10/22/2024–Jennifer Churchill

Our walls were freshly painted over in our old home.

There is new light, color and energy.

We are decorating more simple to free up the old clutter.

In the evenings when work, appointments and chores are finished

I have a special tree I look at through my office window.

This Autumn I find peace gazing out past my wooden walls at the orange and yellow maple leaves.

Someday I may put a wall up in my small backyard

for my dog to run around freely.

It does not concern me to build walls for privacy from my neighbors.

Some people put walls around themselves to prevent pain, hurt and abuse.

Boundaries are important.

However, cutting off and putting up walls between some friends, family and loved ones can often be worked out with forgiveness and open communication.

Walls have been built to protect cities, animals, properties and people.

When I backpacked through Europe in college, I purchased a small piece of the Berlin Wall as a souvenir.

There was a language barrier between some of the German people and my American girlfriends I travelled with.

We asked, “Where can we find remains of the wall?”

The German people joyfully shouted and waved their hands,

“The wall is down.”

We all smiled for their new freedoms and reuniting with families.

As I conclude this blog, I pray to tear down any walls I put up inside and reach: true happiness, peace and love for others and myself.