The Gray

October 6, 2018October 6, 2018 becomingandbeholding1 Comment

It seems easier

when what feels clear and true

is always right, too.

It is a comfort

when the ground on which

we stand and build upon

has the strength

of generations

or habit.

We like our side of the street.

The other side

is far away, and

difficult to see.

It is not important to us.

For all is clear where we are.

It feels safe and protected.

In between these sharp edges

of clarity

is the territory

of the gray.

It is a fuzzier place.

The ground seems shakier.

We are repelled by it –

but, at times,

a bit curious, too.

Mostly,

we prefer familiar ground.

Thankfully, life ends up instructing us

along the way,

through hardship and insight,

to be more open to the gray.

Our edges get worn down

and are revealed to us

as false structures.

In the middle,

is the place of softening

and opening up.

It is the place of meeting –

of healing.

Life is less

black and white

in the gray.

There are new choices to explore,

colors to adore.

When we can learn

to embrace

this middle place,

wisdom is born,

along with a letting go

which liberates

and brings us together.

When we enter the gray,

we have learned the value

of dropping

what does not matter.

Poem · Poetry · Uncategorized

Worship

October 5, 2018October 5, 2018 becomingandbeholding3 Comments

Be still my soul

when life gets wacky.

Find the quiet places.

A walk in the woods

with leaves crunchy beneath

could work –

or that comfy chair

next to a sunny window, too.

Perhaps the cat will plop with you,

rendering connection and comfort.

Find your deep breath again

and stretch yourself skyward.

Open your hands

as you open your heart.

Be lifted.

Allow your voice to rise

whether in a whisper, shout,

or song.

Lord, I need you.

Lord, I love you.

Lord, I thank you.

Now you can live your moments

in renewed presence

and peace.

Alleluia!

Amen.

Poem · Poetry

The Call of the Light

September 15, 2018September 15, 2018 becomingandbeholding1 Comment

Breaking through the gray

as the darkness begins to enfold me,

it appears:

Remember me? I am here.

I barely hear its message.

I am too caught up in the gloom.

Remember me? I am here.

The light persists…

but the darkness holds on.

Look up, look out. There is more.

The invitation gets more urgent

for the light can see

more than I can.

It does not want

the darkness to swallow me.

The light begins to reach out

and touch me.

It opens my heart.

As my heart warms and flexes,

my vision gradually blooms –

the shadows retreat

and the glow arrives.

I am healing

and the light

leads me forward.

Artwork by my sister, Martha Harris: “Beacon”

Poem · Poetry · Uncategorized

When Praying

August 25, 2018September 6, 2018 becomingandbeholding2 Comments

It starts with stopping

and then a deep breath –

the kind that really fills you,

and reaches to the bottom of things.

When you begin to settle

and peace starts to bloom,

you wait.

There is nothing to say.

It is a time to listen.

The longings will arise

and you simply hold them.

With grace and acceptance,

you lift them –

first to your heart,

and then up in surrender.

It is this gesture,

this gathering of yourself

which connects you to

who you are.

For there is no separation

between you and God.

You are a drop of water

in God’s ocean.

You belong –

and all it takes

is listening and bowing

to remember this

and be healed

of want and need.

Poem · Poetry

All The Ways

August 7, 2018August 7, 2018 becomingandbeholding1 Comment

All the ways,

I hide from You…

All the ways,

I run.

The wisdom within

continues to wait, to instruct, but –

all the ways

stay stuck.

I fool myself daily, thinking

all the ways

work for me.

They seem to make sense

on the surface, but

living with them

and holding onto them,

trips me up.

I long for

all Your ways…

all Your ways of freedom

of grace,

of truth,

of Love.

I catch glimpses of these.

Sometimes, I am actually

held by their vision,

warmed by their touch,

inspired and lifted

by their presence.

In those moments,

I remember

all the ways

You are present, and

then I know

all the ways

to be.

Poem · Poetry · Uncategorized

Message Received

July 27, 2018August 26, 2018 becomingandbeholding1 Comment

My love went for a walk yesterday.

It was a sunny day and

the trees were singing.

