Three Hundred Roses of Love. Monday's Inspiration 66. Celebrating Bill Holland's 300th Writer's Mailbag.

“Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations!

Brother Bill, Sister Beverley.

We hoist your supreme glories banner high.

In you, for you, our blue gold, satisfaction-sky.” –Sri Chinmoy

Note: Congratulations is one of Sri Chinmoy's four universals, the others being Welcome, Thank You, and Farewell. Naturally, we add the names of the individuals to whom it is sung.

“Many writers toil in obscurity their entire lives. If I can, in some way, encourage writers to continue with their work, I feel I’ve done my part to promote the Art of Writing.” – William Dale Holland

The above exquisite quote, by no lesser person than Bill himself, sums up his very selfless efforts, to serve us writers, in bettering ourselves in this noble craft. As such we can see why, one of our beloved friends on Hub pages, inspired by Bill, gives us this eloquent and sublime sentiment:

“When you love you see clearly, without selfishness and self-interest. Through love, you can also recognize within your friends all those qualities which brought you close to them. Their characteristics that make you feel good and complement yours, but even things you would like to help them change or improve, not to satisfy your selfishness, but for their own progress and prosperity.

After all, we approach and connect with people, not only to receive from them but also to give, to help, and to see them improve and become more beautiful and happier. The truth is that what we offer can provide us with much more joy and happiness than what we get! That's why love is always a blessing both for the giver and the receiver! Bill's mailbag series is an excellent example!

I am grateful for all 300, and I wish for all of us to be blessed with many more. My friends are my mirror. Thank you, my brother, a prayer of love and gratitude to you and family, for all you help me to see! Peace always! - Sean

This message of love and soulful service, is echoed by Ruby Fuller below:

“Bill was one of the first writers to read my poetry. He always encouraged me by saying gracious remarks. I found out later that he didn’t write poems, so now I know he was welcoming me to HP. His tips for writers are priceless, and his stories are among the best.”

The above-mentioned writer, reminds me of not only a garden of flowers, but a meadow of Love. In this field, as with any flower-garden or valley of worth, the rose is the core symbol of redolence and sacrifice, spreading its wafts freely and lovingly to all. Bill is that rose.

I have written copiously about Bill, who has recently published a most memorable and immortal memoir by all accounts and so my work in this Hub, is purely to celebrate another milestone – his 300^th Writer’s Mailbag -- just one more of his many accomplishments here on Hub pages. To learn more about Bill, it may be best to buy the book, failing which you can see some of my links at the bottom here.

I will say, though, that Bill is a remarkable example of someone who has stared the abyss in the face … encountered his demons with courage and resilience; have surfaced on the sunrise-horizon- beauty of the dawn. This is just so he can share the secrets of the nightingale’s eloquence with us, in and through some magical words. No easy feat and to have it from the eye of the tiger, so to speak, is well worth reading and seeing.

Bill is a confidante, a counselor, a superb writer, a free-lance Journalist and teacher, farmer and wonderful husband by all accounts, to his immaculate wife Beverley and most importantly, an aspiring pilgrim in this school of life … a decent human being. What more can one ask for? Shauna L Bowling – a dear friend of Bill – expresses it thus:

“Bill is selfless. From day one, he's been all about helping writers to spread their wings and fly. Bill and I have garnered a friendship during the eight years we've been HP contributors. He helped me land my first online paid writing gig and has helped me with personal issues as well.

The fact that he has posted 300 Mailbag articles is testament to what he has to offer the community and how much he's respected. Bill has overcome his own demons and lives life with love, compassion, joy, and wonder. I'm proud to call him my friend.” - Shauna L Bowling

In this Hub, I have sought to show, through poetry, video and prose, some of the people who really matter in Bill’s life: His family and friends, as well as those who are intimate and close; animals and the eco-system, his humanitarian endeavours, as well as some of us here on Hub pages, only a tiny section of his nearly 2,500 followers, who adore and admire him and all whom he cherishes.

One such writer, has summed up her inspiration and aspiration below:

“Sir Bill Holland is such an amazing kindhearted, encouraging gentleman, who always inspire me to spread my wings to voice out through my skills. If it wasn’t for his gentle push through uplifting generous words, I wouldn't have continued writing on Hub pages at the beginning.

