Beyond the Surface of Things

April 23, 2018April 23, 2018 becomingandbeholdingLeave a comment

I see your smile,

how nicely you are put together –

the thought placed in what you present

to the world,

to me.

Underneath it all,

is the secret you keep to yourself.

You could be as finely tuned inside

as you are on the outside,

with a heart wide open –

smoothly pumping,

ready for Life to be born before you,

eager for use and expression.

Or, you could be

broken and faltering,

tired and lumbering along,

with all your systems, heart included,

weakened by the work of Life,

ready to rest,

alone in all your suffering –

even though none of this is revealed

on your surface.

We can bloom and grow in life

or crumble in the living of it.

One wonders at the choices along the way

that shape each path.

It seems to me,

we are like plants deprived of sun and water,

and wither because of it,

the more we live as if

we have no need of God.

I see it at the end –

the weathering or

the glowing

when final breaths are taken –

and I know which path

I choose to take.

Abide with me, precious God,

and continue to show me the way

to live beyond the surface of things.

Radiate through me

from that deep place

that connects me to all there is,

now and forever.

A Humble Confession

April 22, 2018April 26, 2018 becomingandbeholding1 Comment

I am learning that

the work of being grounded

is an ever-present process –

and I am not so good at it.

It is more than simply getting up

and making time for prayer and meditation –

though that is a good start.

To be grounded,

requires moment by moment attention

to what is placed before me –

and then discerning,

with God’s assistance,

which direction to take

in moving forward.

It is constant communion

with divine intelligence and love –

and I admit,

it is not easy for me to remember this.

Oh, I start off well –

I am a great meditator over my morning coffee.

I am dedicated to starting well.

But as the day gets going,

I forget to bring God into it with me –

I get caught up in my own agenda and

the pattern of routine.

I forget I am here for God,

and the usual happens –

the miserable discontent sneaks back in

and my focus ends up being

all about me –

what I can control

and what I cannot.

It is frustratingly stupid and human of me.

For, my soul knows better.

I know that all I need do is

let go and let God.

The more I get out of my own way,

the more peace and freedom

I will have.

We all make it so hard

when it is actually so simple:

learn to listen to the insights

that come your way –

like this one –

and in listening,

open your heart to actually

putting your insights to work in

your day to day life.

It means pausing often and

paying attention – which,

is the hard part for all of us in

our agenda-driven, pre-occupied and busy lifestyle.

But I am not giving up, for

the cost is too high.

I am open to learning more deeply

what unceasing prayer and communion

with God is really like.

My hand and my heart are

open to receive…

So, my current insight?

Get over yourself and

Let God into your whole day,

not just your morning.

Trust that you are not alone

and there is nothing that needs to be

figured out on your own.

Everything everywhere

is already all right.

Relax more and enjoy!

Pause to remember –

and do that often!

Let the truth of God’s assurance and presence

shine through your whole day.

God, indeed, has my back

and freedom and joy are within reach

as constant companions.

That is my current work –

to listen and believe.

Sound familiar?

Poem · Poetry

When I Am Not Writing

April 16, 2018 becomingandbeholding1 Comment

The babbling brook that

is the stream of life, passes

before me,

its eternal and purposeful movement,

effortlessly dancing –

its whispers inviting me

into the water.

I sit on the shore,

afraid to get wet –

mistaken by the idea

that in staying dry,

I can somehow

avoid the discomfort and uncertainty

of change –

when in actuality,

I am delaying my

ongoing baptism into Life.

In this moment,

I dip my toe back in.

Poem · Poetry

In But Not Of

April 6, 2018 becomingandbeholding1 Comment

I belong to God.

The fabric of my being is

knitted with the golden threads

of love and divine insight.

The roots of my tree reach

to the depths of all there is.

The heart of my heart

is God’s heart –

open wide with compassion and pain

brave enough to heal

the brokenness within and beyond me.

I am a wave on the shore,

connected to the ocean of God’s Love

and presence,

washing gently on the world but

separate from its shores.

I reflect both the sun and moon,

inviting a way out

of the darkness –

simply by shining.

This is my true nature.

When I find myself dragged into

pain and drama,

the pull of ego and interaction,

I remember who I am

and I am lifted up

and out.

True freedom and peace arrive,

and I am whole.

