I scheduled this to post before hearing about the two mass shootings.  I am filled with sadness this morning at the continued meaningless loss of life, and I find myself unable to see a way to make sense of what is happening now.  Certainly we need to step up and act to protect and defend our communities against this kind of violence, but we also need to find the peace and soulful quality of life that will enable us to go on.  So I decided to keep this post rather than write something about the shootings. 


Earth teach me stillness
As the grasses are stilled with light.

Earth teach me suffering
As old stones suffer with memory.

Earth teach me humility
As blossoms are humble with beginning.

Earth teach me caring
As the mother who secures her young.

Earth teach me courage
As the tree which stands all alone.

Earth teach me limitation
As the ant who crawls on the ground.

Earth teach me freedom
As the eagle who soars in the sky.

Earth teach me resignation
As the leaves which die in the fall.

Earth teach me regeneration
As the seed which rises in spring.

Earth teach me to forget myself
As melted snow forgets its life.

Earth teach me to remember kindness
As dry fields weep with rain.

–Nancy Wood

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