The Place

The Place

The surprise of hearing my own voice

like seeing slivers of light filtered between the trees

The words are whispered which I could have missed

Words of encouragement, a push

My eyes are closed, my attention sharpened

I am resting a bit after walking long

My breathing is trying to catch up with my steps

In trying to reach my goal I struggle

There are benches, handrails, sources of spring water

I am vulnerable but not feeble.

I am not alone, or helpless

Though night is approaching I am not lost.

Is it the wind or spirit descends from above the trees

A voice telling me a place in eternity

The place where I am going.

 

Surprise

Disturbed by nearness

The blue heron flies away

The child, surprised, cries

 

 

The Clouds

Sunny and 57 degrees yesterday  afternoon. I walked to the river. Met other walkers. Watched the clouds and birds. Just like today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thought of the day

Listen to the birds and encounter beauty of the day

Spread your gratitude with the sun

Express yourself:

“love of Christ must come before all else.”

Imagine

A lemur can jump 25 feet

Imagine the social distance

In time like today

Trying a new form

A mother and child

foraging for mushrooms and ferns

A hanging orchid

 

A mountain stream

flows crystal clear, and so cold

deer is shivering

 

Seven blackbirds perch

on a young sycamore tree

boy counts his fingers

 

Undeterred they rowed

The whole Atlantic Ocean

Off the wall they said

Settlement

Settled and living near the ocean

I entered a world of birds

Learning how they look and sound,

Knowing their habits and peculiarities

A new vocabulary of patience and attentive eyes,

A binocular and waking to a new way of looking

Slowly birds became like friends and companions

Swelling of delights trailing after the bird’s daily calls

Hastening the retreat of boredom hinting no return.

End of day

The waves embraces

the descending moon

a fish dangles in the line

 

Awe

You try to frame your beginnings and journey

Demolishing and picking up the ruins

Planting roots, building a ladder with vision of a summit,

A tapestry of new colors and threads

Then you see a swan rising from the waters

The white wings spreading wide as if without effort

The awe encompasses all you have learned

Simple, precise and complete

Forever transforming your soul.

Share this:

Today, Saturday, I walked in the afternoon. It was cool 63 degrees. I brought my camera to take photos of the birds I see during my walk to the river. I know the blue heron and the red wing blackbird but I don’t know the other birds.

Books I am reading:

The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas merton

Mastering the Art of French Eating by Ann Mah

A Beautiful Question by Frank Wilczek