Each step was an affirmation

of a beautiful day.

Walking is a wonderful way to connect

to the divine,

to our higher purpose.

The rhythm of movement

works like a physical mantra:

I move forward from my center. I connect to the ground.

As our muscles propel us,

our heart is lifted,

and we breathe in life,

like a hungry balloon.

Walking gives us the perfect visual

of the spiritual journey…

Sometimes there are bumps to avoid

and hills to climb

or descend.

We are careful not to trip.

Along the way,

we notice things –

the beauty of the trees,

the dogs being walked,

the smiles of our neighbors.

Walking gives our minds a chance

to wander, too –

to ponder the deep things

while our legs do their work.

On this particular journey,

my love, in a pensive moment,

content with his journey,

and the thoughts nourishing,

looked down.

On the ground was a paper,

and like a message from the beyond,

it spoke these words:

“I am Love.”

And just like that,

everything connected.

His heart soared skyward and

the message was received

deeply blessing his soul.

Poem · Poetry · Uncategorized

Each Day a Wonder

July 23, 2018July 27, 2018 becomingandbeholdingLeave a comment

As morning unfolds,

and the sun dares to rise,

my heart is full of gratitude.

Even on a Monday,

with the weekly list beginning to crowd me,

I am lifted.

Though still a spiritual infant,

I have now finally learned,

the gift of a day,

a moment.

Rising from slumber,

springing from under the covers…

well, that is what each day offers –

what the whole journey affords,

moment by moment.

I wake with gratitude,

allowing for transformation,

as my feet touch the floor.

Poem · Poetry · Uncategorized

Acquainted With Grief

July 19, 2018July 19, 2018 becomingandbeholding3 Comments

Somewhere between meeting the new

and releasing the comfortable

there will always be grief.

It is that separation thing

that is oh, so inevitable –

and as predictable as

melting ice cream.

It is the tug along the way

that pulls at the heart,

sometimes tearing it painfully –

leaving scars that

mark the spot.

Nothing lasts –

or so it seems.

It takes a lifetime to figure this out.

Eventually, we learn

that grief is the price of love –

given and received.

I bump into grief every day.

When I see it in another,

its embers are sparked in me

and the familiar ache of it all

shows up,

reminding me of its

ready presence,

pouncing on me,

like a mugger on a morning walk.

Grief has an I get it quality

when witnessed in another…

Our earthly existence

comes with loss

woven deeply into its tapestry.

We can see it in each other’s faces –

when we dare to look up.

Loss is the glue

that connects us

and joins us together.

Some think God causes this sadness

as if to manipulate us

to devotion

by bringing us to our knees

with heartache.

I disagree.

To me, God is all trust and love

with an unimaginable capacity

for wisdom and compassion –

and is not the cause

of our suffering.

If anything, God gets it –

suffers and grieves with us ,

weeping as we weep.

God knows that the answer

to grief

is the loving embrace –

the one we share with one another,

and the one

God gives with

Everlasting Arms –

through us.

We are not alone,

ever.

This must be realized.

When it comes to grief,

and life (as it turns out)…

well, we are in it together –

and once we get off the floor,

after extreme loss has arrived,

we can move forward,

side by side,

learning a deepening resilience

together.

Poem · Poetry · Uncategorized

Glowing

July 14, 2018July 14, 2018 becomingandbeholding2 Comments

Oh, give me eyes to see

beneath either fluff

or fear,

underneath pain and harm –

that essential beam

of light and love

which warms and glows!

I want to be a glow detector –

within myself,

and everyone I meet.

For the glow

is where God is visible –

and who doesn’t want to see God?

It takes practice,

this right view.

It does not come easily –

because we have all been trained

to focus elsewhere.

It means getting out of

my own way… once again,

the ongoing lesson,

I keep bumping into,

and tripping over,

along the way.

But dwelling in the Glow,

reflecting its Light,

living in the Beam…

that is where I want to be.

Nothing else really matters,

or is real.

Glow on!

Let your path be a lighted one.

Uncategorized

Hear the Divine Whispers

July 13, 2018July 13, 2018 becomingandbeholdingLeave a comment