Annie Hisle has presented several grief retreats and recently presented a
t our March 4 Friends Day of Prayer too. Her theme was the poetry of Mary Oliver. The next time Annie will be presenting at our Center will be on December 5 for a grief retreat. You can learn more about the retreat and about Annie by clicking here. While reflecting on the state of our world right now, Annie wrote the following poem.
This has been SOME Lent.
Because of our deprivations:
(the freedom to do what WE WANT.
the warmth of spontaneous hugs,
the connections of family and friend gatherings,
the connection of Sabbath communion,
the felt sense of peace and security,
the protection of dental and medical check-ups,
the accessible abundance of super markets
and so many, many more former offerings……)
We pause…. we notice…. we apologize
For our trance of taking so much for granted….
AND we bow in gratitude
for this “one precious life.”
4 replies on “In gratitude…”
A beautiful reflection. Before this crisis, every morning, I would try to remember to say a prayer of gratitude for all the every-day blessings in my life. It seemed as if those blessings were always there. This crisis has made me realize (as the poem reflects) how fragile those blessings were – something as ‘invisible’ as a microscopic virus can make those blessings seem to vanish. We must have Faith, Hope, and Trust that these every-day blessings will be restored. Until then we must still offer prayers of gratitude for any/all blessings we still have.
Judi, thanks so much for your shared thoughts and wisdom. We look forward to a day, through our faith, hope and trust, when these blessings will be restored too.
Yes! I have found myself reflecting so much more on my blessings and how I have perhaps taken them for granted at times. The Lord has given me a sense of peace even throughout this time.
Thank you for sharing, Mary. Wishing you many more blessings too!