A Morning Offering by John O’Donohue

I bless the night that nourished my heart
To set the ghosts of longing free
Into the flow and figure of dream
That went to harvest from the dark
Bread for the hunger no one sees.

All that is eternal in me
Welcomes the wonder of this day,
The field of brightness it creates
Offering time for each thing
To arise and illuminate.

I place on the altar of dawn:
The quiet loyalty of breath,
The tent of thought where I shelter,
Waves of desire I am shore to
And all beauty drawn to the eye.

May my mind come alive today
To the invisible geography
That invites me to new frontiers,
To break the dead shell of yesterdays,
To risk being disturbed and changed.

May I have the courage today
To live the life that I would love,
To postpone my dream no longer
But do at last what I came here for
And waste my heart on fear no more.

Opening reflection chosen and read by Nancy L.

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A phrase from today’s poem concerning courage was my intention for today. As I struggled with myself to find the courage to make small day to day decisions as well as larger life decisions I paused at the beauty, serenity and courage I found in these amazing Native American faces. No matter how hard life can be at times being true to myself will help me find the courage to live a life that I will love.

Photos and reflection by Denise P.

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Today I walk with the word Appreciation. I worked my way through the wet grass and was surprised by hundreds of miniature spider webs held between the blades. They were exquisitely hidden, but catching the light just right, revealed.

I made it to the raised channel of land between marsh and creek. The bush-hogged surface was strewn with all manner of debris: dried cakes of mud, stalks of tough spartina, feathered reeds, unnecessary roots. Barely visible holes and stumps and mounds of fire ants added to the uneven ground, making it hard to navigate. I wondered out loud what all this had to do with appreciation. To avoid a fall, I could only focus on the step in front of me, hardly able to look up and out. At one point, I stopped. I realized I could choose how long to continue. This difficult path invited me to slow my footfalls; I could appreciate what it took to walk it. At the bend I chose to continue on, reaching a rebuilt rice field trunk. Along the wooden structure spiderwebs the size of dinner plates were outlined in dew, glistening like diamonds. I stood at this gate, watching the calm flow of river, the floats of water hyacinth, some with lavender blooms. All around me and in me was reflected in that water.

Walking back onto even ground to gather with my group, I noticed the sun break through, and wash limbs and moss and weeds in lines of light. On a live oak standing before me, a heart shaped opening in the trunk. The neighboring tree, a patch of resurrection fern flourished at the nexus of two branches. Looking closer, I saw weaving its way up and through a wiry vine of thorns. I appreciated how it all fits: thorns and resurrection needing the oak’s presence, and living itself in me.

Photos and reflection by Amy W.

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Today I walked with the intention of connectedness… focused on the “oneness of all”. Richard Rohr’s daily meditations this week have prompted me to think and feel more deeply about the oneness of all in the universe — from both a spiritual and scientific viewpoint. As I began my walk I decided to go off the path and walk across the grass. As I looked down I saw the dew glistening off many tiny spider webs — I had never before noticed such small webs! They sang of interconnectedness on many levels! I bent down to admire their intricacy and beauty — and then went back to the path so that I would no further disturb their presence in our universe!

As I walked by a fountain sculpture, my attention was not drawn to the sculpture. Instead, the relatively loud sound of the fountain waters caught my attention. I stood there, closed my eyes to listen to the water, and felt the beautiful warmth of the sun on my face. I reveled in the moment… feeling that all of creation– from the waters to the sun to the spider webs were all part of our “oneness”.   

A bit further in the walk I began thinking that oneness and connectedness were not just about the beauty in the world — but also about pain and the struggles of our lives. We must embrace it all — it all fits! And as I came across an alligator sunning herself on the bank of a pond, it reminded me that this predator — even as it destroys its prey so that it can live– is part of the oneness and glory of God’s creation…  

Photo and reflection by Nancy L.

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As I walked down the path I noticed the transition of the season in the street with no leaves, just moss. A tree with leaves turning red, and at the bottom the lush green of the water hyacinths with even a purple blossom or two! It reminded me of the transitions that come into our lives from time to time – just life happening and time passing by. Nancy’s opening poem spoke to me of courage to face the fears we might encounter as we face transitions. 

Then I made my way to the labyrinth where I was reminded of one of my favorite messages from Dame  Julian of Norwich — ” all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”

My final blessing on this Wonder Walk was this beautiful leaf on the labyrinth path! Amen! 

Photos and reflection by Kay P.

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