A Poem from Mary Oliver

Mockingbirds

This morning
two mockingbirds
in the green field
were spinning and tossing

the white ribbons
of their songs
into the air.
I had nothing

better to do
than listen.
I mean this
seriously.

In Greece,
a long time ago,
an old couple
opened their door

to two strangers
who were,
it soon appeared,
not men at all,

but gods.
It is my favorite story--
how the old couple
had almost nothing to give

but their willingness
to be attentive--
but for this alone
the gods loved them

and blessed them--
when they rose
out of their mortal bodies,
like a million particles of water

from a fountain,
the light
swept into all the corners
of the cottage,

and the old couple,
shaken with understanding,
bowed down--
but still they asked for nothing

but the difficult life
which they had already.
And the gods smiled, as they vanished,
clapping their great wings.

Wherever it was
I was supposed to be
this morning--
whatever it was I said

I would be doing--
I was standing
at the edge of the field--
I was hurrying

through my own soul,
opening its dark doors--
I was leaning out;
I was listening.

Copyright © 1994 by The Atlantic Monthly Company. All rights reserved. The Atlantic Monthly; February 1994; Mockingbirds; Volume 273, No. 2; page 80. Online Source

Listen, you are beloved

This is from Jean Vanier and quotes the Heavenly Voice at Jesus' baptism

In one of our communities, there is a man called Pierre who has a mental handicap. One day someone asked him, "Do you like praying?" He answered, "Yes". He was asked what he did when he prayed. He answered, "Listen." And what does God say to you?" "He says, 'You are my beloved son.'"

All Shall Be Well

It is such a comfort to think about God. Life doesn't always go the way i think it should, but it's nice to remember that there is something much larger, a force more powerful, a never ending supply of warmth, love, forgiveness, and beauty. Someone else who is ultimately responsible for the way the world works. Someone else who created us to be the imperfect beings that we are. And God probably has a purpose in that, although it beats me exactly what that is sometimes. It is a comfort to think maybe, even though we enjoy free will, that God has put down a path to follow (although I must say that it feels pretty dimly lit and is full of surprises). So often, like right now, I feel like I'm stumbling along that path like a drunk, weaving back and forth into the brush and thorns on either side, but I think I'm still moving in the right direction and think I'm mostly following the right path. I hope so, anyhow. Even in the dark parts, I don't think I'd have life any other way.

Julian of Norwich is responsible for one of my favorite quotes. I'll leave it with you as I keep singing it to myself...

God once said to Julian, "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well!"

Goodnight!