for Josiah
Who would want to miss the world?
The barn swallow’s nest
under the eve, the fiddleheads
unfolding in the forest, the
patter of spring rain
the way the mourning dove
speaks to us
of our longings
and how unfailingly sunlight
reminds us that all light
casts shadows.
The complexities of our lives
urge us away from knowing
things as they are
from realizing, perhaps,
that what we are drawn to
is God
waiting to be noticed.
The Braided Way is a framework to see every faith tradition as a strand, braided into a larger whole of spiritual awareness. In the Braided Way, combining spiritual practice from various faiths allow us to explore sacred experience and wonder in forms that resonate with our personal spiritual needs and sacred intuitions. In today’s culture, many people shun religious dogma, but yearn for spiritual connection. The Braided Way allows the ceremonies and practices of multiple faiths to be available without the confinements of cultural dogma.
Michael, thank you for such a beautiful poem. From the first line, you grabbed my full attention! Our paths crossed many years ago at Kirkridge when you coordinated a poetry conference for Courage & Renewal folks. I was fortunate enough to attend and still have the book you co-edited in honor of Lucille Clifton. I’m offering a program at Kanuga about poetry and the natural world and this poem is a perfect addition.
I delight that this poem spoke so meaningfully to you, and also that it can serve you in your own work.
Keep on keeping on!
hugs
Michael
Beautiful, Michael. Thank you.
Thanks, Gary!
What a peaceful, insightful piece – so much in so few lines. Thank you.
thank you Alina!