In Bright Meadows

Emptying Out the Day

Written by:

[This is an “egg” from October 3, 2013]

 

There’s a critical moment at the end of each day that gets lost.

In the busyness of life – the doing of all things necessary and even those things pleasurable – there’s an opportunity for a single moment of reflection; a moment that if experienced, changes everything. If I stop, get still, let the mind rest, and let myself feel the day it brings clarity, awareness, appreciation and, perhaps most importantly, release.

Much of the day I spend doing rather than being. I do laundry. I go to work. I shop. I prepare meals (ok, not so often or well, but I do make food). I take care the pets or other people or plants. I clean. I plan. I think. I do things that need done.

When do I feel?

In tiny increments during the day I feel glimpses of emotion. Irritation, amusement, happiness, impatience, pleasure, joy, sadness, frustration, elation, despair, pressure, anxiety, relief, fear. All of these and more make cameo appearances in my life as I am busy doing.

But what is the effect of the day on my soul? What happened today? How am I feeling after experiencing this day? Am I joyful, peaceful, worried, fearful, overwhelmed, excited, exhausted. What is the emotional content, the subtext, of today? Is my heart aching? Is it filled with love and appreciation?

Noticing the experience of being, rather than doing tasks, for a few moments at the end of the day allows me full awareness and connection to genuine emotions. The context of the day is the concern of my soul, whereas the content of the day comprises activities.

It is in this moment that I experience the soul of life. I feel deep peace. Rich joy. And sometimes great sadness or overwhelm. There is richness in fully experiencing feelings minus any activities that mask the depth of emotion.

I am in that deeper awareness. I know more of myself. I grow. And then . . . I let it go.

Therein lies a useful compass that helps me sail my ship in the right direction. In settling down with the truth of our emotional life there is understanding. A moment of awareness cultivated daily becomes an essential tool for inner wellness.

Which way are you going?

swim

Written by:

You swim through my soul

silently pulling me to a place so still

I forget that you are you and I am me.

Advice for Life and Love

Written by:

Just keep your wits about you and sail your ship.

Swab the deck when it’s time to swab the deck.

Hoist a pint when the sails are down.

But pay attention to the course and don’t get all googly

watching the sunset and run into a glacier.

Bath After Illness

Written by:

Laid to rest

my body floats.

Awareness arises between cells whose actions seem suspended.

There’s a finger;

oh, and a palm.

Yes, they are attached.

Too difficult to travel the arm.

Let go of details.

This body once strong has lost its power.

Floating as a warrior awaiting fiery arrows that will turn the vessel to ash,

release my soul.

Peacefully I relinquish.

Faint memories of a warrior’s body flow into dreams.

Puzzle Poem #2

Written by:

Yes, these related words appeared in the puzzle from blind draws in my morning solitairy letter tile crossword. It’s always fun to see what they become.

Late day sun dances leaves

to music from the breeze.

Mend and sew another hole,

wax another scuff on leather thin as paper.

Putter ’round the barn,

rake straw absent any goal.

Down the lane it’s all the same

an empty afternoon.

A pair appear, Dam and foal

trotting ‘long the dappled way.

Sorrel bright as fire

shine like honey drops of light.

The Shortest Distance

Written by:

I’m sitting in the living room as I write to you. The Christmas tree is twinkling. Simon kitty is on the back of the comfy chair rubbing my ear and cheek as hard as he can while purring his happy song. The little holiday carousel is going ’round to its charming little tune. Everyone is napping but me.

I have a cup of peppermint tea, my laptop, and you on my mind.

I hope your holiday is lovely. I hope it’s peaceful, joyful, restorative, jolly . . . whatever it is that fills you up and gives you that little, quiet, internal smile. Those are the most delicious smiles.

Sometimes families have a hard time at holidays. It seems to be a time folks are most vulnerable to hurts both intended and accidental. And it seems a time when many are stressed enough to wound someone.

I hope you can find a way to keep your bearings. To sail smoothly through without hitting an iceberg or harpooning a shipmate.

But if you hit rough waters, remember that forgiveness is a trustworthy sextant. It is the shortest distance between hell and heaven.

Someone asked me the other day about forgiveness. How was it that I could forgive something that had such a negative affect on my life? I answered that I wanted to and also I kept in mind that while I enjoyed the change in the person, I didn’t trust it. And that is my human struggle.

Sometimes you think of what you should have said later; what would have been more true, more accurate.

Had I thought more about it. I would have said something else. I would have said I forgave that person because I love them and because I wanted to. I wanted to be in relationship with that person, and I know that person only did the things they did because of their own human struggle. It wasn’t about me. It wasn’t even about them. It was about painful feelings they didn’t know what to do with.

I think it’s important to learn what to do with our painful feelings. That way they don’t spill onto people we love.

I hope you have good ways of dealing with your painful feelings. And I hope you can forgive yourself and others when feelings get overwhelming and aren’t handled well. It’s going to happen every now and then. Or a lot. But it’s not what really matters.

What matters most is relationship with those we love.

I’m writing because it’s Christmas; a time for families and friends to gather together. Because I want your holiday to be joyful and peaceful for you.

In the Christian tradition this is the celebration of Christ’s birth. The beginning of a life that ended with sacrifice and eternal forgiveness. Why? Because of love and the desire for relationship.

Forgiveness is a precious gift.

Blessings!