There may still be a way

When you think you’ve finally reached 

The end of the road, 

 Don’t get distracted by reflections 

 On the journey that you’ve taken, 

But keep looking: 

There may still be a way to get through; 

A path that will reveal itself to the discerning eye 

And gently guide the way to a new direction.

Below the tangles

I remember a time when I feared 

That if I were to meditate, 

To truly sink into that space 

Deep inside myself, 

This is all I would find: a hairy, tangled mess, 

Filled with sharp edges and black holes 

To get torn by and get lost in. 

With time and practice I learned to find 

The deeper ground beneath, 

That point vierge where we’re all linked 

To spirit, and to each other, in love.

What we’re missing

It’s all too easy to lose sight of the mystery 

That’s a part of everything: 

We interact with the roads we travel every day — 

Like the people we see every day — 

Without really noticing them. 

Lost in the dailiness, 

 Intent on where we’re heading, 

We rush by, taking for granted 

All the gifts they have to offer; 

No longer observing 

 The special moments when they shine, 

And in forgetting their uniqueness, 

We lose sight of our own as well. 

At some point in your day, 

Make time to stop, or at least slow down, 

And try to be fully present 

 To the magic in the moment: 

You might be surprised to see 

What you’ve been missing.

Reflections

So much of what we see 

Is colored by what we long to see; 

Its clarity marred by reflections of what’s past. 

It’s no wonder that two witnesses 

Will never quite agree on what’s true. 

That said — the way you see the world 

Is truly unique; a vision that, when shared, 

Might help complete another’s picture.

How and when to help

What can we do 

With what the world expects from us?

 So much is broken: how can we know 

Where to direct what healing energy we have? 

How do we discern what — 

 Like falling leaves or the setting sun — 

Is part of a natural cycle of life and death, 

And what might need our intervention; 

Where we can effect productive change, 

And what must be left 

 For time or other forces to resolve?

More and enough

In a country obsessed with celebrity, 

With so many folks posting daily on TikTok, 

Making their videos 

And trolling through Instagram;

Young people honing their gifts and their skills, 

Hoping for college admission, or stardom —

 TV, or a movie, or a statue someday; 

Always striving for More; to be seen; to be heard. 

We lose sight of how it might feel to be average 

And what it must take 

To support those celebrities—

 The ticket takers and camera men, 

The cleanup crews and concession staff, 

Traffic cops and bus drivers, 

All doing their best to help meet society’s needs

 For order, for transport, for shelter, for food, 

For education, and for entertainment. 

Remember to honor the millions of workers 

Who find joy in the small things,

 In friends and in families,

In watching and walking,

 For whom the willingness to serve 

Is simply enough.

Step outside

What if you were to set your phone aside; 

To disconnect from all that clutter of information 

 And step outside; to find a place 

 Where you might breathe 

The scents of growth and decay; 

Of stability that lasts more than a lifetime; 

Of fragility that nourishes, 

Even as it dies; 

Of rigidity that learns to bend to survive; 

And therein rediscover 

Your own ability to endure: 

 To learn, to grow, and utilize 

Each challenge that you face 

As an opportunity to drink anew 

From the infinite well of resources within you.