It has to be me

The weather may not be balmy
yet there is a sense of
midsummer madness in the air
high pressure causing people
to behave in crazy ways
even killing, shooting
those who disagree with their opinion.

The only certainty is uncertainty
yet does this need to be agitated
by disturbances?
Is the only way forward
throwing all the balls into the air and
seeing where they will land?
Is it necessary to stir up trouble
in order to bring about change?
Is it frightening or exhilarating?
It depends upon your perspective.

Where is the voice of reason
in all this furore?
What do I know?
I know big decisions
should not be made in an agitative state.
I know calm is needed
within myself
to see the reasonable way forward.
I know love is necessary in all circumstances
and especially now
when there seems to be so much hate.
I know a wave of hate
will be met with a stronger wave
of love
that people can and will help
one another when push comes to shove.
And can we also show love without
the push and the shove?

Where is the voice of reason
in all this?
It has to be me.
It has to be me keeping calm
whatever winds of change are blowing
knowing it will pass and
things will settle.
It has to be me
not feeding the seeds of anger, of hate
within myself.
It has to be me
showing compassion towards those
who disagree with me.
It has to be me
saying no to the rising tide
of aversion and frustration.
It has to be me
saying I will not be overcome by despair.
It has to be me
saying yes to love, in all its forms.
It has to be me.

© 17 Jun 16

I don’t have another way of walking

Walking into the present moment
no need to carry the to do list
as a burden on my shoulders
no need to think, worry, or even remember.
As each footstep deepens
becomes more joyful
I discover
I don’t have another way of walking.

I could choose to be busy
walk in a hurry
rushing from place to place
to get things done
frantically tick items off my to do list.
I choose to slow down
mindful of each footstep
moving yet not moving.
I let go of the usual energy
associated with thinking
I have things to do.

Walking into the present moment
moving yet not moving
I discover a freshness
a lightness
the joy of just walking
I discover
I don’t have another way of walking*.

* This is a quote from Thich Nhat Hanh when asked about walking meditation.
Wherever he goes, whatever he has to do, he always walks in a mindful way.

© 6 Jun 16

We are many, we are one

I am a droplet of water
joining, merging with yours
meeting, appreciating
many droplets coming together.

We are a stream of water
joining, merging with others
meeting, appreciating
many streams coming together.

We are one great ocean
having joined and merged
having met and appreciated
oneness in its fullness.
We are many, we are one.

© 1 Jun 16

Polish it!

Thoughts in the head of
what clothes to wear and
what they will think of
my wardrobe.
Oh dear foolish one!
Look in the mirror and see
the state of your heart
not your external attire.
Look in the mirror and see
if the heart is
shabby or shining
and worry not about
the outward show of things.
Look in the mirror and see
the state of your heart
and if it is not shining
polish it, polish it, polish it!

© 7 May 16

How much?

How much of your life is safe?
How much of your life is known?
How much of your life stays neatly
in the boundaries of your comfort zone?

How much of your life is risky?
How much of your life is small?
How much of your life stretches you
allows you to be tall?

How much of your life is dangerous?
How much of your life is ‘me’?
How much of your life allows you
to be unfettered, boundless, free?

How much of your life is fluid?
How much of your life is set?
How much do you let yourself
dance in that which is unknown yet?

© 19 May 16

Love is the locked door

Love is the locked door
the searching for a way through
the key
the turning handle
the hesitancy
the stepping over the threshold
the meeting
the immersion in oneness
the realisation
there is no door.

© 9 May 16

I do not long for sorrow

I do not long for sorrow
but now I see
it intertwines with joy
growing together to create
one beautiful plant whose flowers
cannot be separated.

I do not long for sorrow
but now I see
the lurking shadows I try to avoid
also hold my greatest joys.
To admit only the joys
would be to live a half-life
that is partial.

I do not long for sorrow
but now I see
the cyclical turning of the earth
encompasses all facets of life.
In the depths of winter hibernation
the seed of spring is stored and nurtured
already present, already growing.

I do not long for sorrow
but now I see
the magnificence of the sunset
is only evident because of the clouds.
They are the canvas on which
its beauty is revealed.

I do not long for sorrow
but now I see
the deep well of tears
is the spring that nourishes my joy.
I would not dismiss one
to only claim the other.

I do not long for sorrow
but now I see
birth and death are natural functions
of this turning earth
of this universe
yet they are not its all.
Beyond the cyclical turning
is stillness
the true centre of all.

© 16 May 16