A pause for poetry 2 . . .

This is the time of year that I volunteer at Camp AmeriKids (click here to learn more). I've been doing this for 19 years. It is a charity that is very dear to me. Following that, I will take a vacation and will return to all my "real world" responsibilities after Labor Day.

In the weeks between, I am going to send you a poem each week. For two years, I have been using poetry in my weekly Lectio 360 readings to help attendees spend 30 minutes of contemplative self-care every Friday as they transition from the end of the week to the weekend (click here to learn more).

I invite you to join my fall workshops -- information to be posted on my website in September -- or to attend my regular Friday 30-minute sessions.

This week, I give you "A Blessing"

by John O'Donohue

This is the time to be slow,

Lie low to the wall

Until the bitter weather passes.

Try, as best you can, not to let

The wire brush of doubt

Scrape from your heart

All sense of yourself

And your hesitant light.

If you remain generous,

Time will come good;

And you will find your feet

Again on fresh pastures of promise,

Where the air will be kind

And blushed with beginning.

~ ~ ~

Peace and love to you in the week ahead.