A Walk In The Rain Turns into an Unexpected Date with Love

It's the anniversary of my crossing. Late this afternoon she went out in the pouring rain. She didn't really know why she went out there, but I think she heard my heart calling her heart. She doesn't always listen she's so busy hearing with her ears and thinking with her head. Humans have to pay attention to that feeling in their gut, in their heart, or they miss a lot. 

She went right to the place where we would sit after a long hike and overlook the wash below. If you've read our book, it's the same place where I sent her the lightning bolt and the hummingbird moth so long ago.  Today as she sat there she was talking with me, tears rolling, but not crying. I covered her with my "signature" goosebumps -- It's as close I can get to hugging her full body from behind. It is always the same. I always send her the same feeling. That's how she know's it's me. She was chilled by the rain, but her back was warm with my love. "I can feel you Jack. I know you're here with me." 

As she spoke to me, she thanked me for all I have done for her and for helping everyone who reads my story. It pleases us so much -- all of us at Rainbow Bridge-- to be able to help so many people work through their grief. Her words made me so happy that I sent a most beautiful amber light that lit up our wash like it was a flood light on a stage set. It was lightning, yes, but it lingered longer than a mere bolt. Like so many miracles from Rainbow Bridge, it can't really be described. As soon as the light came, the thunder rolled from one side of the wash to the other. It rolled long and deep. Then it rolled high above her as it traveled up over the nearby mesa. 

I know she knows the truth. I was the thunder. I was the lightning too. I knew she knew it was me because when she said, "Thank you. Thank you Jack," she was crying because she knew in her heart that it all was my response to her.  

...And the brave mourning dove who usually becomes uneasy with such things and flies away, she remained in the nearby tree and stayed for the whole show. 

So many things can happen when you pay attention... and when you rise to the call.

Save The Trees

A tree drops its seed 

Which creates new life. 

Roots, a trunk and limbs of its own 

Then outstretched leaves 

Which fall in the fall, 

Decay and feed 

The roots and all 

Until one day 

It drops its seed 

And nature starts again. 

Man plants a seed 

On a lawn of grass 

To grow a tree 

For shade, for swing; 

To hide a view. 

It grows and grows 

And drops its leaves 

And man complains 

As he rakes them, bags them; 

Pays to have them hauled away 

In plastic on the curb. 

He waters, rakes, prunes and feeds 

(With chemicals of course) 

Then wonders in the later years 

Why the 'damned tree' 

Begins to die 

After all he's done. 

© 2016 Kate McGahan

My Poem About Squirrels

I think that I shall never see 

This squirrel come down from this tree. 

A squirrel whose tail goes east and west;

She teases me! She is a pest! 

She sits and looks at me all day, 

And waves her furry tail to say 

She'll never let me win this game. 

I must forfeit; she is to blame! 

The tree protects with limbed terrain. 

Her sheltered home, it's her domain. 

Only God can make a tree, 

Or a squirrel... or fools like me. 

~ by Jack McAfghan. 
Based on the poem "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer (1914)

A Walk In The Rain Turns into a Date with Love

Written with love from Jack: 

It's the anniversary of my crossing. Late this afternoon she went out in the pouring rain. She didn't really know why she went out there, but I think she heard my heart calling her heart. She doesn't always listen she's so busy hearing with her ears and thinking with her head. Humans have to pay attention to that feeling in their gut, in their heart, or they miss a lot. 

She went right to the place where we would sit after a long hike and overlook the wash below. If you've read our book, it's the same place where I sent her the lightning bolt and the hummingbird moth so long ago.  Today as she sat there she was talking with me, tears rolling, but not crying. I covered her with my "signature" goosebumps -- It's as close I can get to hugging her full body from behind. It is always the same. I always send her the same feeling. That's how she know's it's me. She was chilled by the rain, but her back was warm with my love. "I can feel you Jack. I know you're here with me." 

As she spoke to me, she thanked me for all I have done for her and for helping everyone who reads my story. It pleases us so much -- all of us at Rainbow Bridge-- to be able to help so many people work through their grief. Her words made me so happy that I sent a most beautiful amber light that lit up our wash like it was a flood light on a stage set. It was lightning, yes, but it lingered longer than a mere bolt. Like so many miracles from Rainbow Bridge, it can't really be described. As soon as the light came, the thunder rolled from one side of the wash to the other. It rolled long and deep. Then it rolled high above her as it traveled up over the nearby mesa. 

I know she knows the truth. I was the thunder. I was the lightning too. I knew she knew it was me because when she said, "Thank you. Thank you Jack," she was crying because she knew in her heart that it all was my response to her.  

...And the brave mourning dove who usually becomes uneasy with such things and flies away, she remained in the nearby tree and stayed for the whole show. 

So many things can happen when you pay attention... and when you rise to the call.

A Story from Jack: Not a Single Sparrow Can Fall...

"Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it." 

(Matthew 10:29) 

The finches have been building their nest in the eaves of the roof. Today the female flew into the window and Kate found her, still alive. She ran to get a towel and she gently picked up the finch and held it close as a huge amount of heat escaped the tiny creature's body.  It happened the same way when I passed; a great heat went through Kate as I made my transition.  

Heat is energy manifest. The heat is the infinite life force energy that was leaving the bird as it's immortal spirit expanded out into the universe.  I have told you in my book and I will tell you again now: 

Heaven is not somewhere Up In The Clouds high in the sky. Heaven is all around you! The moment that bird took it's last breath, it's spirit left it, in the form of heat, and immediately went out into the Heaven that surrounds all things. This is why I am still here. We are all here, all around you.  
There is no Heaven UP THERE -- HEAVEN IS HERE, ALL AROUND!  

Kate held the bird, cupping her hands around its tiny body, holding it close to be sure that it knew that it was loved as it left. After all, we carry the last moments of life with us into the next one and it's very nice when the transition is made with love. 

Then Kate cried. It was like a Little Journey of Grief for her. She blamed herself because she feeds the birds and if the bird feeder hadn't been there, the finch might not have flown into the window at all. She thought of the nest and she cried as she watched the male finch with red breast flying back and forth at the eave of the roof. She told him what happened as tears rolled down her face. She wondered if there were eggs in the nest and she worried for them too.  She cried slow gentle tears for this tiny bird and it's mate. 

Then she took her little shovel and buried the finch in a soft hole underneath the tree in the side yard. She lined the hole with silken rose petals.  They too were dying and needed to know that they were loved. It's all about the love for every living thing.  

She returned to the scene where a tiny grey feather remained. She picked up the feather and tossed it onto the breeze.  

"Fly free, little girl!" 

The feather wafted and lifted and soon floated out of sight. 

This all happened on the same deck that I used to love. 

Lots of magic and love took place here and it will always hold the energy of these memories. 

I'll be meeting this little bird soon. I will love this bird forever because 
my master loved her and cared for her for just a few moments. We are all connected. I love my master, my master loves me and I will love this bird because she loved this bird.
And just you wait and see; this bird will love me!  

I Love You. 
Love, Jack 🐾