in a state
of restless bewilderment
it seems wise
to return to basics
pausing with a few mindful breaths
witnessing awareness beginning to shift
noticing the coming and going
of sensations, emotions and thoughts
awake and present
to the flow that is your life
quite a surprise
when observing
the inner landscape
a light begins to shine
on what has long
lived in the shadows
patterns of thought and
lightning fast reactions
all get seen,
as if for the first time,
in the light of awareness
which can come
as quite a surprise
curiosity and humor,
honesty and compassion
can smooth and detangle the way
arrival of forgiveness
there have been years
when forgiveness
could not enter my heart
when the time of forgiving
and being forgiven
had not come
the leap into a burdenless
present seemed impossibly far
and then . . . it happened
almost in spite of myself
an opening of the heart,
touching tenderness,
healing, a fresh start
the arrival of forgiveness
is still a mystery
yet the waiting for it
is so much sweeter
while patient and welcoming
this moment
how pure it is
this moment
never before, never again
quite like this
how to meet
the gift of Now?
traditional ways
won’t work
come quietly
slowly, gently
listening
colorlessly
not minding
the seasons
trusting
the path
wholeheartedly
inner voice
may your inner voice
that now quietly speaks
to itself
bring you closer
to true-self
to the vast garden
of your heart
the place where forgiving
comes with ease
where compassion
and patience dwell
may your inner voice
bring you home
to the wisdoms
that already light your way
may there be
fearless surrender
may there be stillness
may there be peace
gratitude
there is a gate
that when open
beauty is seen
and the path becomes one
of manyfold blessings
it is gratitude
unassuming and always near
that makes visible
the harmony and sweetness of life
one more thing
let’s not add
one more thing
to the impossibly long
string of tasks
that your mind has imagined
it should achieve today
for awhile rest
in the calm state
of nothing to do
and nowhere to be
just fully present
in this moment
your pilgrimage
to inner peace
is never as far
as the mind makes it out to be
a kind wind
may a kind wind dwell with us
opening even our forgotten knots
to gratitude
may each experience
soften and gentle us
until yielding
to the flow of life
becomes the way
when blame and praise,
loss and gain are welcomed equally
what can disturb the peace?
gentleness
today let the hands
do their labors and loving
with a gentle touch
and let the feet
connect gently
with the earth
let your senses perceive
with gentleness
and let thought
and spoken word
arise from a gentle mind
let life be felt
and witnessed
through a gentle lens
today i delight
today
i delight
in the friendships
blooming all around me
in the good fortunes
of my neighbors
in the homes
where peace dwells
where shadow
turns to light
i delight in the spring wind
caressing the land
and those who pause
to feel it
i choose to believe ...
“good medicine”
i choose to
believe
that joy is good medicine
for us all
tending the garden
of the heart
deep into my soft soil
joy burrows its roots
prevailing
even in times of sorrow
this i choose
to believe
living lightly
“living lightly”
when the mind is crowded
living in stories of memories,
of fantasies and fears
the marvel of this moment
is hard to see
the fresh, unsullied breath
that’s never been before
living lightly
in this moment
we come home
just as i am
there is a timeless meditation that asks:
can i accept myself just as i am?
i watch as this question enters my mind,
instantly the negotiations begin:
do you mean accept right now?
even my imperfections?
do you know the mess it is in here?
can i just tidy up a bit, refine myself…
to be more palatable for gods and neighbors alike?
for i have always seen myself as an improvement project,
never quite good enough - just as i am
Oh, what a curious state of affairs!
how did it get that way?
from the first heartbeat to the last
my life has been accepted to the Great Dance of Life
welcomed without hesitation
so i ask again… can i accept myself just as i am?
accept my body?
the capricious thoughts that come to visit me?
the gentle breezes and storms in the emotions?
and the endless monotony of my habits …
can i welcome it all?
space
“the space between”
vast
open
sky
space
surrounding
galaxies
and atomic particles
between
the notes of a melody
and our fleeting feelings
between
one fading thought
and the next
ever-present
space
the canvas to creation
subtle
empty
all-embracing
stillness
in the strangest of places
“a quiet echo”
a true story
of a mindset altering moment
while traveling
on a lone highway
i encountered unexpected
bumper sticker wisdom:
“thinking is the box”
it read
now that inspires
some non-thought
if I can catch myself
“hello life”
sometimes I get in a rut
thinking of all the things I have to DO
thinking of plans, projects and problems
complicating my beautiful life
if I can catch myself just before entering
the hamster wheel of runaway thoughts
take a breath, soften my eyes, soften my lips
then often my mind too will soften and slow
a space opens -
this is the cue to contemplate
the cause of the universe, orbits of galaxies,
evolution of life, the design of the human body…
faced with marvel
my mind can accept
that it finds itself in a mystery greater
than thoughts can comprehend
and gives me a break …
until the next time
touch of life
“ a quiet pause”
Love, this right here
this very moment is it
this is where the magic happens,
the connection to the thread of life
the raw, the great quiet …
however it unfolds
not somewhere down the road,
nor long ago - life is here
wanting to be touched
so make a clearing in the jumble of self
open, still, courageous, patient
sense the touch of life
peace and purpose
“leaning towards…”
can i control the rising of the sun?
the aging of my limbs?
how others choose to think of me?
what then is up to me?
my views
my words
my actions
where i direct my attention
from moment to moment
knowing this
brings peace and purpose
morning ponder on patience
“flow and resistance”
with patience
there is space
to slow down
to rest and relax
till ease arrives
in my body
with patience
there is space
to endure
to navigate difficult terrain
until compassion fills
my heart again
with patience
there is space
to be alert
to contemplate more deeply
until clarity emerges
in my mind
with patience
i offer less resistance
to the flowing energy of life
the listening game
“undivided attention”
i still need training wheels
for this wandering mind of mine
to welcome all sounds with
undivided attention
open, with good humor
sans expectations, like or dislike
this is
quite an art
being present
neutral and un-rattle-able
welcoming your voice
like the earth receives the rain
