Poetry

There are many things that inhibit each
  of us,
And the correlation between being
  inhibited and the lack of creativity.
One of the most tragic mistakes is the
  smothering of the seeds of
    talent during childhood.
Fear and rejection break the spirit of
  the children as flowers are
    choked out by the weeds.
Many are fearful of losing control of
  circumstances.
To prevent being threatened, the good
  in the self is often suppressed
    through efforts to conform.
If one is fearful of
  exposing a quality
    that is judged to
  be bad,
One must also be
    fearful
  of exposing
    the self to
  anything that
    is good.
    If the person
  is continually
    reminded of
    the ugliness
  that lives within,
Ugliness that is often
    only the projection
  of a self portrait,
    The expectation that
  anyone create a thing of beauty
  becomes more than a little
        foolish,
And the responsibility that cause such
  failure must lie within those
    who see the ugliness.
The failure to recognize the good of
  humanity and the beauty of earth
    is one of the universal tragedies.
It is tragic not only because of its
  ability to think and to speak out
    may forever be silenced.
Can we give to the black or the purple
  persons, to the disabled, the women
    minority, the poor, the uneducated,
  the elderly, the starving, the
    atheist, the one of different
  religions, the ex-minister, the
    criminal, the prostitute, the
  homosexual, the woman caught in
    adultery, that self-respect which
  is necessary to wholeness.

Until we experience our own wholeness,
We are incapable of seeing or granting
  the quality to others.
If we feel threatened or a sense of
  lack,
We cannot permit others to disagree
  or to believe that which best meets
    their needs.
We either fail to heal ourselves or
  others,
Or we focus on ideals which we believe
  will solve the problems of our
    own small
      world.
We become so
  absorbed by
    fear and
      insecurity,
  Or excessive
    zealousness
      causes
      the
    refusal to
  recognize
That through their approach to life and
  philosophy may be different,
They may have discovered the pattern
  which suits the path of their life.

        Jean Riley
        - born with cerebral palsy.

These poetic reflections appear in a book, "Stepping Stones Along The Path", by Jean Riley. In her introduction to the book, she writes about the difficult circumstances of her early life, then comments: "With the passage of years... .As the feelings of conflict and of powerlessness decreased, the sense of fulfillment increased. Gradually I began to find in myself feelings of self-acceptance... Began feeling secure and confident about my ability to cope with problems which invade every human situation, and realistically knew the search for meaningfulness was my responsibility.

My father had committed suicide when I was two years old. Mother spent her entire life being miserable, and my uncle drank himself into an early grave.

She did this book with all the illustrations, and several other books, on a computer. writes about this. "I am fascinated by the use of technology as a tool creativity... Many people complain about mechanization robbing them of their potential creativity, but for me technology has had the opposite effect.

Her books can be obtained from Jean Riley Publications, 4503 Bridge St. Fort Worth, Tx 76103

Each dawning brightness brings a new source for hope, A new search for meaning and fulfillment to rescue our dreams from the precarious edge of failure.