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Spiritual Light has taken many forms and served many purposes throughout my life. It is my most faithful friend and companion. At times this Light is a beacon of hope standing tall upon a mountain guiding me through the trials and struggles that come with the gift of life. At other times it is present in the lives of the people that fill my life with love and inspiration.
On very special occasions, when my heart is overwhelmed with love and hope, words filled with deep personal meaning flow through my mind and emerge as poetry. I would like to share excerpts from two poems that describe the Light which fills my life through the presence of two special people. One of these special people is my Grandmother. She is no longer with me physically but she is always with me in spirit. The other is my friend and spiritual brother Frank Malaba.
My Grandmother’s name is Bernice Robinson. I love her dearly and miss hearing her voice and talking with her but I am blessed because she is always nearby. This is part of a poem which describes the Light she continues to share with me:
“Creation has been my constant companion sending greetings and support through gentle breezes, mighty storms, leaves rustling across my path, as an invisible presence walking with me, Song birds singing to me when I was hurting and alone, Crows appearing as Spirit guides when I was losing my way, Horses crossing fields to say hello, Butterflies seeming to appear randomly over and over in unexpected places… was that the same beautiful yellow butterfly that followed me for two miles or was it 15 different identical butterflies appearing one at a time?
I came to know and trust Creation from an early age when my Grandmother walked with me and talked with me and shared her wisdom with me. She gave me an awareness of my Native past, of the mysteries, beauty, and comfort found deep in the ridges and hollows of my mountain home. She continues to be part of the Creation that comforts me and guides me because her presence did not leave with her death. She is with me when I feel the gentle breeze, when I am shaken by the mighty storm, when the leaves rustle as I walk by, in the voice of the Song bird and the message of the Crow, she is with the Horses as they come to say hello, and she flies with the butterflies as I make my way through this life. She and I exist yesterday, today and forever as part of Creation.”
Frank Malaba
Frank Malaba is a poet, actor, and Human Rights activist living in South Africa. His presence in my life fills me with Light in the form of hope, trust, and inspiration. This is part of a poem dedicated to him:
“You sleep on the other side of the world but in my heart you are always awake, your spirit is always nearby, I find you close when I reach out to touch you with my heart… because I see you.
I see your rare and timeless beauty, I see your work to heal the wounds of our people, I see your selfless duty to bring peace to a searching world, I see you.”
I see the Light in Frank’s life as it shines brightly giving hope and support to people around the world. Frank’s Light, the Light given to me by my Grandmother, and the Light which shines through Creation are my guide and salvation.
– James Robinson
James Robinson lives in Huntsville, Alabama. He is a Human Rights activist and a leader in the struggle for equality and social justice for LGBTQ people in the South. In 2009, he founded GLBT Advocacy & Youth Services, Inc. now known as Free2Be where he continues to work as executive director. His writing can be found online at LGBTQ Nation, The New Civil Rights Movement, The Good Men Project, and Equality 365.
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