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Greetings…
Here’s hoping that you are abounding in joy. In writing, some compositions are completed in one sitting, perhaps swiftly or as slowly as molasses flows. Others may take significantly longer - with break after break, and repeated edits. I began working on the following poem in the summer of 2023, and arrived at this draft last evening. I trust you will find it meaningful. Take care… KISSED BY JOY Alone and dreaming in a trying state Waiting agonizingly for a shift Then you made your near presence visible Through wholehearted embrace, there came a lift You kissed my soul, like the warm morning sun Now I’m feeling as cheerful as can be And in spite of the roads that I travel You have helped me tremendously to see That as I’m grounded in eternal truth Nothing of ill or sorrow can destroy The hope that guarantees a bright future In the name of indescribable joy Joy, you’re my delight, my sorrow unmasked And I’m learning profoundly through the rounds In you, there’s power and blessing, so vast That I can never step outside your bounds Here, as I strive to think and act rightly In quiet confidence, I am made strong And you help me to sing songs of gladness Throughout darkest night and all the day long Indwelling me, you dry my weeping eyes Your timely gestures are never amiss You temper the spell of mourning and grief Replacing it with unshakable bliss My thanks to you for making space and time To appreciate the way that I feel As you fill the channels gouged by sorrow With a sense of contentment that is real My peace, well-being, and security No occurrence of this world shall alloy For I’m made whole, and even when alone I can exult because I’m kissed by joy David McAdam © 2025 - davidmcadam.ca www.youtube.com/@d.a.mcadam3538 #joy #harmony #health
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Good day to you…
As King Solomon famously expressed: to everything, there is a season; and for every season, there is a reason. Admittedly, we are more likely to find greater peace, settledness, or resolve when we understand the rationale for occurrences in our lives. And when we can’t quite decipher the purpose or true end, or the answers just don’t seem to make sense in the natural, it is crucial for us to muster the strength to learn to lean on hope, trusting that, as we continually pursue truth, everything will work together for good - not necessarily per our finite thinking, or limited definition. Hope that is rightly placed or focused will never bring disappointment. So it is with relationships. People enter our lives for a reason and for a season - some of extended length. In the context of lives intersecting or crossing paths, we give of ourselves with gratitude, while respecting the power of charity, mutuality, and reciprocity (and the perennial notion of things working together ‘for good’). With an open mindset, we more readily embrace life’s changes, and experience heightened peace and fulfilment while the seasons last. All the best as you navigate each season... David #change #seasons #resilience  Greetings…
Here in the northern climes, Thanksgiving celebrations are just around the corner... And with grateful hearts, we count our blessings. So, for what might you be thankful, presently? How are you thinking to express your gratitude? In giving thanks, our perspective never fails to incorporate contentment and joy. Good cheers as you make the best of the season. Happy Thanksgiving! BRIGHT SONGS Come, let us dazzle the cloudless night skies Singing songs of starry gladness Yes, songs of deliverance Songs of praise and thanksgiving Till our hearts are no more restless David McAdam © 2025 - www.davidmcadam.ca #thanksgiving #goodness #gratitude Hello...
There is so much that is wrong with the world, that often seems to drown out the tremendous good that exists. By the same token, there are times when past misgivings or injustice may taint our vision, and slow or hinder our progress; hence honesty, mercy, and forgiveness prove critical to our personal and societal healing and health. This is where related efforts such as Canada’s Day of Truth and Reconciliation (September 30) are to be applauded and upheld. Healing is highly unlikely, if we persist in holding the past against others and ourselves. Among all of us, may there be continued courage and understanding in the pursuit of what’s truthful and right. TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION Truth and reconciliation are inseparable For truth absolute is the gateway to genuine freedom Which encompasses the gracious righting of all wrongs David McAdam © 2025 - www.davidmcadam.ca #truthandreconciliation #justice Greetings, and happy autumn. As well, to all celebrants, Happy Rosh Hashanah! Oh, how the time flies...
Here, we are reminded that change is the only constant. And as we look towards the rest of the year, this is an ideal time for rumination and recalibration. Hence, here are some questions for personal reflection: Generally, how well do you handle change? What keeps you grounded? In our restless world that’s seemingly tilting and turning towards an upside-down-state, what keeps you hopeful? COURAGE REQUIRED It takes courage to submit to truth And so, face up to reality The prudent will embrace the tension As a blessed opportunity For in the absence of simple truth Our lives are discombobulated We are left defenseless and exposed Corrupt, and utterly frustrated At times, it may be quite challenging To acknowledge that we have done wrong Thenceforth, folly overtakes our minds Controlling us in ways very strong The soul turns into a battlefield At which impulse and reason wage war Truth regulates this ongoing fight Inward balance and peace to restore Although difficult, we may find it We have to constantly look within To keep current our understanding Of where we’re headed, and where we’ve been Being honest to forgive ourselves We confront foolish inclinations And ditching idiosyncrasies We target wholesome expectations With grit and gumption we dare approach The varied seasons that life presents And see the beauty within each change Though not all may seem to make good sense While our outward self is wearing out As the months and years roll right along Truth e’er whispers to the allied soul And day by day helps to keep it strong David McAdam © 2025 - www.davidmcadam.ca #seasons #change #courage Hello and happy day.
