I need to recharge my emotional, spiritual, cognitive, and physical batteries. In a conversation with a colleague in Spokane, we talked about how we were on the go constantly, busy and, when we got to Spokane we slowed down. I fall into a trap of busyness, which brings about a sense of dis-ease. Regardless of how much time I spent in Spokane, I soon realized I fell into a different rhythm of life, one of ease.
Thomas Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh wrote about an active life, one full of busyness, leaving humans depleted. The result is I need times where stress and busyness is reduced to be more present and aware of the life I live. For me, time used to read and write provide necessary breaks.
“Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone – we find it with another.” (Thomas Merton)
“We have to learn to live our life as a human being deeply. We need to live each breath deeply so that we have peace, joy and freedom as we breathe.” (Thich Nhat Hanh)
I wrote this poem about a need to recharge batteries, about being present for others, returning hopefully a better person. It is also about finding deeper meaning in my life not always readily visible as I rush around. Black Elk‘s (Heȟáka Sápa) quote inspired the poem, reminding me much of living is recurring in a circle.
Heart opens quietly,
Listen deeply,
Worth waiting.
Lingering in solitude’s support,
Sheltering in its comfort,
Inviting me in.
Not escaping,
Circling back renewed,
Wholeness restored.
Community beckoning
Refreshing pause,
Recurring alchemy of both revitaling.
ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 