life is a garden,
not a road
we enter and exit
through the same gate
wandering,
where we go matters less
than what we notice
-Bokonon, The Lost Book
There are ways, but the Way is uncharted!
-Tao Te Ching
** For the season of Advent I am posting a reflection each Sunday on a theme from the lectionary readings and then during the week offering a poem each day to highlight that theme — see this past Sunday here **
** Visit this week’s Poetry Party on the theme of Illumination **
Christine Valters Paintner had a conversation on Creativity, Chronic Illness, and Contemplation with Mike Petrow on his podcast The Healer with a Thousand Faces (also available through audio podcast channels). Joins us in Lent 2027 for the retreat The Wisdom of Our Wounds: Chronic Illness
I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to our Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Jaqui Eicher’s reflection and poem. After reading Christine Valters Paintner’s poem, “St. Gall and the Bear,” I responded in writing to the prompt:
For Deeper Gratitude*Spirit of Generosity,we come to you with heartsoverflowing with gratitudefor your abundant creation.As we awaken each morning,help us to rememberthis day is a gift,this breath is a grace,this life a wonder.Remind uswith every flower we see,every act of kindness,every moment of connectionto something
5 Responses
Such a feast you’re setting out for us with this series of posts. I very much like the simplicity of this one.
wowwowwow.
A garden. Just the words my heart was longing to hear today. Thank you.
Thanks lucy and Lisa! :-)
That is a beautiful poem! Thanks, it really touched me so.
“where we go matters less
than what we notice”
so very true!! thanks for giving us the gift of learning to notice more!!! :-) xoxo