Oh, how it gladdens my heart To discover the green shoots Broken through the winter earth! Each year, I am surprised When the snow nearest the foundation of my home Melts away And reveals, yet again New Life!
The new growth emerges From bulbs planted in prior years Once seeming dead Now flourishing with hope As they radiate the promise of beauty to come.
My heart flutters Like the wings of butterflies beating within my chest I cannot help but smile The sun pouring its warmth Upon my face Upon this new life As it melts away winter’s remains
Take courage Winter comes The dark, cold days May lay heavily upon us And may reappear before they are gone But always, always Spring follows Let go of winter’s chill Allow abundance to nurture your spirit As spring’s resurrection peaks out Through the frozen earth.
It has been said That love alone can awaken the divine within Well, I am in love With a burrowing owl! Each day, I am pulled My heart strings tug wildly Calling me to walk down to the burrows
I am delighted when I spot the owl His squat, feathered body tucked amongst the grass. He sits just atop his burrow There are particles of sand on his face But still, he wears his chestnut and white feathers As he stands bravely out of his safe home Like Joseph wears his coat of many colors
I approach quietly Creeping slowly forward Like children returning from recess But I am going toward excitement Forcing myself to hold back so as not to frighten He and I exchange glances I speak quietly and, I hope, reassuringly He allows me to remain He remains I ease myself onto the grass Camera in hand.
Joyfully, I observe his actions Always alert, on guard But when he feels safe He will look into my eyes And I pretend he loves me, too! His eyes register myriad emotions Curiosity, alarm, disgust, pleasure, wisdom And more which I cannot read
A couple of women come jaunting up No kind words, no gradual entrance The owl’s face registers alarm He squawks They continue forward He rattles The sound, indistinguishable from a rattle snake, Shouts leave now!! Do they notice his distress, I wonder Or is he purely an exhibit Present merely for their amusement? They look and move on.
And I wonder, How did we humans come to believe The world, nature, wildlife Exists merely for our pleasure For our consumption and entertainment How can we ignore so blithely The beauty and life In all creation? How can we miss the divine all around us?
Sorry I have not written much here lately. I have been busy with preparing for speaking engagements and working on book number next!! Book number next has the working title “Spirit in Creation.” It is being written with a co-writer!! More to come… On Wednesday, I met with a group of people at Granite Ledges in Concord, NH. This luncheon/talk was hosted by Granite VNA and Granite Ledges. It was great to meet many of you for the first time and see others again!!
At that event, I read the poem “Tell Me”. I promised I would post it here on my blog for people to re-read as they choose. So here it is!!
Tell Me Tell me, Sir, have you thought at all About the end of your life? Tell me, Ma’am, how do you envision Your last weeks, days or moments on earth?
These questions, I know Are heavy Laden down, fraught with emotion
Let’s look away Don’t go there You say Save that conversation for another day.
Tell me, my friend When will that day come? Will you wait Until it is too late? Might you delay So long you have no say Because you cannot speak.
Life is fragile Our bodies vulnerable Bad stuff happens No one escapes alive
Looking away Comes, often, with a heavy price to pay Children argue – disagree What would Mom want? What would Dad say? The decisions are hard And often lead to conflict, grief, guilt feelings.
Decisions made at a time of great angst Are seldom made with careful consideration Are often questioned, critiqued and regretted
Tell me, what would you want If nearing the end of your life Where would you like to be? What would you wish your medical care to focus on? Would you wish to try to prolong your remaining days/weeks Or would you wish, above all, to focus on being as comfortable and peaceful as possible?
Tell me, who do you think Would honor your wishes? Who do you think would be capable Of advocating for you Even when filled with sadness? Tell me, and we can work on that.
Tell me, can you imagine how Facing these questions now Would be a great investment In your future And the future of your loved ones?
Thinking about, talking about these issues Does not make them happen But when they do happen It makes life easier for everyone It makes your life your own.
Challenges abound
Synchronizing efforts and destinations
Aboard a tandem kayak
Sitting in a pool of brackish water
Grey clouds blanketing overhead
We enter the mangrove tunnel
Camera in hand
Ready to snap any birds
Who might be silly enough
To stop by on this chilly Florida morning
Arriving in the dark of predawn
Certain the sky would open up in flames of beauty
at any minute
precisely as forecast.
