Spiritual Journey Thursday – This is the Day to Love

“And do you really believe God is with you no matter what? That you are not alone, that you don’t have to be you all by yourself? Here’s to being where you already are. Fully present with all that is true. And then here’s to doing your next right thing in love.”

~Emily P. Freeman, The Next Right Thing Podcast #188

Yes, indeed. I believe this more and more every day. With three surgeries in one month — two for my cataracted eyes, and another abdominal surgery for my husband, we are feeling more ephemeral in our house.

These thoughts of vulnerability aren’t making me worried or sad, but instead I believe they make me live more intentionally. More fully here. More often saying, “This is the day to love.”

Thank you, Ramona, for the link to Emily’s podcast. It was as you described, and I’ve enjoyed thinking about where I am these days. And thank you for hosting this group today.

Now, here I sit at the Toyota dealer, for what is going on the sixth seventh hour. I’m writing a poem on napkins with a borrowed pen and editing the rest of this post on my phone. Being here.

You Have the Right to Be Here

Yesterday I crashed into you.
My reaction was reflexive, “I have
to move over” as I heard a
car horn blast from behind. I jumped right
into you: the curb designed to
keep me in my lane. How can I still be
afraid to hold my space and remain present?
Fortunately, I got off with just a
blown tire and broken rim, right
there I was – – pinballing to the roadside to
regroup. Then today I sit at the dealer and attend,
waiting as things are fixed, enjoying a
grilled cheese and iced tea, right
here and now at Caribou, not neglecting to
be fully here and to be
gratefully astonished.

This golden shovel poem is based on a quote in The Overstory, the book by Richard Powers, which I just finished reading this morning. “You have a right to be present. A right to attend. A right to be astonished.”

12 thoughts on “Spiritual Journey Thursday – This is the Day to Love

  1. I love how this post itself is present with you in time and space, at the car dealership. I hope everything turned out OK. I am always annoyed by car problems, but sometimes one can be “gratefully astonished.”

    1. I’m trying to find more opportunities to be gratefully astonished. Now I’m in my eighth hour here. They are putting a new set of tires on; it seems to be coming along. Practicing mindfulness. 😉

  2. Denise, what a wonderful way to be here, creating a golden shovel poem on napkins and a saved quote! This book is on my WTR shelf ever since my husband read it. (I suffer from the too many books, never enough time syndrome.)
    I admire your ability to wait and enjoy all in the same breath. I fear that waiting has lost its value in our hurry/scurry rush to accomplish more and more with our minutes/hours/days. Thanks for the pic that shows your presence and helps us be right (t)here in the moment with you. I hope your saga is now complete.

    1. Thank you, Ramona. Yes, I know waiting has lost its value, and our cell phones are no help. I was able to be productive and keep busy all day! I know I have heard recently that being bored is a good thing for our brains and mental health. How often are we bored? The saga continues. The service manager drove me home, as there was also a need for new brakes. We’ll have to pick the care on Friday or Saturday.

  3. WOW. What a poem…what an experience…what a poem from experience. Not too long ago, Jan AG of Poetry Friday stated that all her prayers are gratitude. I was floored. I was baffled at how to even do that. And, I’ve tried praying only in gratitude. It’s amazing how that stance has had an impact on me. Your post reminds me of this. You had a rough experience…and costly…and look at the beautiful golden shovel! WOW.

    1. Thank you, Linda. I love that idea of our prayers being ones of gratitude. One of my favorite quotes is: If the only prayer you said was thank you that would be enough.” by Meister Eckhart

  4. Writing on paper towels is some dedication! Love it. You’ve had quite an experience and your poem presents it wonderfully. Thanks for sharing this… you have me thinking… ;0)

  5. So good. Trying to be gratefully astonished right where I am today!

  6. There are so many things I love about this, Denise. Beginning with The Overstory – I’ve read it twice and maybe need to do so again. The Golden Shovel is in itself astonishing – how you capture the story of an accident and yet with gratitude. Well-done! Then there is the constructive use of time writing the poem while waiting at the dealership – golden moments in what could otherwise be utter frustration. You’ve taken us on a bright spiritual journey, indeed.

    1. Thank you so much, Fran. And thanks again for giving me the recommendation of The Overstory. I keep plowing through those books readers suggested a few weeks again. They have all been winners so far!

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