...as this weekend fills up
...with much promise in spending time with some rather dynamic young leaders
...and sensing our God working in my own soul
...even within the foot/leg pain and pending surgery
...I'm laughing, in a holy/crazy/thank-you-God sort of way
...before getting things set up for the workshop tonight and tomorrow I delved into what's waiting in my email
...this from Inward/Outward one more time hits the home run for the day
...I longed to sleep in this AM
...wanted/needed the extra rest
...but those dang "Spring birds" that begin chirping outside our bedroom window between 3-4 AM seemed to be putting on an extra concert early today
...I wanted to go shoot them (truth be known)
...then I got this...laughed...and said one more time, "OK, God...your way."
...but my slight amen to that four word prayer was still a quieter "dang"
...then I got up and read this...gratefully...and here it is Noon already!
* * * * * * *
Invitation
Mary Oliver
Oh do you have time
to linger
for just a little while
out of your busy
and very important day
for the goldfinches
that have gathered
in a field of thistles
for a musical battle,
to see who can sing
the highest note,
or the lowest,
or the most expressive of mirth,
or the most tender?
Their strong, blunt beaks
drink the air
as they strive
melodiously
not for your sake
and not for mine
and not for the sake of winning
but for sheer delight and gratitude---
believe us, they say,
it is a serious thing
just to be alive
on this fresh morning
in the broken world.
I beg of you,
do not walk by
without pausing
to attend to this
rather ridiculous performance.
It could mean something.
It could mean everything.
It could be what Rilke meant, when he wrote:
You must change your life.
Source: Red Bird...from Poems
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