Positioning

"Heron stands in the blue estuary.
Solitary, white, unmoving for hours.
A fish! Quick avian darting;
The prey captured."

My sister once quoted her pastor as saying, "Do what is necessary, when it is necessary." A sister I met once, checking in with me about character formation on my journey toward spiritual direction, reminded me that, "to do anything less," than what one knows to be right is a mistake indeed. Armed with such knowledge, ever growing in it, I must, in the words of Pope St. John Paul II, "Say 'yes' with courage and without reserve, trusting Him Who is faithful to His promises." 

Absorption

"Crimson light through pine shadows.
Setting sun settling in the ocean.
Night follows the setting sun.
Day follows the fleeing moon."

We tend to think of this as a bad thing, especially when we add "self-".  When I look at it, if I'm willing to see that I'm connected to everything and everyone else, I can break through the "self" part. My individual destiny makes up part of a much greater whole. If I forget that, I die. Remembering helps me live for Him. 

Shaping

"Potter at the wheel.
From centering to finished pot,
Form increases as options decrease;
Softness goes to hardness."

I've never really liked the notion of "arriving" in life. As if at some point my work will be done and I can rest on my laurels to surround myself with everything I have…As if the pressure of striving will one day let up and I can just enjoy. The world, I think, wants us to believe this is possible: "Let go and live in the moment," I hear all the time. "It's all you've got!" And I might, too, except I so often feel myself growing toward some great destiny, into something I must do for the time I am here. By commending myself into His hands, I find the strength to keep working. May He ever increase my form toward His purpose. Amen. 

Healing

"Fire cools.
Water seeks its own level."

Change requires healing. Healing requires change. Some changes happen slowly, others happen fast. Right now I feel so stuck in between: The baby is gone now, my body has healed itself…But what's next? God will be there when the next change occurs. I have to remember that He's here now, even as I await it. 

Disaster

"Mute black night,
Sudden fire.
Destruction."

I passed not one but two huge piles of dog shit in the course of my runnings-around today. In a superstitious moment, I felt that it ought to mean something, or at least prepare me for something worse to watch out for, imminently. Instead, it was a humbling reminder of how often I erroneously walk around in my "Everything I touch turns to shit," self-pitying mode. The truth is, of course, that I control so little--I have to remember that things just happen; they aren't punishments or rewards, but opportunities. And from the opportunities come lessons learned. To the lessons learned, I can respond in order to bless others or be blessed.

Optimism

"Clearing blue sky,
A promise in bare branches.
In winter, there are sunny days.
In adulthood, childhood can return."

As I move forward in life, what can I do but commend myself to His mercy? How else can I do that than by focusing on that which is good? While that may not always be so easy, perhaps if I return my thoughts to Him again and again, he will lay His table before me that I, like St. Dominic Savio, may say, "What beautiful things I see!" 

Work

"The woodcutter
Works in all seasons.
Splitting wood is both
Action and inaction."

Lord, let me work in a worthy way all my days, that Your glory may shine from all I do and say, with love. Amen.