Poems From The Porch
The fragrant gardenias are releasing their sweetness in an offering of self-surrender
while the vibrant colors, happy clover, and lush greenness of spring are providing nourishment like a fresh, satisfying meal.
It is warmer today as the season is progressing in its inevitable unfoldment of birthing something new.
I can feel the gentle nudging to stop pondering the essential next step
and to rest in the sustenance of simply being.
It is evident that to do otherwise perniciously drains any drop of honey that this present moment benevolently offers.
I requested some comfort, and it came in a prompt response:
Let it be;
this, a divine gestation a place of eager anticipation and hopeful expectancy, not a process to dominate and control.
Receptivity vs. resistance
Mindfulness vs. manipulation
After all, I’m not going anywhere.
There is no ordained destination, just an incarnational becoming in the perpetual cycle of life, death, and resurrection.
Holy
This is holy.
I see the gardenias in a different light now and hear their subtle invitation.
Surrendering, I find my, “Thank you.”
Engaging With The Poem
Poetry can be a doorway to the soul and your own creativity. Throughout the ages, the written word has been used as a means to access personal truth and as a vehicle for prayer through the practice of sacred reading (lectio divina). I encourage you to try this beautiful practice and let its truths to be self-evident.
How To Practice Sacred Reading
Read+Reflect+Respond+Rest
READ the passage through slowly more than once, noticing how it feels in your body and the response of your heart.
REFLECT: What word resonates with you? What phrase speaks to you? What overall personal meaning comes to you? Allow yourself to follow a tangent.
RESPOND by making space for the prayer of your heart to manifest. Write down the words and/or phrases that resonate with you, and allow them to arrange themselves into your own poem or prayer.
REST with your eyes closed, perhaps using the word that most resonates with you as your mantra for silent meditation.
Dear friend,
May your mind be peaceful and calm, may your body be relaxed and comfortable, and may your heart be filled with love.
Thank you for reading.
Blessings and gratitude, Ani