The
hush of
fallen snow.
Utter stillness
a silent prayer
of peace and solitude.
A heartbeat the only noise.
The blanket of white covering
the stark darkness of earth’s fallow time.
The hope of quickening with melting snow.
There
is light
from the sun,
in the likeness
of the divine Source,
in the hearts of those who
pray for peace, healing, and strength
for those who cannot see the light.
Darkness does not hinder divine light
for it comes from within and never dims.
I began writing this blog in 2012 and committed to writing a poem every day for a year, inviting God to speak to me through the words. Writing is my spiritual meditation and often the best way for me to pray. Writing each day became organic and often rose out of thoughts that I knew were not my own. Although I have written over 700 poems since then, I have not managed to be as disciplined as I was in 2012.
A dear friend encouraged me to write again. I wanted it to be intentional. To that end, in 2025, I hope to write each week, seeking inspiration from a single word. Hence, the title of this journey. 52 words.
We
are part
of the whole,
separated
not by our edges
but by emotions of
fear, anxiety and hate,
becoming trapped within our lives.
Break free! Be the kindness you desire
to connect to all that is beautiful.
*Title and words inspired by a conversation between a father and daughter in the book of the same name by Ann Napolitano.
To
follow
does not mean
leaving behind
and not looking back.
Cast off fears and judgement.
Pick up love and compassion.
Follow by leading with the heart.
By sowing grace and tending mercy,
we are walking on the path with Jesus.
Time
to pray
in secret,
to be humble
and work inwardly.
To listen for God’s will
and get ours out of the way.
From ashes to alleluias,
embracing the wilderness within.
Be still and know that God is in the pause.
Breath
pulsing.
A heart song.
Its rhythmic beat
energizing and
at the same time, soothing.
It is the Holy Spirit,
opening and shaping channels,
the divine whisperer breathing love
into vessels brimming with compassion.
It is also in silence that the breath
is the soundtrack for contemplation,
the flow in and out restoring
the mind and heart to center,
granting permission to
seek nothing, only
to listen for
the quiet
voice of
God.
Lent
offers
a rare chance
for breathing room,
contemplative space
to carve new grooves, starting
on the inner path, the one
at the center of our being.
New channels of energy open,
flowing out into God’s whole creation.
Shed
the pounds.
Emotions
are heavy, like
unwanted baggage,
crowding into spaces
too small to hold excesses.
Gently unpack your convictions,
and with care, do not replace with guilt.
Travel lightly for the journey takes strength.
What
we do
and don’t do
does not matter
to God, who loves us
as we are, sins and all.
It matters we are aware
of the impact of our footprint,
as we live within God’s creation,
so that we can love ourselves and others.
Windows To The Spirit 