… watching for the brushstrokes of God
…Rest your weary eyes from so much looking,
your tired feet from so much wandering,
your aching heart from so much hoping.
…Give up the weight of knowing,
for the reverence of quiet attention
and curiosity… ~ Christine Valters Paintner
How do you become attentive?
“Let there be
an opening
into the quiet
that lies beneath
the chaos,
where you find
the peace
you did not think
possible
and see what shimmers
within the storm.” ~ Jan Richardson, The Cure for Sorrow
Spend some time gazing at the image. What draws your eyes? What narrative does it draw you into? Or what walk does it take you on? What feelings or emotions does it evoke in you?
“Quite often in the retelling of their stories our favorite heroes move from ordinary people who were brave enough to show up in extraordinary circumstances to superhuman dissidents the likes of which we’ll never be.” ~ Osheta Moore, Dear White Peacemakers
Does this move keep you from showing up?
Wade in the Water – A song of hope and a reminder that the way to freedom goes through the water. Rivers and streams provided cover and transport for the Underground Railroad. At the same time actually wading into the water was messy, exhausting, dangerous and at times made you long for the solid ground you left behind as Osheta Moore reminds us.
When are you troubled enough to wade in the water?
As Shakespeare put it in a Midsummer’s Night Dream, “imagination bodies forth the form of things unknown”.
How do you explore the not yet?
With the Eyes of the Heart 