Following Stars - Fate or Faith? by Sharon Flood Kasenberg

Good question. (If I do say so myself!)

Something a bit different for my last post of the year...I'll share a poem that doesn't rhyme, as well as one that does, all in the course of telling you about the year I decided to make my horoscope come true.

I started out 2011 feeling flat - not depressed, but stuck in my routines and frustrated with myself. The last day of 2010 I read my horoscope, which as usual promised great things. (Who would bother reading them if they didn't?) Anyhow, my horoscope foretold such great things for the year to come that I had to read what was in the cards for my boys (both Libras) and Todd (an Aries). Apparently great things were forecast for all of us, so I snipped out our horoscopes for the year and stuck them to the fridge.

I read that Aquarius forecast several times over the first few months. It talked at length about trying new things and freeing myself of old attitudes that weren't serving me well. It made sense to me to try to make those predictions come true, so rather than set a ton of resolutions I decided to use those predictions as the basis of making change.  It may sound crazy, but it worked.

I consider myself a woman with faith, but sadly my faith in myself has been compromised most of my life. This past year I plugged my nose (as I've never been good at holding my breath) and I dove into a few projects that I never would have had sufficient faith to follow through with before. I gave myself the year I needed to have, primarily because I had enough faith in myself to follow the stars that were there to guide me.

I'm still no believer in horoscopes, unless they're used as I chose to use mine. We choose where fate leads us, based on our faith in ourselves, and our faith in a higher power. For many of us, a belief in God inspires us to act in positive ways, for others it is the power of love. For true "believers" the two should be inseparably connected.

This poem was one of the first I ever wrote. I was twenty years old, and thought I had all the answers.

Sharon's Star:   (By Sharon A. Flood - May 1982)

My sister wrote a poem about herself.
She said she had a dream
and saw a star that beckoned.
(She woke and it was gone.)
I see stars in waking hours.
They try to chart my course -
I will not follow.
I don't look to the heavens to see
where I should go.
I look at the ground - my footprints
show me where I've been.

It isn't enough to know
what not to do, where not to return.
If I would lift my gaze -
look up and forward -
I would recognize my guiding star
and follow it to the Son.

Now, at the ripe old age of almost fifty, I can easily admit that I most definitely do not have all the answers. I'm getting good at identifying the problems (in my life and in the world as a whole), and I do believe that having faith in ourselves and in those "higher powers" that I previously mentioned can move us all forward as we gain the courage to follow the stars that are there to lead us all onward and upward.

The second poem I'm sharing might seem grim. Society does seem to be slipping, but each of us can do our part to lay down a little sand. We are here to live, to learn and to make every day better than the last in some small way. Who's up for the challenge? Happy New Year to all of my friends and family. I love you all and look forward to another year of learning from whatever life hands me.

And of course, I leave you at the close of the year with one last poetic thought...

Humanity  (By Sharon Flood Kasenberg - April 2010)

The human condition
so broad and complex
has infinite power to baffle and vex.
There's no comprehending
the choices we make -
the creeds that we live by;
the vows we forsake.
The things that most want are
illusions at best -
and thanks for what's given
is seldom expressed.
We're searching for wealth and
perpetual youth -
and claim to seek wisdom,
but hide from the truth.
Our confidence wavers,
our manners are crude -
and most of us harbor
a bad attitude.
Compassion is lacking -
what's not understood
is too often labeled
as being no good.
We're all armed for battle
and itching to fight -
and egos convince us
our cause must be right.
Surrounded by plenty,
desires still taunt -
not too many of us
are sure what we want.
The answers may reach us,
if question we dare -
most grow apathetic -
too jaded to care.
Faith offers us answers
we choose to resist...
God wants all to live
but we mostly exist.

Christmas Light

I love Christmas!

Every year by the end of November I've begun my holiday preparations - writing the annual family Christmas letter to relatives and friends, going on the prowl for gift ideas and baking up a storm. I decorate my house with multiple Christmas trees and cover my windows in (mostly) hand-made snowflakes. Sam hangs our outdoor lights and helps me make his favorite candy cane cookies. Most years Dan and Todd limit their involvement to sniffing the air appreciatively and waiting for their next taste test - we always sample a bit of everything. The rest we share with friends and save for holiday noshing.

Christmas is a season of joy. People are more energetic and more filled with good will than usual. The happiness and excitement surrounding the season can be infectious. It's a season that makes us want to sing. I love Christmas carols, but have to confess that I find "holiday music" (Frosty and Rudolph - and especially that that "drummer boy" - ugh) a bit irritating. They grate on my nerves in short order, probably because I think they're out of context. None of them really have a thing to do with what I'm celebrating.

I am unabashed about expressing my opinion that Christmas is a religious holiday. Others can celebrate it as they wish, but I'm celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. I'm celebrating the concept of "Peace on earth and goodwill towards men."  I say "Merry Christmas" without apology, and to my knowledge it has never offended anyone. Why should it? I'm just telling them to enjoy Christmas day happily - however they want to spend it.

Christmas is a time of reflection. As I contemplate a birth that changed the course of history I evaluate what I've accomplished throughout a year that is coming to an end. What have I left unfinished? What can I do to improve my life and my world in the year to come?  In a season of lights I am looking for personal enlightenment, and striving to share whatever light and hope I have within me with those around me.

I've written a lot of poems about Christmas, but this is my favorite. Love, light and hope to all, and Merry Christmas!

Christmas Light - by Sharon Flood Kasenberg (December 2007)

As days grow shorter, dull and dark
we pause to celebrate -
remembering the sacred birth
that changed our human fate.
Promised Messiah, born to save,
redeeming all from sin -
He takes our dim and troubled souls
and lights them from within.

A star shone o'er the earth that night -
it was the promised sign -
symbolic of the guiding truth
that did His life define.
It led the shepherds to the place
where He in manger lay -
and Magi from the eastern lands
were led by glorious ray.

The world too much in darkness dwells,
with eyes so often blind
to all the beauty that exists
and goodness in mankind.
The Savior came to bring us hope,
His teachings light the way -
and all enjoy a brighter path
who seek Him every day.

If we are willing to be led
like shepherds on a hill -
with earnestness of heart and mind,
we too can find Him still.
Then darkest seasons of our lives
are lit by stars above -
and we in turn will radiate
the wonders of His love.