The Gathering <\/b><\/p>\n
People of all walks of life do meet,
\nEach year and it\u2019s such a treat.
\nFor those that come, do laugh, and blend.
\nOne more heart each time will mend.<\/p>\n
Food, family, new and old faces;
\nFrom here and there, from far away places.
\nWe meet, hug and share a tale;
\nA good time had by all, without fail.<\/p>\n
Each time a heart will heal;
\nFrom tales shared over a meal.
\nWe share stories, love and laughter;
\nTo bring more healing in the days after.<\/p>\n
Meeting with someone you thought you hated;
\nLeftover pain between you, opinions debated.
\nHealing your soul, repairing your heart;
\nHealing the distance, the space apart.<\/p>\n
We share our stories, bringing laughter to amuse;
\nWe listen to others, their points and views.
\nWe live, laugh, and love a lot in little time;
\nWe sing, drum, and do a bit of rhyme.<\/p>\n
Each person is special at the meeting each year;
\nBringing everyone closer, these times so dear.
\nIn the past you were all one, held together by belief;
\nTogether as one, though good times and grief.<\/p>\n
Forgiveness is always found here;
\nFor family is stronger than past actions and fear.
\nEvery year we lose one more out of the family tree;
\nBinding you closer, to a higher degree.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve all shared loss, pain, suffering and sorrow;
\nAnd we don\u2019t know what will happen tomorrow.
\nBound by such an event of pure shock;
\nOf which some outsiders only laugh and mock.<\/p>\n
Only our friends, family and ones you hold dear;
\nUnderstand your suffering, year after year.
\nWhatever it is this year may bring;
\nCome share it with family, at the gathering.<\/p>\n
918 Doves <\/b><\/p>\n
November 18th was a rainy, dark day;
\nOne of sorrow, horror, pain and dismay.
\nLoved ones with their lives did pay;
\nFor what we believed in, that dreadful day.<\/p>\n
They are now in connection with the one;
\nAll pain and suffering now undone.
\nFor them do not feel sorrow, guilt, or shame;
\nFor in God\u2019s eyes, you are not to blame.<\/p>\n
They were taken right then and there;
\nTo a beautiful, meaningful place where,
\nAll were meant to be, that\u2019s where they belong;
\nYou will see them once more, it won\u2019t be too long.<\/p>\n
The rain storm blew in for those that were there;
\nTo show you the angels were everywhere.
\nThey chose that day to intervene;
\nSending down tears they cried, to the scene.<\/p>\n
Your loved ones were escorted to the next plane;
\nWhere there is no horror, sorrow, or distain.
\nThere they are smiling, watching us below;
\nDirecting us, loving us, watching us grow.<\/p>\n
They know you still feel all the guilt and shame;
\nThey know too that you weren\u2019t to blame.
\nFor all is forgiven in that plane divine;
\nThe pain disappears, the light does shine.<\/p>\n
God\u2019s hand is on the loved ones that passed;
\nAnd you too, praying your guilt will not last.
\nForgiving each other and yourself too;
\nIs what he desires for all of you.<\/p>\n
The children were blessed to be in your care;
\nThey send you their love each time you give prayer.
\nKnowing your intention was good and pure;
\nOf this they do know for sure.<\/p>\n
Each time you visit where they lay;
\nTo talk to them, to cry, and to pray.
\nKnow they are sending back to you;
\nThe light from above, and their love too.<\/p>\n
For each person that passed that dreadful day;
\nA dove was sent to earth, to light the way.
\nTo open your hearts, share love with each other;
\nGive of yourself, bless another.<\/p>\n
For all of the doves released that eve;<
\nThe world now holds more light than one can believe.
\nLighting your path through the rest of your life;
\nBringing peace, enlightened spirits, and no more strife.<\/p>\n
Each time a dove does fly by;
\nWay up high, way up in the sky.
\nLet your heart be at peace and know you\u2019re okay;
\nFor the dove and your loved one are lighting your way.<\/p>\n
(Vicki Perry may be contacted at vperry999@gmail.com<\/a>. Her collection of articles for <\/i>the jonestown report appears here<\/a>.)<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Gathering People of all walks of life do meet, Each year and it\u2019s such a treat. For those that come, do laugh, and blend. One more heart each time will mend. Food, family, new and old faces; From here and there, from far away places. We meet, hug and share a tale; A good […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":30382,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-30347","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30347","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30347"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30347\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82587,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30347\/revisions\/82587"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30347"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}