In our overly materialistic world, it is quite tempting to define ourselves by physical acquisitions, forgetting that real joy and success are not found in things. Amidst challenges, pressures, and other variables, we may forget or under-estimate the riches that are ours from being in nurturing, caring, respectful environments. Indeed, we soon lose sight that we are wealthier than we think - not placing ample value on our talents, abilities, experiences, or potential. We should never forget the power there is in gratitude to clarify our values, perception, and thinking. There’s a poignant reminder in the well-known saying: “I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.” All the best to you. I close with this poem… WEALTH AND RICHES Here, looking back at my formative years With family deep in the countryside We might have lacked in material fares But we were rich in love on every side See, the focus was caring and sharing And other vital matters of the heart We did not live like we were despairing And made fond memories right from the start All the priceless pleasures that we enjoyed Were never brought about by happenstance But from deliberate choices deployed In support of a grand inheritance Our home was blest with incredible wealth Including kindness and an open door The sweetness in our lives, made for good health It never crossed our minds that we were poor David McAdam © 2025 - www.davidmcadam.ca Hello and happy day…
Sound relationships are vital to our well-being, hence the continued focus here this week - including the poem below. As we all know, the family is the most basic unit of human life. Thus, it is imperative to do all in our power to keep our families stable and strong - while respecting that there is no perfect family. So, with wholeness and timeliness in mind, what are some heartfelt ways in which you and I might let our family members know what they mean to us? All the best as you keep on shining. THE FAMILY Let love be the foundation of our home And harmony its song With forgiveness as the select default For a unit that’s strong Let great hope abound, and real joyfulness With discipline in tow And in every trial, each heart and mind A blissful peace will know Let truth be the banner that flies o’er us As we patiently give The nudge, assistance, and affirmation That help each soul to live In this circle, it is understood that While for the best we strive Families will be at their finest, and Our nation’s bound to thrive © 2025 - David McAdam www.davidmcadam.ca #relationships #family #community  Good day to you…
Relationships are among the most vital elements of our humanity. They are foundational to societal, organizational, and personal health. Indeed, it is via sound relationships (in community) that we truly live. These thoughts are echoed in the poem below. As well, here are some related, reflective questions: What might be your current definition of ‘community'? How best do we cultivate sustainable, impactful communities? What are some ways in which you and I can contribute to community-building? All the best. COMMUNITY There’s comfort in community This truth is very plain to see We’ll find in mutuality Utmost strength as was meant to be Reflecting on community We’re not made to do life alone In communal care, souls grow well And lasting success is made known The cords of love for fragile life Are most mighty when intertwined And form a tight-knit safety net With all secure, none left behind The whole is greater than the parts And with partition walls removed There’s added wisdom in the group And understanding is improved We learn true collaboration In the spirit of unity As we humbly give of ourselves Care defines our identity Being found in relationship Ever delights our hearts the most Outside of true community We will merely exist as ghosts When we guard each other’s welfare Then each soul enjoys its fulness Within the human family Peace is wrought through togetherness David McAdam - ©2025 www.davidmcadam.ca Hello and happy day…
Today, I turn my thoughts again to 'friendship'. Wise friends are among life’s greatest gifts. With time, I am learning to appreciate this fact more fully. I am thankful for friends who share in life as loyal supporters, and with honesty and humility, challenge and encourage my personal growth and betterment. (One such friendship gesture is captured in the poem below.) I am also more mindful of the importance of taking the opportunity to say: “thank you for being a friend.” TIMELY QUESTIONS The timely questions that you pose They verily challenge me To think about the here and now As well as my destiny I owe to you great gratitude For truth ever sets me free And with your nudging, my dear friend I find greater clarity David McAdam - © 2025 www.davidmcadam.ca Greetings…
At times we may find ourselves to be overly focused or routinely busy. In the process, we proverbially risk missing the forest for the trees, or bypass golden opportunities to stop and smell the roses, or to simply breathe deeply. In this regard, it is important to be optimally mindful and present, and to support others accordingly. Here’s a poem that describes a personal experience from a couple years ago, and how I was routed by words from a sage. Good cheers to you. A VISIT TO THE GARDEN CENTER It’s late Spring And with the sudden, prolonged heatwave now ended I took my first trip of the season To a garden center just up the street I was surprised at the late afternoon busyness It seemed that, like myself Folks had awaited cooler temperatures To transact their purchase and planting While in the extended check-out line As a courtesy, I texted home: “Hi, long line-up here”, with a smiley emoji at the end The prompt response I received: “Enjoy! It’s a chance to make a new friend” David McAdam © 2025 #focus #wisdom #relationships |
