morning and night.
the kingdom of heaven comes near.
Morning and night: walking. Walking when I first wake up, trying not to give myself other options. Walking at night before bed. Finding solace in motion and in the world around me. It's a bit wet for the dirt roads, so I'm walking on paved roads. I go straight out of my gate and onward for ten minutes, then back. I breathe. Sometimes I listen to my prayer app. Sometimes I listen to music.
There are two adorable and friendly dogs who come to greet me. One is very young and just growing out of a tendency to jump up. The other has a white muzzle and is just a sweet old guy.
My other walk, my favorite walk, has five unfriendly dogs on the way. There were two, then three, and now five. It is unfortunate. But this one is all about greeting wriggly friends.
The fog lies close to the hills, always making new shapes. New homes are being built all around me. We have new neighbors... we haven't met them yet. Birds swoop down over the newly planted corn fields. The rice paddies are mirrors of the sky.
Today's prayer was about the kingdom of heaven coming near. The woman, with her soothing voice, asked, "What shows you that the kingdom of heaven is drawing near?"
Here are some of my things:
Hugs, smiles, talking about deep things in sharing circles. Lectio Divina. Meditation. Singing. Holding hands. People alight with discovery that God loves them as they are. Opportunities to give. Softness. Kindness. Strength. A son reminding me that Jesus and Paul have great advice about money. Sunlight. Care, care, care. That warm, gentle presence that I always know is the Holy Spirit, the Breath of God, the Comforter. Creation life in everything. In my garden. Butterfly season. Genuine change within me.
I get home from walking and shape the bread loaf, grind coffee, and pour hot water over the grounds in the filter. I make my morning hot lemon and honey drink. (I'm such a broken record about this, convinced that it keeps me healthy.) I am blessed to have at least two hours of solitude in the morning. I've been recording my audiobooks and editing the files afterward. I find that I love it.
It's beautiful to find that you love new things. What other things will I discover?
Now I get down to writing. This terrifying, heartbreaking, beautiful world is moving and turning, and I am one of its sparks. I am in a sea of humanity. How will I live in this turning world? What will be the measure of my life?
Is it any of my business?
I write my words. I read them into my microphone. I build my body of work, and I pray that it reaches someone.
Later, I will go to Shekina Garden and, with my friends, work on making it beautiful. In the afternoon, I will teach a session on the story of Jesus healing the woman who touched his clothes. Such a tender, tender story. Am I seen? Yes, comes the answer. Yes.
🔗 Links For You
✨ New! I’m publishing my first audiobook soon and releasing it chapter by chapter on my new audiobook YouTube channel. Subscribe to follow along or just to support the project. I appreciate it!
📚 My books are here. If you would like to know where to start, try the first book in the World Whisperer Series or the first book in the Aveline Series. Or if you like poetry, you can try Everything Bright, Clear, and Beautiful, a Year of Poetry. Check out my book bundles (the best deal) here.
✨My writing mini-course is here— Following the Thread: Thirty Days of Guided Writing
