Poetry
WATCH: Mary Oliver Reads "Wild Geese"
Enjoy a beautiful poem by a truly amazing and beautiful woman:
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about your despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting --
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
“Be empty of worrying.
Think of who created thought!Why do you stay in prison
When the door is so wide open?"― Rumi, The Essential Rumi
She Let Go
She let go. Without a thought or a word, she let go.
She let go of the fear.
She let go of the judgments.
She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head.
She let go of the committee of indecision within her.
She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons.
Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go.
She didn’t ask anyone for advice.
She didn’t read a book on how to let go.
She didn’t search the scriptures.
She just let go.
She let go of all of the memories that held her back.
She let go of all of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward.
She let go of the planning and all of the calculations about how to do it just right.
She didn’t promise to let go.
She didn’t journal about it.
She didn’t write the projected date in her Day-Timer.
She made no public announcement and put no ad in the paper.
She didn’t check the weather report or read her daily horoscope.
She just let go.
She didn’t analyze whether she should let go.
She didn’t call her friends to discuss the matter.
She didn’t do a five-step Spiritual Mind Treatment.
She didn’t call the prayer line.
She didn’t utter one word.
She just let go.
No one was around when it happened.
There was no applause or congratulations.
No one thanked her or praised her.
No one noticed a thing.
Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go.
There was no effort.
There was no struggle.
It wasn’t good and it wasn’t bad.
It was what it was, and it is just that.
In the space of letting go, she let it all be.
A small smile came over her face.
A light breeze blew through her. And the sun and the moon shone forevermore…
~ Rev. Safire Rose
The Man (or Woman) Who Thinks They Can by Walter D. Wintle
If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don't;
If you'd like to win, but think you can't,
It's almost a cinch you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you're lost,
For out in the word we find
Success begins with a fellow's will,
It's all in the state of mind.
If you think you're outcasted, you are;
You've got to think high to rise.
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But soon or late the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.
Opening to New Realities
This is a photo of Harold Whittles -- hearing for the very first time after a doctor placed an earpiece in his left ear.
What an experience this must have been for the beautiful boy. In one way frightening...in another mesmerizing. The comfort of his soundless world forever lost, yet a whole new world presented.
The process of self-discovery is just that -- both thrilling and terrifying. New experiences, feelings, and truths push us to our limits. No longer can we look at the world or ourselves the same way.
When this occurs, we must dig deep and find the courage to progress -- dare ourselves not to hold on to our pasts or former mindsets. New information and experiences offer the opportunity of a lifetime -- a true, heartfelt journey.
May we look within and without our beings to notice our many blessings -- the people from which we draw strength and those we give it to -- beautiful skies and natural wonders -- animals that lick our noses -- the food we have to eat -- and the journeys yet to be taken.
With eyes wide open, we can be thankful and live with purpose...
Risk
And then the day came,
when the risk
to remain tight
in a bud
was more painful
than the risk
it took
to Blossom.
Anaïs Nin
- By Jen Engevik
My Encounter with a Kind Sage...
I once met a sage...
He had a twinkle in his eye,
and his heart was in his smile.
Looking for a rhyme and reason to the many pains, trials,
and frights
that were entangling me...
I asked, "Why is life not easier? Why can't it be better?"
He could tell I was pained and troubled.
A tear welled up in his eye, yet he smiled in the softest of ways...
"I'm sorry you hurt,
I'm sorry you feel pain,
but this is a part of existence on this planet."
I reached out my hand,,,he reached out his own. Our palms touched.
I began to weep.
He began to weep.
And then he pulled me into his arms.
"Child, child...you are strong.
More so than you know," he whispered.
"I'm not so sure," I replied.
He put has hands on my shoulders and pushed me softly an arm-length's away.
He stared into both of my eyes.
"Yes, you are strong. You must believe."
Sliding his right hand from my shoulder,
down my arm,
to my wrist,
he turned my palm up and directed all of his energies there...
right into the palm of my hand.
"The secret of happiness is to use this hand
in conjunction with your mind...
and to build something that will better the life of your brother
and your sister.
