John O’Donohue in:
To Bless The Space Between Us
www.johnodonohue.com
…
Now that you have entered with an open heart
into a complex and fragile situation,
hoping with patience and respect
to tread softly over sore ground in order
that somewhere beneath the raw estrangement
some fresh spring of healing might be coaxed
to release the grace for a new journey
beyond repetition and judgment,
and have achieved nothing of that,
emerged helpless, and with added hurt….
…
Withdraw for a while into your own tranquility,
loosen from your heart the new fester.
free yourself of the wounded gaze
that is not yet able to see you.
Recognize your responsibility for the past.
Don’t allow your sense of yourself to wilt.
Draw deep from your own dignity.
Temper your expectation to the other’s limits,
and take your time carefully,
learning that there is a time for everything
and for healing too….
but that now is not that time….yet.
…
Now is the time to free the heart,
let all intentions and worries stop,
free the joy inside the self,
awaken to the wonder of your life.
…
Open your eyes and see the friends
whose hearts recognize your face as kin,
those whose kindness watchful and near,
encourages you to live everything here.
…
See the gifts the years have given,
things your effort could never earn,
the health to enjoy who you want to be
and the mind to mirror mystery.
Great poem for New Years, Liisa! You know I love John O’Donohue.
Sorry I haven’t been on fb much and am losing touch with so many… it just got to be too much after the last changes there, and I could no longer keep up. I do still check in there now and then though – glad to see you HERE once in awhile.
Hugs, and best wishes for the New Year!!
Hi Betty,
JO’D is one of my favorites. I absolutely love his work.
I was wondering where you were on FB!
I do post here, just not as frequently.
Hugs back at you and here’s wishing you a wonder-filled New Year!