Do everything as far as you can
for love and you will see what you are capable of!
One can make more progress this way in a year,
than in ten by the way of fear.
St. Mary Euphrasia
from Gratefulness.org
compassion
This Long and Quiet Night
Near a window, I watch the shortest day slowly surrender its light to this winter solstice. In the settling darkness there is an air of calm, of quiet. I welcome the hushed darkness of this evening. In the quiet I listen for an invitation to bring the ‘stretches of life’ together. To gather the scattered pieces of my life into one place.
This night does not call for judgment. Comforted by the warmth of home and a candle’s glow, this longest winter night calls for compassion, for acceptance.
Before me is all that’s been accomplished and all left undone. In this quiet darkness, there is time to let go, time to rest from the hard work of balancing life’s scattered pieces.
Dusk is now long gone. Looking to the sky the stars fill the darkness with points of light. There in the sky is the promise of light’s return.
I invite you to pause on this night. To welcome these dark hours and honor your work. To feel gratitude for all you have accomplished. To rest, knowing that light will soon return.
a field of grass…
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about.
I lean toward the day when the phrase “I’ll meet you there” is once again in our civil discourse.
By example- let us make it so.
Quote: RUMI
(PHOTO: HANS BRAXMEIER)
An instrument of gratefulness
Make me an instrument of gratefulness.
Guide me to the way of mercy and love that leads to peace;
That I may guide others to abundant life.
For the sake of healing my own heart and healing the world.
Quote: Diana Butler Bass
Image: French Broad River, Hot Springs NC