My heartfelt thanks to him for taking the time to be a blessing to me, although I have never met him in person, he is indeed an inspiring teacher and someone I aspire to be like one day.” – Rochelle Ann De Zoysa

Sometimes Your effulgent Light radiates,

That is all. Nothing needs to be said to spoil it.

Your incandescent smile blends in synergy, like

The sun, its rays an ornament of beauty,

Decorating thy allure with magic!

Rolling my Heart open, like a robe, the moon

Sprinkles your beauty, like a cascade of shooting

Stars. I absorb them into my Essence, like one

Inebriated, drunk with the wine of thy sweetness;

Your radiance speaks to me silently, whispering softly to my soul.

Gazing at you upon this holy crest of the mountain,

I see a shining pinnacle of charisma; of my enduring

Happiness -- A soaring bird, the contours of your silhouette,

Evocatively haunting, like a Mozart’s symphony,

Blending into the sacred vistas of my Spirit.

I know I’m a lucky man, rising, like Joseph from the well;

Like a prodigal returning home. Only you are my Light-house

And my royalty, steering a heart weeping rivers of Joy.

I look at you lovingly, my paragon of splendour, not unlike the

Magnificent skyline of the heavens, upon which you gaze.

Hands above your head, the pure white clouds whisper to your Spirit.

The blue skies kiss the peaks of the undulating ridges,

Cascading wonder to the fauns … the eco-systems beneath your feet,

You -- mesmerized in the Sacrament of the Present Moment -- as if

Singing a ballad, to the glory of supernal Love.

They say perfection is a work in progress, sweet Melody,

But if you aren’t flawless in this timeless capture, then what is?

Now I know why the immortal Helen, Queen of Troy,

Caused Menelaus, King of Sparta, to launch one thousand ships!

-Lantern Carrier, 10^th March, 2020

She’s always there to greet me.

Spirit blending with my shadows, she senses

The worst in my abyss.

Snuggling up to me with heaven’s radiance,

She wags and rolls, grabbing hold of our memories,

To bring me joy: A ball, a stick … a sweet loving gaze,

Or a tug at my jeans, to indicate that she wishes to sit

On my lap. Sometimes she barks, rushing into the foliage,

My elephant load now lightened, just to see her play,

My aroused curiosity, seeking to see her bounty for the day.

I watch her rest upon the log, her brown body alert, cautious,

Using her discernment at every step, taking in the new buds of sunlight.

Not so our Toby, her canine friend. The woods have made him

Adventurous, eyes scanning for the next buzz. He likes people, eyes

And tongue wagging as he approaches, seeking to make friends.

The silence of the light has descended upon him; he reaches out,

A benchmark of true devotion, loyalty oozing from a tail

Swinging with delight, trusting, vibrant, like a stream in full flow.

“Bow-wow!” He says excitedly, reminding me that a dog is a man’s best friend.

Manatita, The Lantern Carrier. 11^th March, 2020

“Twas you Manatita, who introduced me to this phenomenal writer called Billybuc! He seemed to be writing, commenting and being read more than most. It has been my delight to follow him. I habitually read his articles even if I'm a week late. He offers so much! Instruction, inspiration, motivation, creativity and more.

The mailbag is God-sent, dishing out weekly morsels for the writer's soul. Three hundred applause for all the answers Bill has given to inquiring minds! You deserve this honor, Bill, and Manatita thank you for setting the pace!” – Dora Isaac Weithers.

"When his life was ruined, his family killed, his farm destroyed, Job knelt down on the ground and yelled up to the heavens, 'Why god? Why me?' and the thundering voice of God answered, 'There's just something about you that pisses me off.' - Stephen King.

"Life's persistent and most urgent question is 'What are you doing for others?' - Martin Luther King

"Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal." - Mark Twain

"People want to know why I do this, why I write such gross stuff. I like to tell them I have the heart of a small boy... and I keep it in a jar on my desk." - Stephen King.

“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” — Stephen King

“Gratitude is the safest way for us to reach the supreme destination. The moment we offer our gratitude to the Supreme, many, many undivine forces leave us. Our complaints against the path, against other human beings, even against the Supreme Himself disappear.” - Sri Chinmoy