Our Pilgrim Journey

The chemo caught up with Jim on Friday afternoon and into Saturday. Gratefully, he seems better today.

*

My brother John and his wife Gail had planned to visit in February, but when things happened with Jim’s health, they decided (rightfully) now was not the best time. They went to St. Augustine instead. I told my brother to send pictures, which he finally did yesterday.

Once I saw his photos, I went to look for ours from our first visit there in 1985. I found a picture of me I didn’t even remember existed.

I thought of that picture today when I read a poem called “Hawthorn” by David Whyte. In it, he’s comparing a relationship to a knot in a hawthorn tree.

I particularly loved the last verse. It reminded me of the photo I had discovered, as well as speaking to this time in our life, our marriage, our reason for being. I will end with those words:

Our pilgrim journey,

apart or together,

like

the thirst

of everything

to find its true form,

the grain of the wood

round the hatched knot

still

straightening

toward the light.

Found While Mudlarking: "Tempest"

I found this poem, perfectly typed out, in a journal.

The date is March 30, 2003.

The day the United States invaded Iraq.



Tempest

A tempest blows in Florida.
     I walk as the clouds gather
        dark, foreboding, yet lightning free

Until I round the bend
      to the lake and the
        wind whips my hair back

A great blue heron
     symbol of aggression
          is up to its feathers in water

In deep, trying to escape
     what is coming -- me.
           The wind blows harder

The fountain spray flails
    like so much holy water
          on the holy war to come

Jihad for those who are
     pre-emptive and assumptive
         and arrogant of all

The world should be.
   I see a tree, the last
     remaining flowers and

The bottom branch, broken, hanging
           swaying in the wind.

Power Spot

I discovered a new power spot today.

I first learned of power spots from Danaan Perry in his book Warrior of the Heart. It’s a place in nature where you can sit uninterrupted and preferably unseen.

This new spot is in Lakes Park. I had another spot there at one time, but when they did maintenance on the walking path they took out the vegetation that kept me hidden.

I was delighted to find this spot today in the marsh area, with a smoothed out limestone rock to sit on. A place to go to gather my inner power, think, and pray.

😊

58. The Rising Sun

#64Challenge

Today I am inspired by these words from Owen Sheers' poem "Tree."

...silhoutted against a reddening sky

that could be the setting or the rising of the sun

I wrote this in anticipation of learning who our new principal would be.

Today I want to feel the sun rising

on a new day for CLMS.

I know Kelly is part of the setting

sun, as she rides off into her

retirement, well-earned.

I need to believe in a rising sun

today. Everything has already 

changed. It's okay if there is

more.

Yet, I will remember a tree takes

a long time to grow, its roots

to establish, the sun and rain

in due time. Nothing will be

immediate. I will allow the

branches to establish themselves,

so they may 

grow strong.