Monday, May 31, 2021

Perils of judging


Righteous indignation, like pride, 
Often goes before a fall. 
Be careful, when climbing 
On that high horse of yours, 
Lest it prove to be made of clay, 
And unable to support your weight.

Sunday, May 30, 2021

Make time to learn


Today I hope to find some time 
To reflect on where we’ve been 
And where we’re headed; 
What’s blooming now but soon will fail, 
And what’s in flux: first high, then low, 
And then will rise again; 
What blocks the path or moves us forward 
Into new horizons...
I want to be fully present: 
To observe and absorb it all 
And then use what I learn to do more good.

Saturday, May 29, 2021

You can become all flame


Our mission is to find and to become 
The shimmering flame that awaits 
At the center of Existence.

Friday, May 28, 2021

What matters most


In the end, what matters most, 
What inspires most, 
What fills our hearts with joy, 
Is Love.

Thursday, May 27, 2021

Left brain, right brain: Straddling the fence


Some days, I am inside the fence, 
Where everything’s contained, and tidy; 
Flat, a little boring, but safe. 
On other days, I step outside, into a world 
Uneven, unpredictable, and full of surprises, 
Placed by unseen hands to delight the heart 
And challenge my assumptions. 
And somehow, no matter which side I’m on, 
The grass tends to seem greener on the other, 
So I never linger long in either place...

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

No scolding here


There will always be those 
Who look down on the world 
And scold from their lofty perch. 
I would rather be the small brown bird 
Whose sweet voice sings 
To awaken the morning.

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Grace in another form


The tree, as it grows, bears fruit, 
Providing homes for birds and shade for us 
Until a sudden storm, or new developments 
Make it fall, yet still it continues to offer Grace 
In yet another form: decor for a beach, 
Or logs to build anew, or burn... 
In aging, we abandon roles only to find 
There are new ways to offer 
What and whom we have become 
And so continue in service to the world.

Monday, May 24, 2021

Sailing alone


Like a ship alone 
In a sea without signposts, 
Each of us must find our way 
Across the waves of circumstance, 
Having been given all we need 
To safely journey home.

Sunday, May 23, 2021

Following the path


The path to your destiny 
May appear to be fading into nothing. 
Walk it anyway, and trust 
That the way will present itself, 
Though things may not become clear 
Til we admit that we are lost.

Saturday, May 22, 2021

Open to the unexpected


We are so often tempted 
To close ourselves off from the unknown. 
It’s important to have boundaries, of course, 
But it’s equally important to stay open 
To possibilities that might arise 
From an unexpected direction or encounter.

Friday, May 21, 2021

End of day reflections


Evening, and the mountains to the east 
Take time to reflect 
Upon the colors of the day; 
We do the same, and wonder — 
How did I spend my time today? 
In what ways have I grown — or shrunk 
My openness to love? 
How have I worked to foster 
Unity; compassion; understanding? 
And is the world a better place 
For anything I’ve done?

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Listen to your guide


The tenderness with which the mother 
Guides her newborn fawn to the sweetest grass 
Is not unlike the tenderness 
By which we, too, are guided 
To that which will best nourish us. 
Don’t be afraid to step out of the paths 
And patterns we’ve ordained for ourselves 
Into new possibilities, when their beckoning 
Sounds an echo in your heart.

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Treasure in the depths


Do not be afraid of the depths, my friend, 
For there you will find treasure beyond measure.

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Echoing the colors


Echoing the colors of the sky, 
We bloom, then fall and fade into the earth, 
Our short lives bringing pleasure 
To those who planted us 
And for generations yet to come...

Monday, May 17, 2021

A life or death decision


If you have a decision to make, 
What motivates; what drives your choice? 
Do you act out of love for life, 
Or out of fear of death?

Sunday, May 16, 2021

Below the surface


Like white birds fishing for food, 
We poke around our books and lives 
Seeking insight and meaning: 
Why are we here? 
What is it we’re meant to be doing? 
How can we make the world a better place? 
Be patient. Be present. Breathe. Notice. 
The answers are just swimming 
Below the surface of your attention.

Saturday, May 15, 2021

Rejoice!


Encouraged by the warmth 
And light from the sun, 
We emerge from the shadows 
Of our long winter’s sleep, 
Unfurling new leaves,
Hands lifted in celebration of renewed life.

Friday, May 14, 2021

Even weeds have value


Even the weeds can have 
Their moment in the sun; 
Even the weeds can contribute 
Beauty to a landscape. 
Even the most humble or irritating 
Item, person, obstacle, or event 
May offer value to your perspective. 
Instead of complaining or attacking; 
Why not ask what this irritant has to offer?

Thursday, May 13, 2021

What do we cherish?


Who would crush 
The fragile beauty of a flower? 
Why then are we so cruel 
To ourselves and one another? 
Is not the human spirit 
A thing of beauty, to be cherished?

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Waiting to bloom


What if we approached every day 
With the sense that something awesome 
Was about to bloom in us?

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Time to step out


How long have you been hiding 
Who you are and what you really think, 
Assuming you would cross that bridge 
When you came to it? 
Consider this: the time is here, 
And you’re standing at that bridge. 
Do you have the courage 
To step into integrity?

Monday, May 10, 2021

Relax your vigilance


There are always days 
When we’re so busy worrying about — 
And preparing for — the future 
That we fail to see we’re standing in a rainbow. 
Relax your vigilance, my friend; 
Appreciate the beauty that is now.

Sunday, May 9, 2021

Holding the strange at bay


When you meet someone or something new, 
What are you looking for? 
Are you hoping to find what’s there to like, 
Or seeking excuses to disapprove 
And set yourself apart; 
Holding the strange at bay? 
Why must we be always
So determined to be discerning; 
Focusing on setting ourselves apart 
Instead of seeking what we share in common; 
Enriching our lives by learning 
From each other’s experience?

Saturday, May 8, 2021

Praying for ignition


On the cloudiest of days, 
When your tide is running low, 
May there still be moments 
When the sun breaks through and ignites 
Green thoughts of hope and possibility.

Friday, May 7, 2021

In gratitude for gardeners


I give thanks today for all the gardeners 
Who gift us with their sense of color; 
Who labor — often on their knees — 
That hearts might be uplifted 
By their offerings...

Thursday, May 6, 2021

Emptying


Sitting quietly 
In the soft calm of morning, 
We clear the thoughts that drift like clouds 
Across our inner horizon, 
Returning repeatedly to the openness 
That is sea, that is sky, 
That lies at the depths of oneness 
And brings us back into unity.

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Bountiful isolation


Have you ever noticed how often it is 
That flowering trees stand alone? 
It’s almost as if the generosity of their gifts — 
The glorious color; the abundant fruit — 
Ensures their isolation...

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Lilies are such extroverts


If flowers took the Myers-Briggs, 
Lilies would surely test as extroverts: 
The sheer delight they seem to take 
In spreading both their petals and their scent 
To reach the broadest audience...

Monday, May 3, 2021

Time to rest


Yes, the tide may be low right now, 
But it will rise again. 
There’s much to be said for taking time out 
To rest and enjoy the sun...

Sunday, May 2, 2021

That sacred space within


Make time today 
To find that sacred space within; 
To set aside your worries and just breathe...

Saturday, May 1, 2021

Looking ahead


Give thanks each day 
For who you were or what you had
And trust there’s something new on the horizon,
Something buried that’s just waiting to bloom;
Some new way to express your gifts 
That will have been enriched by your experience;
Some new future that is ready to unfold.