head constantly moving as you strut around the courtyard
dressed in crow feather black and blue you scavenge the grounds for food
you risk vulnerability by approaching benches where humans are seated eating lunch and looking at screens
you scamper toward a dropped french fry and eat it as if it is a worm, then continue to scan the grounds for more
head bobbing, hips wagging, you walk from bench to bench
if the humans were any less engaged you could eat directly from their styrofoam containers
in the routines of the day and in the stillness of the night, you are with us
in the joy and in the laughter, you are with us
in the sorrow and defeating circumstances, you are with us
in the anger and frustration, you are with us
in the abuse and trauma, you are with us
in the unexpected and unplanned happenings, you are with us
in the solitude and quiet moments, you are with us
in the noise and activity, you are with us
make us increasingly aware of your presence with us
when i am stuck in traffic and running late
when the task is taking longer than i would like for it to take
remind me that i lose you when i am in a hurry
remind me that i cannot hear from you unless i slow down and listen
remind me that slowness is your way
i love the start of the day when the house is quiet
and my mind is free from the worries of the previous day
or the concerns that will surely come with the day that is before me
and i close my eyes and listen to the silence
and my heart is pulled into an ancient, divine presence
and i am enjoined with gladness of heart
as i abide in an ageless community of love
everything comes alive with the first rays of sunlight
wet drops of dew slowly slide down blades of grass
tree branches stretch out as if yawning
flowers sway gently in the wind
birds chirp as if to say “good morning, how are you?”
a squirrel pokes his head out of a tree branch examining his surroundings
a turtle sticks it’s limbs out of his shell and begins crawling toward the light
everything comes alive with you
for the world has no existence apart from you
by your word the sun shone forth
land was formed with oceans spanning in between
animals roamed from the heights of the mountains to the depths of the sea
while birds soared in the skies above
and mankind emerged from the dust
everything comes alive inside of me
a million images flash before my eyes
thoughts leap around inside my head
blood pulses beneath my skin
hairs stand upright on my arms
my chest contracts with every breath
water forms in the corners of my eyes
sounds connect me to the world around me
from my sofa i hear the refrigerator churning out ice cubes
then the air conditioner cuts on dampening other noises until the temperature is regulated
outside i hear birds communicating in the early morning hours
squirrels are mostly quiet until they become territorial
dogs growl and bark announcing their presence
a lawn mower rumbles in the distance
a construction crew is jack hamering concrete not far down the street
horns honk as people rush to their jobs
a passenger plane departs from a nearby airport
and i am awake to the world around me
why do i scramble to find something to do
when you are with me in the stillness more than the activity
why do i ramble on with my words
when it is in the quiet places that i most often find you
why do i look for you in every place that i go
when you are always with me inside my heart
everything is calm this morning
no light spills through the window
grey clouds cover the sky
the only sound is the pitter patter of raindrops
and i am at peace within
There is nothing quiet about the lake in the morning, but you have to become quiet to notice it.
The sounds do not bombard you or compete for your attention. They just exist in this landscape, waiting to be noticed.
Birds chirp, geese honk, turkeys gobble, a rooster crows, men’s voices are muffled in the distance, an outboard motor starts, the hum of tires on asphalt paving shows up occasionally.
All of this is easily missed when we bring our own noise into this environment.
Instead of intruding upon the sacredness of this space, let the sacredness of this space intrude upon you.
There is nothing quiet about my heart in the morning.
So, I sit and wait for the sacred to intrude upon it.
Pay attention to the world around me. (presence)
Allow space for relationships to develop. (availability)
Silence is the most effective pathway to the heart. (wisdom)
The water is calm, but it is constantly moving. Concentric ripples form where fish jump out of the water. Small birds flutter overhead and then dive down toward the water’s surface. The dark clouds are not threatening. They hang over the lake like a canopy and then slowly move on opening the sky to the day.
here i am
and you with me
you in me
and i in you
gazing upon you
gazing back at me
i am awakened to your love
you refine me with fire
you melt away my dross
you take my every loss
with you to the cross
you make all things new
and my soul is renewed
as i am awakened to your love
what is most vital?
what keeps me from it?
which direction am I pulled?
is this my normal bent or am i so used to bending that i no longer stand up straight?
there are tears about the past
there are fears that hold me back
but i am still living
the blood is warm underneath my skin
i am not retreating
my heart is still beating
even as i move closer to the grave
the newness of dawn
surrounds the trail
where the trees are a cathedral
ushering me into the morning sun
cool weather
warm sky
love eternal
forever to abide
faithful as
the sun in the sky
day after day
pouring forth speech
covenantal love
never to be breached
