Called to Be Alive!: Songs, Short Poems, and Intentions

By Jerry R. O'Neill

As winging through fog
fear vanished in the bright light
of morning’s true sky

The aging process can be a confusing time that leads many of us to wonder about the meaning and purpose of our existence as we move forward into later-life. The good news is that there is hope in learning how to simply be while living fully.

In a collection of original songs, poems, and intentions, Jerry O’Neill invites us to contemplate and sing along while seeking to grow truly alive with wisdom and grace. Throughout his writings, O’Neill encourages us to be mindful of God, absorbing sacred wisdom in God’s word and from nature, open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and to ultimately become enlivened to embrace purposeful, joy-filled living.

Better savored than simply read, Called to be Alive! shares songs, verse, and intentions that awaken us to a blessed life lived with joy and purpose.

“… O’Neill’s beautiful collection of original poetry, lyrics, and affirmations is a gift to all committed to being truly alive and growing into the fullness of a conscious elderhood …”
—Ron Pevny, author of Conscious Living, Conscious Aging

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: May 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664263208

Jerry R. O'Neill

Jerry R. O’Neill earned two master’s degrees from Wartburg Seminary, and a Doctorate in Ministry from Luther Seminary. Certified in transforming spirituality at Seattle University, he offers individual and small group spiritual care and guidance, music ministry, poetry readings, and workshops for spiritual growth and fruitfulness in later-life. Jerry lives with his wife and their dogs on Whidbey Island, Washington, and on the Lower Columbia River in Hammond, Oregon.

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Copyright © 2022 Jerry R. O’neill.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Photo taken by Carol Gannaway (author’s spouse)

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6319-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6321-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6320-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022906564

WestBow Press rev. date:  05/09/2022

In loving memory

of

Robert and Madge O’Neill

Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Prelude

ONE SMALL VOICE

Sweet Mother Divine

Born!

Majesty in Her Mist

In a Now-Deep Sense of Belonging

A Whole in the Soul

Anam Cara

Blood Brothers

Pilot Me

Encountering Wisdom

Wind of Spirit

Happy Clappy

Mellie Maple

My One Small Voice

Thanksgiving Choir

Spirit of Julien Dubuque

Quickened

Flame of Love

Noisy Ego

A Fruitful Bough

Late Fall Visit

Cream in my Coffee

James

Good Heart Tones

A Walk with My Father

I Am the Seed

Strong in the Song

Joyometer

With a Smile

ENLIVENED BY THE RIVER

Brand-New Day!

Blue and Green

Geese

Want and Plenty

Nimble

Peace like a River

Attention

Horn of Hope

Longing

This Too Will Pass

Winging through Fog

Raindrops

Love Is Everywhere

For a Land-Loving Mammal like Me

Bridge

Toys

Discovery

And

Uprising

Spectacle

In a Given Moment

Rainbow

Humpback

Dive to Thrive

Fear Not

Effervescent!

Smoke

Provision

Lifted

Taking the Plunge

Going Deep

Wisdom

Fishing in Autumn

Age-in’ to Sage-in’

Heavenly

CALL OF THE ORCHARD

Home

Walk in the Orchard

Idyllic Island

Perfect Apples

Safe in the Rain

Sacred Cedar

Sound of Trains

Free Fruit

Catch the Wonder

An Apple Fell

Apple Cider Blues

Earth Day

A Gaia Sigh

Called to Be Alive!

Harvest of Forgiveness

Came When Called

Halle Yahweh

Voice of Harvest

Fall Faith

Safe in the Garden

Give Yourself Away

Shepherd

Afterword

Invocation

Reading Poetry Contemplatively

Songs

About the Author

Called to Be Alive! Song Collections

To Contact & Follow Jerry O’Neill

Foreword

In Called to Be Alive!, Jerry R. O’Neill shares his poetry and lyrics with us.

The words call us and take us to the deeper places in our lives.

They encourage us to stop and intentionally consider

the questions we all need to ponder along our journey,

whatever age we are.

            What gives us meaning?

                        Where is God in our struggle?

                                    How do we live day by day?

Jerry goes beyond the simple sharing of his poetry.

After each writing, he shares some of his experiences

and some of the inspirations for each of the writings.

And most impactful for me is that,

in a simple and powerful way,

he shares an affirmation after each of his writings.

The affirmations are gentle encouragements

for each of us to live life intentionally.

