i looked up to find
someone new on my sofa!
what does the request for radical hospitality look like to You?
for St. Francis it was a leper warning him to stay away…
and the Holy Spirit sent him forth instead.
i suspect that those requests are more common that we think….
often the best spiritual practice
is simply silent observation.
.
(but often, if feels like nothing simple is ever easy.)
.
looking around
(however)
i find teachers everywhere!
the Poodle and i –
We entered the facility, the institution, the home.
.
there She was,
halfway down the hallway
in a wheelchair.
people passing Her by,
not even stopping to say hi,
or even, “excuse me….”
.
“No one comes to visit me”
she spoke into
to the space.
“No one comes to visit me”
as people whisked passed.
.
“Hi, my name is Liz, and this is Tomi –
and we are here to visit You”
“of course You are”, she said to Tomi, a smile broke across her face like sunrise.
and as i looked into Her Buddha face she turned Her light on me,
“You are Bea-u-tiful face!”
she said,
and it reflected off of every surface of my heart –
“so are You”
i answered.
and we sat there as she stroked the poodle,
who now wore Her expression.
.
Does a dog have a Buddha nature?
in the pond
are
two geese.
A neck reaches out in longing –
.
on the bank
are
three women.
looking at the geese with longing.
.
at the window
is
a person,
looking at it all with wonder.
.
What do you long for?
I long for You.
Driving on a ribbon of road,
i contemplate the change /flow.
i find a tick on my garments at a rest stop,
and vows of non-violence become co-mingled with thoughts of diseases.
Suddenly
a giant spider jumps into my focus.
I grip the steering wheel tighter – my animal awarenesses on high alert….
then i see the glass,
and the metal
strewn on the pavement.
i pass under signs telling me of the human tolls on the road.
the numbers climb as i travel back home.
no mention of the dog who is passed that i just passed on the side.
.
We evolved to fear the spider,
How long til we learn to be mindful on the road?
How long til we honor all our paths?
and the birds in the trees took flight.
What do I do with out you?
I sit in your chair.
And suddenly You are home!
did any time pass at all?
eternity in a moment.
all friendships begin with hello.
it is a very brave act.
the conclave gathered,
no cardinals were in attendance –
(no bishops either )
only birds of a feather
on a lawn together…..
attending to the business at hand.
.
the other name for the turkey vulture is a peace eagle.
the world’s a messy place,
someone’s got to help clean it up..
scruffy little puppy dog
runs
across the road.
a woman chasing after…
My heart leaps.
.
puppy runs into the grass,
leaping.
i watch.
and wonder….
was he running away from the woman or toward the open field?
How often am i running away
instead of running toward…
a bird with the song of a cat
sat
outside the window
in a tree.
Singing loudly
to thee and me.
.
where ever you sit, sing.
for some comfort that can bring –
in times of sadness and times of joy –
and sometimes just sing to annoy those who say your seat is too high –
remind them, they can join you in song.
Ministry of Animals 