A Lesson in Reverence: balcony perspective

Last updated on: May 12, 2015 at 9:30 am by Kaitlin B. Curtice

A Lesson in Reverence: balcony perspective 2015-05-12T09:30:00-04:00 Kaitlin B. Curtice

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Barbara Brown Taylor says that we practice reverence to remember that we are not gods, to remember that we are small, and that we belong to each other.

The guys bought me flowers and herbs for Mother’s Day. But really, they gave me the gift of a space that’s mine, a balcony garden that pulls me into hidden comfort, a safe place.

I hide behind my flowers’ faces, glancing out to see my neighbors walking their dogs.

Every time they pass, I hope they stop and look. I hope they stop and see that life flourishes everywhere, even on a 2nd floor concrete box of a balcony.

If I lean down by my celosias and look through them instead of towering above, I become lost in a forest of feathery yellow and pink, of leafy green.

I’m no photographer, but I recognize the difference of perspective, the shift in lens and focus.

It is the same in life, the same in our every day instances.

I become thankful for my boys when I stop and look hard into their blue and brown eyes, when I remember the numbered hairs on their heads and the way they love to belly-laugh and wrestle.

And in my thankfulness, I remember that we are so well cared-for.

God, in all glory, in all wisdom, all massive love and breath-taking grace, He pulls me close and asks me to look at the celosia again.

He asks me to remember how we found our husky on a rock in Arkansas.

He asks me to redefine what it means to be a mother to two boys, and what it means to sit by the flowers in the quiet and read and write and be fully alive.

In all of it, He says, It’s for you. Here, all my love for you.

And there, I cannot imagine taking anything for granted, even the pain, because it is all life and all gift, all breath in holy abundance.

Amen.

Lessons

Barbara Brown Taylor

reverence

Previous Post

May 9, 2015

When We Tell Them That We Are Brave (Happy Mother's Day)

Next Post

May 14, 2015 The Path Toward Beauty (an aesthetic adventure)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent 2016 Adventure Community & One Another Contemplation Lent 2016 Lessons Motherhood Native American Heritage Month 2017 Native American Spirituality Politics & Social Justice Prayer Remembrance Seven Gratitudes Uncategorized

Select a Month April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 August 2013 March 2013 February 2013 November 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz