This is the time to be slow,
Lie low to the wall
Until the bitter weather passes.
Try, as best you can, not to let
The wire brush of doubt
Scrape from your heart
All sense of yourself
And your hesitant light.
If you remain generous,
Time will come good;
And you will find your feet
Again on fresh pastures of promise,
Where the air will be kind
And blushed with beginning.
John O'Donohue (From Benedictus)
So yes, in times like these I turn to John O'Donohue. His wisdom, deep understanding and heart-felt thinking about being in relationship with one another is peerless.
These words come from Benedictus - a book of blessings (called "To bless the space between us" in the US I think?). His background is indeed religious, but he has a way with words and ideas that for me, traverses the individual and unique landscapes of our lives without ever succumbing to preaching.
For me at the moment, these words carry assurance. They carry recognition that yes, the weather is bitter. Lie low and be gentle on yourself and remain open to kindness, to generosity and to renewal.
Somewhere, sometime the air will be kind and blushed with beginning...
In the meantime, we lie low to the wall.
Lie low to the wall
Until the bitter weather passes.
Try, as best you can, not to let
The wire brush of doubt
Scrape from your heart
All sense of yourself
And your hesitant light.
If you remain generous,
Time will come good;
And you will find your feet
Again on fresh pastures of promise,
Where the air will be kind
And blushed with beginning.
John O'Donohue (From Benedictus)
So yes, in times like these I turn to John O'Donohue. His wisdom, deep understanding and heart-felt thinking about being in relationship with one another is peerless.
These words come from Benedictus - a book of blessings (called "To bless the space between us" in the US I think?). His background is indeed religious, but he has a way with words and ideas that for me, traverses the individual and unique landscapes of our lives without ever succumbing to preaching.
For me at the moment, these words carry assurance. They carry recognition that yes, the weather is bitter. Lie low and be gentle on yourself and remain open to kindness, to generosity and to renewal.
Somewhere, sometime the air will be kind and blushed with beginning...
In the meantime, we lie low to the wall.
(((Fiona))) that old wall is so beautiful as are John O'Donohue's gentle words, I have his book of Beauty for solace
ReplyDeleteYes Mo - gentle solace. Beauty is a beautiful book as well - he was a wise spirit. Go gently, lay low...
Deletesuch gentle words set amidst Scottish stones ... may you be well ...
ReplyDeleteWe were meant to be there now Liz...so this was a nice remembering from our last visit. May you and yours go well and be well...
DeleteThank you for this new to me poem from John O'Donohue. There is a beautiful interview with him at https://onbeing.org/series/podcast/ , search (upper left corner) and enter John O'Donohue. The 2 interivews are especially good as you get to hear his wonderful Irish voice.
ReplyDeleteAhh Linda, I have listened to that interview too. His voice! And OnBeing is such a place of solace as well - so much insight and unveiling of beauty of kindness, thank you. Go well...
DeleteKindred spirits from Australia to Canada!
DeleteIndeed Linda! Both of their reach is universal too I feel...
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