We paddle through the mangrove tunnel
Within five minutes
The grey sky darkens menacingly.
I draw my camera under my tee shirt
As the clouds begin to empty
Drops now pelt down upon us,
Sadly, I reach for the dry bag
The camera goes away.
The water filled seat
Is getting harder, colder
I push my life jacket beneath me
We paddle on
Any animals present in that mangrove forest
Are likely getting a good belly laugh
At those crazy humans.
Laminated map in hand
I attempt to navigate
But within our group of 4,
There are as many opinions as options
As to how to maneuver through the maze
Tom suggests I put down the map
And just enjoy the ride
See where the water takes us!
Released from the chain of expectation
I am free of worry
I go where the water beckons.
The sky clears
Well, not totally
But the rain stopped
My arms and paddle silently shout
Look!! Stop!! Hush!!
A really big bird in amongst the trees
There he goes . . .
We paddle on
Around the next corner
He is waiting for us
Perched on a branch above us
Unconcerned
The Great Blue Heron!
His eyes are fixated on the water below
A wading bird
Of majesty and beauty
A treasure found in the mangrove forest
Raining on/off
Wet now – not caring
Watching, waiting
Free to explore
In this world of nature.
We laugh
We paddle
We carefully step out of the kayak
Amongst the mangroves
Shifting our weight,
Stretching our legs.
Two hours have passed
How did that happen?
My soul is singing with delight
This is my happy place
But it is getting colder, darker, wetter
Our journey takes us out of the maze
And we head back
But more excitement lurks high overhead
An osprey on her nest
We move to mangrove’s edge
Lodged within the roots
I snap picture after picture
When I hear a rustling sound
There beside me is a Little Green!
She is making her way across the roots
Head down – fishing
Seemingly unaware of human danger
I watch in awe and joy
Thank you, Mangrove Forest,
For sharing your life with me!
Your swells crash against the metal hull
I sit behind glass a good 30 feet above your surface
Yet the spray you spit as you crash
Causes white out visibility at my window
I wonder, what angered you
Where did your peaceful, serene blue go to?
You rant and rave
Seemingly pulling power up from 3,000 feet below
Your surface raises into mountains of deepest gray
Growing higher and higher
Until the rounded tops crest and roll forward
With furies of foam rushing forward.
Is it anger or merely strength
That pierces my being
Igniting fear
Is power always something to be feared?
The raging waters speak to me of violence
With their endless pounding, crashing and exploding
Spraying onto verandahs decks above.
Yet, when your fury meets resistance
There are glimmers of beautiful blue
Peaking out amid the foam and spray
Your surface is a sea of chaos
But deep within you
There exist delicate creatures
Swimming undisturbed
So, ocean, who then are you?
A furious power attempting to eject all on your surface
A gentle, nurturing home
Or, maybe, merely a living body
Existing as best able
Responding to atmospheric circumstances
With no intent for harm?
We, after all, are merely guests
So, though your lunging and mountainous rolls
Play with my heart, disturb my equilibrium
And destroy my peace
I must remember
I am a guest
My job is to learn to roll with you
Not to question your inherent nature.
"Take your time"
Such kind words
To speak to a harried postal clerk
Facing a line out the door
They give at least a brief reprieve
From complaints
A moment to breathe
Take your time
TAKE it
Do not throw it away
Into the waste basket of frustration and impatience
Sitting in line at the bank drive thru
The words came back to me
This is time
It is my time
Taking it would mean savoring, treasuring this time
I opened my eyes to see the world
The barren trees dripping glistening droplets
The grey sky with just a hint of blue
The wreath hanging festively on the nearby residence
Joy crept its way into my heart
Beauty enveloped my soul
Before I knew it, it was my turn
I smiled sincerely as I greeted the teller
I had taken my time
She apologized for the wait
No problem, Truly No problem!
As the calendar turns the page, may we all Take Our Time!
Happy New Year!
Crumbs for the Journey 