Quiet Reflections and Prayers
I found comfort
in the small moments of surrender
when I dared to let go
of everything
and stand in the empty space.
There was tenderness
in the gentle way life began
to flow from there.
And so I returned again
to this place –
trading it all for a quiet prayer
and the chance to follow
to where my heart was tuned.
Life had a way of leading
back to the quiet space within –
to the setting down of all
of the tangled up,
unresolved thoughts –
to the difficult step of tossing everything
up to God.
Time and time again I found myself
in a place of too much –
the only clear option being
to return again humbly
to a state of prayer –
to begin again
from there.
I learned the value of
tenderness and became willing to
set down many things in exchange for
a deeper connection with life.
I knew without a doubt that
whatever appeared would eventually lead
back to a tender place in my own heart.
And so I became willing to bear the ache
of leftover traces of unhealed and
unresolved experiences —
to be in a place where there are
no guarantees —
to show up in each moment
with a quiet prayer and renewed reverence
for the sacred journey,
however it unfolded.
The transition into tenderness
required delicate footing.
I learned to look a little
more deeply into my surroundings.
Nothing was at it seemed,
but that meant
something beautiful must be
hidden beneath what appeared.
I learned to look a little more deeply
into what was there,
intuitively drawn to remain
in each moment —
no matter what —
determined to find just one
small sign of beauty
when at first glance,
all was dark —
holding each faint whisper of hope —
becoming more determined with each step
to help it to grow.
I vowed to continue on –
settling in a little more deeply –
holding what was right there
in front of me,
as best I could –
embracing each new moment
as a prayer.
There came a time
when I had traveled too far
and learned too much.
And so the only thing to do,
having reached the end of the path,
was to stand still right there in my heart,
in the middle of the chaos,
let go of everything
and hope for the best.
The tenderness found
in that first moment of surrender
initiated me into the delicate process
of walking through the most
difficult times.
It taught me to hold
and let go of all that is
unhealed and unresolved
in me and in the world.
It offered a glimpse into our creative,
resilient human nature
that finds a way to look
a little deeper
for beauty and hope
and a gentler path.
Laurie's Notes 