They are reminders

            that each of us is called to be alive,

                        and that, I believe, was Jerry’s mission in writing this book.

I encourage you to read it and know your calling too.

—Larry Morris, author of A Sad and Beautiful Journey

Acknowledgments

I have dedicated this book in loving memory to my parents, Robert and Madge O’Neill, who planted in me a love for music and poetry even before the day I was born. I want to thank my older brother, Gary, for encouraging me to learn how to play the guitar. Gary’s invitation to play in his rock ’n’ roll band when I was still just a boy launched my music career and changed my life. His years of dedication to music ministry in the church have been, and continue to be, inspiring.

So many family, friends, and people in the congregations where I have served have encouraged me in my music and creative writing. I want to especially thank my seminary professor, Richard Jensen, who first showed me how to integrate these arts into my spirituality and ministry. I also want to acknowledge Geri Giebel Chavis and John Fox for teaching me the power of poetry for healing, growth, and development.

I have been blessed and am thankful for the sacred space held for me over the past ten years by these spiritual directors: Imam Jamal Rahman, Al Roehl, and Richard Rouse. I have been inspired by the enthusiastic elders in Sage-ing International. I am deeply grateful for Ron Pevny, Dennis Stamper, and the amazing group of fellow elders who helped and lovingly accompanied me through a rite of passage at Ghost Ranch into conscious elderhood.

Then of course, what a wonderful host of spiritual mentors I’ve been blessed to know through Holy Scripture and the spiritual writings of Francis of Assisi, Julian of Norwich, Jelaluddin Rumi, Martin Luther, Thomas Merton, Howard Thurman, Bede Griffiths, Thich Nhat Hanh, Gerhart Frost, Parker Palmer, Joan Chittister, Matthew Fox, John O’Donohue, Mary Oliver, Luci Shaw, Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Richard Rohr, and Cynthia Bourgeault.

While there are indeed many who have helped me choose to be truly who I am in Christ, alive and purposeful in my later years, passionate about using my signature gifts and talents to encourage others, no one has been more involved and supportive in my journey from middle age to elderhood than my wife, Carol Gannaway, to whom I now express my strongest gratitude, deeply moved by the unwavering way she has challenged me to live what I’m inspired to write and sing about in down-to-earth daily acts of loving kindness.

Prelude

It is with great joy that

I share these songs, short poems, and intensions.

Wrestling with questions

of meaning and purpose in later life,

I have found the use

of creative writing and other contemplative arts

rich and rewarding.

Entering the dance of spiritual eldering,

I risk awareness of what is possible,

learning how to simply be

while intentionally living into my potential,

one small voice strong in God’s song.

Many have and continue to help me

find my elder voice, encouraging me

to let my unique gifts flow like a river.

And while mine is a mere drop in the ocean,

I feel called to contribute nonetheless

for the sake of present and future generations

and for the survival of our precious Mother Earth.

As you ponder these songs, poems, and intentions,

I encourage you to listen with your heart

for the call to be alive. And if so inclined,

journal your responses. You can even write

in the margins and open spaces

provided on every page of this book.

One Small Voice

ImageA.jpg

In the morning I listen

            for Love’s sacred song,

And you hear my voice

            as I sing along!

  ~

                    By one word

                                I am sung into being.

                    By one word

                                I am awakened and belong.

                    By one still, quiet voice

my heart is stirred to dancing!

                    And if today I return …

                    but one word,

                                one song, one act of kindness,

                    One will be enough

                                to fill me with joyful purpose.

~

                                        Faith closes the eyes of my mind

                                                 and opens the ears of my heart.

                                        This is my highest honor, my utmost desire:

                                                 to listen for the voice of Love, take heart, and sing God’s song.

Sweet Mother Divine

       I think I hear the sounds of my mother:

       Her heartbeat, deep breathing, flow of fluid;

       Warm vibrations from one like no other.

       Cadence of creation stirs in womb hid.

                                           From a distance, sounds of another world,

                                           Abrupt dissonance from poised existence,

                                           Still a safe rhythm calms her precious pearl,

                                           This home within her like a sure defense.

       With each beat of her heart, I hear a voice.

       "Welcome, my child. Please know that I love you.

       I’ll always be your safe and lighted way.

       Take heart, my dear. I Am will see you through."

                                           What relief for one so vulnerable!

                                           That a mother echoes Divine’s perfect love.

                                           While needy herself,