Thursday, February 28, 2019

A beacon of compassion


Just for today, in anticipation
of a lifetime to come,
can we resolve to become
a beacon of compassion?

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Shared mystery


We can, each one of us, in time, identify
with the broken stick, the sand, the shell,
the rivulet, the ocean, the distant hill, the sky;
the island, or its lonely tree; the clouds...
It’s all a mystery, how we can be so different
and yet, each one of us, the same...

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Don't be discouraged


Let not the failed attempts of others
serve to discourage you.
You have your own unique gifts, ways,
and means to propel you toward your goal.

Monday, February 25, 2019

Balancing inside and out


It’s easy to get caught up in creating
a perfect nest for ourselves.
but we mustn’t lose sight of the need to connect
with the world outside our own limited existence...

Sunday, February 24, 2019

Grazing in the field of now


Driven by a false sense of urgency,
we hesitate to graze in the field of now;
fail to appreciate the value of being still
and drinking in the flavors of this moment.

Saturday, February 23, 2019

The roundabout route


Sometimes it’s safer — and wiser —
to take a more roundabout route
to get to where you need to go...

Friday, February 22, 2019

Finding your way


Where I live, the old sayings
about moss on the north side of trees
would prove useless — it grows on all sides.
which just goes to show: the rules we use
to find our way in one community
may not work all that well in another...

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Accept and still appreciate


Can we give ourselves permission to accept
the life we have; the choices that we made;
and yet still stand on the edge of that life
and appreciate other ways of being in the world?

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Faced with a daunting task


Today let us send comfort to all those 
who, confronted with a daunting task,
may not have the luxury of choosing
whether to take it on or wait it out
and hope it goes away...

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Give voice to the child within


Sometimes we need to stop worrying
about what we need to do to please the world,
and step instead into our inner sanctuary
and give voice to the playful hungry child within.

Monday, February 18, 2019

Grace abounding


There’s grace and beauty everywhere
If we just make time to look...

Sunday, February 17, 2019

Brain vs. Heart


One golden afternoon I passed this by,
and thought, how beautiful, but what is it,
who built it here, and why?
How quickly the brain steps in
to modify the heart’s response!
Why question, when we could just appreciate?

Saturday, February 16, 2019

A symphony in the clouds


These silent staves invite the viewer
to listen for the symphony in the clouds...

Friday, February 15, 2019

A season for compassion


Wandering in my garden after the snow,
I declare this the season for compassion:
Not knowing which — in their bedraggled state —
are weeds and which are welcome,
I practice non-judgment and admire their persistence;
non-violence, and leave them where they grow;
forgiveness, for being less than perfect;
and mindfulness, to learn what they might teach me.

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Mature love casts its scent


It’s true: a budding love seems more intense, 
bursting with potential,
and love that’s been in bloom for many years 
might seem faded in comparison.
But the texture and complexity, the infinite variety,
the openness with which mature love 
casts its scent into the world —
ah: that’s irresistible, and I’m grateful every day
for the wonder of that blessing.

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Love softens the contours


In a life streaked with shadows
of past regrets and rejections
love and compassion soften the contours
and ease the transition
between the rough times and the smooth.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Diving deep into Now


Whether you’re a person who looks forward
or someone who is always looking back,
the richest and most colorful experiences
will be the ones where you dove deeply into Now.

Monday, February 11, 2019

On the brink of tomorrow


Standing on the brink of tomorrow,
we hesitate, reluctant,
to leave the shores of today.
When will we ever see such beauty again?

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Insignificance


Whenever we get to feeling solidly in control,
the weather has a way of reminding us
how small and powerless we really are...

Saturday, February 9, 2019

The beauty of this moment


Instead of wondering “How can I get past this?”
Take a minute to appreciate
the beauty and complexity of this moment: 
right here, right now.

Friday, February 8, 2019

Happy evening


That happy feeling you get
when you know friends are coming to visit...

Thursday, February 7, 2019

Lessons from the trees


Whenever I’m at a loss or feel adrift
I return to the forest to learn from the trees:
Stay grounded: keep deepening your roots
even as you continue to expand and grow,
reaching out to help your neighbors;
reaching up to drink the wisdom of the sky.

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

In the midst of wonder


There are paths in life that offer no destination
except to stand in the midst of wonder.
Don’t be afraid to explore — and experience.

We're not so different


Age and weather have a way
of paring us down to our essentials;
revealing our inner nature. And now we learn
we’re not so different, you and I...

Monday, February 4, 2019

Outside looking in


How much of life have you spent in the cold,
feeling that you’re outside, looking in?
Somehow we need to find our way
to the warmth and security within;
the trusting acceptance everyone deserves.

Sunday, February 3, 2019

What do you fear more?


The door to new adventures is unlikely to open
unless you step up and grab the handle.
Which do you fear more? Failure?
Or never having tried? It’s your choice.

Saturday, February 2, 2019

A common song


Within all hearts, a common beat;
Within all songs a single voice,
longing to be heard.



Friday, February 1, 2019

Obstacles in your path


Obstacles in your path may be nature’s way
of inviting you to slow down.
Stop a minute. Breathe.
Listen for the music in the wind,
and appreciate the wonder that resides
in this moment; in Now.