I love poetry, especially those which stir something inside of me and make me stop, and say, yes. There are so many wonderful poets that I have come to love over time: Mary Oliver, Wendell Berry, Christine Valters Paintner, and David Whyte.
David Whyte's poem titled "Sometimes" offers a glimpse into questions...those questions that refuse to go away despite our many attempts to ignore them. Listen to his words and see if something resonates within you:
Sometimes
if you move carefully
through the forest
breathing
like the ones
in the old stories
who could cross
a shimmering bed of dry leaves
without a sound,
you come
to a place
whose only task
is to trouble you
with tiny
but frightening requests
conceived out of nowhere
but in this place
beginning to lead everywhere.
Requests to stop what
you are doing right now,
and
to stop what you
are becoming
while you do it,
questions
that can make
or unmake
a life,
questions
that have patiently
waited for you,
questions
that have no right
to go away.
What questions do you have? Do you sense that they are patiently waiting for you to turn your attention towards them?
Spiritual companioning is an opportunity to safely explore those questions with someone trained to listen and guide gently in the process of discovery. Sometimes, old stories - myths and fairytales - can serve as a reminder of who we are and who we are becoming. Other times, poetry and art can offer insight into our journey.
I am here and I am inviting you to reach out. If you are curious about spiritual companioning, I encourage you to contact me either by phone or email. Let's chat about the various options available.
Terri at Lake Michigan
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