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The Holy Kiss

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Feather – a poem.

Feather – a poem.

Last updated on: December 15, 2019 at 10:47 pm by Roger Wolsey

Feather – a poem. 2019-12-15T22:47:22-07:00 Roger Wolsey

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.

Like a feather hovering, suspended in the small pocket of breath above the angel-kissed cleft of your upper lip, a soft insight floats across the dream-screen of your waking mind:

You don’t need to do anything.
You don’t need to prove anything.
You don’t need to try to impress anyone.
You don’t need to try to win anyone’s approval or validation.
You don’t need to even to try to validate yourself.
You don’t need to try.
You don’t need anything.
You’re enough. Just. As. You. Are.

Just your beautiful being, just your beautiful breathing,
just your beautiful presence, just your beautiful ..pauses.. before you speak,
just your beautiful being with someone across the table, across the room, across the miles..

..just your “be”-ing is enough.

You’re be-ing is what speaks.

And you know something?
You “be” really well. I like how you do it. So do others.
The less you try and the more you just are, the more you just be, the more we feel like we want to “be” near you for a moment, a minute, an hour, or a season, … too.

And this beautiful be-ing that you are beautifully handles the criticism that comes your way,
you can receive it, and not be rocked by it, and even welcome the blessed benefit of harsh mirrors held.
And likewise, your beautiful be-ing receives the praise and accolades that come your way, without puffing the prideful persona.
Your beautiful be-ing knows that at times you may be told you’re all that and a bag of chips, but you don’t really need to be. Your beautiful be-ing is enough, without any baubllely banglely bluster.

And, what if? … what if all of that were true?
It is of course, but what would it mean?
You wouldn’t need to impress the boss, or the man or woman who you think you may want.
You don’t need that job.
You don’t need that car or house.
You don’t need that lover.

Sure, you may need to work to have income sufficient to pay the rent on a small apartment and to bring in healthy food into your body. And it’s good to have money for health, and travel. It’s good to roll up our sleeves, flex, and sweat, and do work that’s of benefit to the world. But you aren’t your job, and you aren’t your current mode of transportation.
And you don’t much need more than that. You really don’t.

And you may think you need that person to be your lover.
You think you do, but you really don’t.
Sure, biblically it’s “not good for man to be alone.”
Sure, it’s good to have company and support and to playfully share slices of life with someone – tingly touching, skin to skin.
But you don’t need any one particular person to be that person
– and it doesn’t have to be for more than enjoying some sunshine, a row in a boat, a walk on a beach, and the crunching of autumn leaves from time to time.
You’re already enough. You have all the love you’ll ever need.
Repeat. You have all the love you’ll ever need.
You are that love.

And it might mean that if you truly embrace this truth, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what life brings your way… but don’t cling to it.
When the life-giving waters come and flow your way – and how can they not? – you’re living in a womb of grace! – you can’t capture them in your fists.
You. Just. Can’t.
The firmer you grasp, the quicker they slippery slip splish sploosh through your fingers
– and no ring can stop it.

But you can be free from parchedness.
Your be-ing is supremely sufficiently sustained by the moist mists that move.

You’re a fierce feather force to be reckoned with.
You’re beauty love soul incarnate.
You’re a freaking child of God! – and God provides for God’s children.
Be. Blessed be. Be still.
Be still and know,
wait, see, repeat.

XX – Roger

Rev. Roger Wolsey is a certified Spiritual Director, United Methodist pastor, and author of Kissing Fish: christianity for people who don’t like christianity

Click here for the Kissing Fish Facebook page

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