Poems From The Porch
Change the perspective that is stressing you out.
There is no problem,
except that your thinking has created it.
See the jasmine vines as they hang luxuriously from the mighty oak,
the sweet fragrance of God.
In a heart centered in Love,
there is only infinite empathy and compassion.
The source of your pain is your viewpoint.
Look again.
In the east, the sun is rising,
casting cherishing rays on the weeds and wildflowers alike,
and unconditionally.
You already are everything you want to be.
Shame is not of God.
It is your belief in your own deficiency that makes you suffer.
Listen.
The rooster is calling you to awaken.
Open the eyes of your understanding,
and see your own innocence.
Can your embrace be so wide
as to welcome everyone and everything without judgment,
even yourself?
The air is thick with the generous redolence of the jasmine,
a free offering to us all.
When you condemn yourself, you condemn God.
Think about it.
You are holy.
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 fruits 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