community, thanks to our host, Karen Eastlund.

"The spiritual life is not a life before, after, or beyond our everday existense. No, the spiritual life can only be real when it is lived in the midst of pains and joys of the here and now."

A Backward Look

On January 4, 2024, I announced my one word, pause. Initially, I retraced my steps to determine how to slow down my life. From late January to February, I developed a sinus/respiratory issue. By the time April arrived, I was scheduled for hernia surgery. I tried to breathe in the essence of spring to calm my spirit. Then, several more medical findings caused more unexpected stress. Two rare hernias were found. The first surgery led to a knick in the bladder which meant a repair surgery was needed.

A simple surgery ended with a complication and an ICU stay. Shortly after the second surgery, I was moved to the medical wing where three more infections occurred. One was contagious so I was isolated. Two and a half weeks later, I was discharged with a Foley Catheter and home health care. Needless to say, I am exhausted by the experience but I realize that trust in the Lord, self-care, and a positive attitude are important.

Thank you, Karen, for offering a prompt, look into the past for something that has shaped or inspired our current spiritual practice or outlook, that lets me intentionally pause and reflect on my spiritual journey. No matter how challenging my journey  has been lately, it encourages me to: 

1. Get stronger through walks and simple exercises.
2. Review my past to approach everyday life with a new mindset.
3. Continue believing in the power of God, faith, medicine, and hope.         

Below is an inspirational Bible verse that seems meant for me. 

I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. - Psalm 32:8

Waiting with a Side of Hope-SJT

It is December 1st, the start of the holiday season. There is a sense of urgency in the air - a rush to be ready. We prepare. We shop for gifts. We cook and bake but do we pause to understand the real meaning of the season? Do we honor this time of expectancy and preparation?

🌲

As I prepare for the celebration of Christmas, I must admit that I, too, have been caught up in the rush to prepare for a Hallmark Christmas. I am grateful that Chris Margocs, the host of our Spiritual Journey Thursday community this month chose a one word prompt, "waiting" with a side of "hope". This was the nudge I needed to slow down and ponder the meaning of the Christmas season. 

To prepare for today's blog, I have read inspirational excerpts, quotes, and listened to songs. I have a strong desire to change my rushed pattern to get my new house ready for Christmas. Two quotes become my guide through the Advent season.

"Advent teaches us that waiting is a gift, for this season of waiting yields amongst many other things the gift of slowing down and perseverance."  https://dailygraceblog.com/advent-the-gift-of-waiting

"The waiting of Advent teaches us to live in increments, in small pieces rather than large chunks. Waiting also teaches us to measure our progress slowly." - Holly Whitcomb

I hear the Advent message and with faith, waiting, and a side of hope I plan on abiding to it.

May the Christmas season be a blessed one.

Mid-Year Review of 2021 One Word-SJT

Life is about transitions. I look back on this year. Winter was filled with urgent to-do lists. Sell the Long Island house, find a spot open for COVID vaccinations for myself and my family, call the movers, and in the weeks before the move have an estate sale of my antiques and collectibles. I pause to reflect on my 2021 one word, begin, knowing that it has brought me through many challenges since I asked it to be a guide on my life journey. 

I contemplate my one word's presence in my life, consider what it offers for the future, and deliberate on what can be done to stop brooding over past missteps. Sometimes, I celebrate the word begin and other times get wrapped up in fairytale-like ponderings of an ideal new life. In reality, life is not an easy road to transverse. It is filled with detours, congested pathways, and bridges to cross. I am fully aware that life is fragile and uncertain but can be a hopeful journey if i remain positive. 

From the beginning of January, I trusted my one word. With faith on my side and the word begin, I crossed several hurdles starting with getting lost on the trip down to Virginia. I am not quite sure how I did that but it happened and left me in a quandary. I circled around, tried to find a new route, and finally broke down in tears. Was this a warning on how life could be if I continued to be stressed? Did I slow down when I finally arrived in Virginia? No, afterall there were so many tasks to be completed as we moved into our new home. My granddaughters have provided love and joy that dismisses tense-filled weekly tasks. 

I am happy to say, that I have prevailed through surging storms, service calls, and edginess amidst open and unopened boxes so I decided to revise my January 2021 Commitment Statement. 

with faith

I shall rise above

life's constant challenges,

blossom like a bud of spring,

celebrate new beginnings with positivity,

and begin a new walk on more solid ground.

©CV, 2021

I must admit since we moved, sometimes I felt like the wilting flowers in my new garden. They thirsted for a new beginning but I did not know how to nurture these new young plants.  I want to stand tall like the other blooms in my gardens. They offer their presence reminding me to sing the praises of nature's blessings. 

Like my young plantings, I journey onward despite changeable patterns of life. I will cast doubts aside and focus my thoughts on new beginnings now that I am left with only a dozen or more boxes to unpack on the first floor. As Meister Eckhart said, "Be willing to be a beginner every single morning." I shall make this quote a priority during the next few days, I will also, follow the wisdom of Proverbs 16-9: "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

Finding Peace

mapping life's journey 

begins within heartstrings-

wander with hope

©CV, 2021

I thank Ruth Hersey, teacher-poet from Haiti, who as the June host of Spiritual Journey Thursday chose today's topic. Ruth reports that despite the challenges of life in Haiti, she is still flourishing. I will walk beside her as I begin a mid-year journey.