Poem · Poetry

Why I love the Morning

April 1, 2018April 1, 2018 becomingandbeholding1 Comment

I rise early

in the dark and quiet

on purpose.

Just like the blank page calls to me,

so does the new day.

I create an intentional pause

to reflect upon and bow to

the morning I have been given.

You see, for me

Easter happens every morning –

a chance to begin again,

to allow God to be seen

by transforming me.

The stone is always ready

to be rolled away

and a new way of being

is possible.

As the sun rises,

I reflect on whether this day

is finally The Day

I trust this truth completely –

the whispers of hallelujah gently call

so Easter can be born

in me

again.

Poem · Poetry

Go Gently

March 22, 2018 becomingandbeholding1 Comment

Here I go again,

getting lost in the tangle of

outward motivations which

lead me away –

like an excited child

pulling on my arm –

Come this way!

But my wisdom within says,

Not so fast.

You have been here before, remember?

We play this game over and over

until finally,

we are done playing.

We are ready for change.

Like Jacob wrestling with the angel,

we finally get blessed with divine insight

into who we are,

and the exhaustion of repeated patterns

falls away.

Here is the truth of it all:

we come to God

through suffering or wisdom –

and sometimes both.

Most of the time,

we create our own suffering.

So, my child,

Learn to trust your

inner light.

You were born with it,

and it waits for you to listen

to its guidance.

Be patient with how it flickers

until you are ready

for its full shining.

Go gently on your path,

and keep your eyes open.

Forgive your missteps along the way.

Just keep moving forward.

And whatever you do,

do not close.

For your light cannot shine,

if your shades are drawn

and you will keep tripping in your darkness.

Poem · Poetry

Finding the Poem

March 19, 2018 becomingandbeholding1 Comment

It comes in the quiet of the morning,

or sometimes on a walk among the trees.

Like a tender bud,

it germinates inside my heart,

until it must be born.

I write

because this process

brings me closer to God –

to the very spark of life

within me.

I write

because when I do,

I am blessed with the very Presence

I seek every moment.

I write

because my restless soul

comes alive when my words

enliven a page.

I write

because it touches you,

and in sharing my voice,

my purpose is born.

I write,

because I must.

Poem · Poetry

Beyond Stuck

March 18, 2018March 18, 2018 becomingandbeholdingLeave a comment

Your mind is a place of learning,

she said.

You create your reality there.

My invitation to intentionally look within –

an amazing challenge,

even for a deep, open one like me.

Like a spinning top,

the hardest part is to stop –

it is so effortless to

just keep going,

settle for the mindless whirl.

When I do manage a pause and

a glimpse inward,

I am humbled by what is keeping me

busy up there.

Really? THIS is what I am thinking about?

The constant auto-pilot and noise

is embarrassing!

But taking it personally

is not helpful.

So much of what is in my mind

has been given to me

when I was not looking.

I am looking now.
I am now learning to peek within

with curiosity and gentleness –

and sometimes even, humor.

Laughing really does help.

Healing comes

with awareness and new choices

along with a large dose of humility.

Shaking off the old

and building the new…

I am learning to protect my consciousness –

what I allow in,

and what to ignore.

It is a dynamic classroom

in which I am

forever a student.

Poem · Poetry

Go With the Flow

March 17, 2018 becomingandbeholdingLeave a comment

The sun rises without you –

birds sing their morning songs, and

the cat plops in your lap whether

invited or not.

Coffee brews effortlessly, once started

and the aroma blesses you

with that warm feeling of being cared for.

Hunger waits until the body is ready

to receive.

Why think of food yet?

The day starts,

whether you do or not.

You do not have to figure it out

to make it happen.

Learn to receive, little one.

Respond when invited, but

do not move too quickly to action.

The sunrise is a beautiful blessing

which points the way

to true freedom.

It simply unfolds.

Do you see it?

It is right before you.

Poem · Poetry

Before Going In

March 9, 2018March 13, 2018 becomingandbeholding1 Comment

You are not on stage

so there is no need to

put on a face –

to pretend, fluff

or get nervous.

You are not seeking applause.

Rather than putting anything on

or assuming a role,

you do the opposite.

Before going in,

you execute a

disappearing act.

None of this is about you.

This is your job:

be a light

be a vessel

be a mirror that

reflects Love.

Healing and presence

will show up

if you can get out of the way.

Step aside.