Something to Give Back by Danna Faulds

 

Here is my deepest and

most pleasing secret: I have 

something to give back

to the Creator.  It is no

material thing, this offering,

but the emanation of my

being, a wordless rejoicing,

spirit giving back to spirit,

my life a heart-felt offering.

 

What I give is taken in with

such unquestioning acceptance

a receptivity so vast that I

want to pour myself out until 

nothing more of me is left, but

instead of being empty, again

and then again I overflow 

with radiance and awe.

 

I thought I had to wrestle 

what I needed from the 

world, when really what I 

wanted most was to give

myself to wholeness;

essence merged and 

blending back again in an 

unending circuit of energy.

 

This circular sacrament of

giving and receiving is

complete unto itself, a devotional

prayer in motion offered from

the chalice of my soul. 

 

Opening poem chosen by Amy W. and read by Nancy L.

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Driving into Brookgreen Gardens I uttered, “It took me 25 minutes to get here this morning!” Heavy traffic, meandering drivers. Stopped at the long line at the gate, I noticed an orange butterfly hover and land on a flower. I wonder if she complained that it took longer than expected to find that bloom? I realized that bloom awaited her discovery, her decision to land. I continued to slow my pace, to not miss the azaleas still offering their magenta on both sides of the parade route. They didn’t deserve my gripes and excuses, nor did I. Instead, a heartfelt wave, again and again, as I passed them, throwing gratitude like candy from my window. A few minutes later, car parked, standing in a circle of walkers, these opening words echoed my entry experience: “Not to wrestle what I want from the world, but to give myself to wholeness.”

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After listening to the poem that initiated our walk, I chose to ease over to the sculptures of The Water Bearers. Each of three women held an earthen bowl.

One carried her bowl. Her arms, her bowl, open to receive. But what is she seeking? As my gaze went past the bowl to the water oak in the distance, I looked up and noticed a nest in a high branch. Yes, bowl, nest, each bear and support life.

Another woman crouched with a bowl, turning it toward the water below her. It was her stance, and the position of the bowl that held my attention. Is she in the process of emptying or filling the bowl? It appeared to be the same motion. The image caused me to reflect: Emptying doesn’t have to mean being drained; it can mean being readied.

The third woman stood tall and straight, balancing the bowl on her head. I considered how it is easier to balance while standing still. How does she adjust as she walks in the world — keeping her balance and safeguarding the preciousness of what she carries?

Photos and reflections by Amy W.

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Photos by Jill W.

 

 

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May we always see the beauty that surrounds us
and know the beauty that is within us.
May we overflow with radiance and awe.

Photos and reflection by Denise P.

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Early in my walk I began to notice the abundance of seeds on many of the trees…  thousands and thousands of seeds bursting forth during this season of rebirth. I pondered…  of the many, many seeds that would reach the ground, only a few would germinate and grow into a tree. The conditions  — the fertility and receiving of the earth, the sunlight, the water, the lack of human footsteps — would have to be just right for the new tree to grow. Thousands of seeds would decay and become an important ingredient to nourish the earth, or perhaps be carried far away by birds or animals to find more welcoming earth. Giving… receiving… giving… receiving…

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Monday, April 17 — I went for my “regular” walk in my neighborhood today — a beautiful, cool and sunny day. I was walking by the pond near our marina and I saw a looming shadow of a bird go across my path. I looked up and realized it was an osprey — soaring in the strong winds. I stopped to watch him for some minutes. He began fluttering his wings very quickly to stay still over the water -apparently waiting to spot his lunch in the pond. At one point he dove into the water but came up empty of his catch. So he flew again over the water and “stilled” in the air waiting for his next opportunity. I thought… how much effort he is exerting to stay still. It seems on the surface that it should be “easy” to rest in stillness, but it actually does take much focus and “effort” to get to that place of stillness. We are so engaged in our busyness and activity that resting in stillness can be difficult.

Photos and reflections by Nancy L.