Have you ever noticed
That there are some people
Who seem to hold a brightness
In their spirit?
Their eyes are more alive.
The day lifts a bit
When they come into it.
They bring a quiet joy.
There is a confidence within them,
But it is not focused on themselves.
They seem to be held by an assurance
That the world is deeply right.
What if, perhaps, they caught the holy virus?
And what if it is spread by smiles?
Even the tiny upturn of a lip,
The twinkle in an eye, can bring exposure.
And what if I, too, could be a carrier,
A vector of life?
Ah! That would make me smile!
(And did I just see the twinkle in your eye?)
I receive the blessings of March
• Whispers of spring in the garden, tender sprigs that somehow defy the frosty fingers of the night
• The hopeful, happy call of birds
• An unbundled walk among the trees, shedding my coat along the way
• The way my soul is nudged awake by the conversations of friends
And I offer this blessing in response
• May your heart follow the voice of a friend to find wonder, hope, and the tender tenacity of new growth.
I receive the blessings of February
• The cold, tight grip of the frozen landscape, too big, too true to deny
• The drip of an ice cycle from the eave of my porch
• Bright sun on a cold day
• The wonders of a cavern hidden deep underground
And offer this blessing in response
• May you have the courage to explore the depths of wonder in your own soul. May you find the light to take you home. May you release the myth of certainty and control and find, instead, the call of awe.
I receive the blessings of January
• Seeds blanketed in the earth, holding quiet promise
• Sunrise through dark, empty branches – light through the tangle
• The warmth and quiet beauty of a fire
• I begin to understand that ‘languishing’ is part of the cycle of letting go
And offer this blessing in response
• May your heart hold to the promise of winter, that spring will come. May the dawn find its way through the dark and tangled branches of the bare trees, whispering the surprising beauty of dormancy. May your heart stop fidgeting and simply wait.
Quiet Hope 