At times,
the silence
was painfully
subtle.
But the reflections
that flowed
out of this place
were tender
and led so sweetly
back to this silent
space —
at the bottom
of a prayer.
Quiet Reflections and Prayers
At times,
the silence
was painfully
subtle.
But the reflections
that flowed
out of this place
were tender
and led so sweetly
back to this silent
space —
at the bottom
of a prayer.
I found
life wasn’t quite as
black and white
as I had thought.
I found love wasn’t
about covering up
or fixing.
Somehow,
peace wasn’t
some distant goal
to be achieved,
and the most
loving thing
often meant allowing
myself and others
to be gently guided
through the tender places
that remained
unhealed.
There were the most
tender moments
of deep connection.
And there were moments
that were painful
beyond description.
Somehow, I found,
it all returned
to tenderness.
And so I continued
to show up
and participate in life
because I had experienced
the endless struggle
in the search
and the relief in finding
justĀ one word
shared out of this place
that could bridge the gap
in my own heart.
Peace, I found,
wasn’t at the end
of a neatly sorted
journey,
but in each moment
I dared to look life
straight in the eye
and see through
what appeared on the surface.
After a while,
the tender beauty
in being able to hold
and let go of
whatever appeared
with grace and honor
and space
became the essence
of every experience.
Just past my thoughts
of healing,
beyond the stories
on the surface
or perhaps in the middle —
a little deeper down
where pain merges
with tenderness,
I foundĀ the me
I once lost,
this me
underneath.