You know, everyone is your brother and your sister.
Don't forget this.
Miseries will come
miseries will go...
but if you keep steadily working
and with this hand
creating
loving
it will begin to make sense."
He turned my palm and placed it on my heart...
"Your most precious gift is your heart pumping in your chest.
It continues to give you life,
and if you dare to pay attention,
dare to let it lead you where you are meant to be,
you will find yourself living the most amazing of existences."
He continued...
"The heart knows what is right,
good,
and noble.
It is those who with ignited heart
pour themselves into their work,
touch the lives of their neighbors,
and understand the power of creation
that find true freedom.
All too many know what it feels like to miss their calling
because of fear.
Everyone has the same chance...including you."
I was so very silent
stared at the ground
knowing that so many times I have failed.
The sage put his fingers under my chin
and he raised my eyes to look into his.
Fire blazed within his soft brown gaze.
"No need to be ashamed.
Just go and do what you're supposed to do.
Your dreams were planted for a reason.
Your heart beats to serve your purpose.
Let your heart guide your hands,
let it guide your mind,
and then your feet will naturally follow.
Don't be a slave to fear.
Open your arms and embrace what is to come,
and with kindness and humility
do your work."
He reach down once more,
took my hand,
gave it a warm squeeze,
and went on his way with purpose...
I've never seen him again,
yet a part of him blazes within me.
I see his eyes,
his heart filled smile.
I am now certain beyond belief that
Sometimes we all need a sage,
and sometimes we are the sage.
-By Jen Engevik
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Once there was a tree....
and she loved a little boy.
And everyday the boy would come
and he would gather her leaves
and make them into crowns
and play king of the forest.
He would climb up her trunk
and swing from her branches
and eat apples.
And they would play hide-and-go-seek.
And when he was tired,
he would sleep in her shade.
And the boy loved the tree....
very much.
And the tree was happy.
But time went by.
And the boy grew older.
And the tree was often alone.
Then one day the boy came to the tree
and the tree said, "Come, Boy, come and
climb up my trunk and swing from my
branches and eat apples and play in my
shade and be happy."
"I am too big to climb and play" said
the boy.
"I want to buy things and have fun.
I want some money?"
"I'm sorry," said the tree, "but I
have no money.
I have only leaves and apples.
Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in
the city. Then you will have money and
you will be happy."
And so the boy climbed up the
tree and gathered her apples
and carried them away.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time....
and the tree was sad.
And then one day the boy came back
and the tree shook with joy
and she said, "Come, Boy, climb up my trunk
and swing from my branches and be happy."
"I am too busy to climb trees," said the boy.
"I want a house to keep me warm," he said.
"I want a wife and I want children,
and so I need a house.
Can you give me a house ?"
" I have no house," said the tree.
"The forest is my house,
but you may cut off
my branches and build a
house. Then you will be happy."
And so the boy cut off her branches
and carried them away
to build his house.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time.
And when he came back,
the tree was so happy
she could hardly speak.
"Come, Boy," she whispered,
"come and play."
"I am too old and sad to play,"
said the boy.
"I want a boat that will
take me far away from here.
Can you give me a boat?"
"Cut down my trunk
and make a boat," said the tree.
"Then you can sail away...
and be happy."
And so the boy cut down her trunk
and made a boat and sailed away.
And the tree was happy
... but not really.
And after a long time
the boy came back again.
"I am sorry, Boy,"
said the tree," but I have nothing
left to give you -
My apples are gone."
"My teeth are too weak
for apples," said the boy.
"My branches are gone,"
said the tree. " You
cannot swing on them - "
"I am too old to swing
on branches," said the boy.
"My trunk is gone, " said the tree.
"You cannot climb - "
"I am too tired to climb" said the boy.
"I am sorry," sighed the tree.
"I wish that I could give you something....
but I have nothing left.
I am just an old stump.
I am sorry...."
"I don't need very much now," said the boy.
"just a quiet place to sit and rest.
I am very tired."
"Well," said the tree, straightening
herself up as much as she could,
"well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting
Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest."
And the boy did.
And the tree was happy.