Friday Dispatch: Walking Each Other Home

One step at a time

Friday greetings,

Today, a poem, an offering, an invitation, a visualization. Most of all, a reminder: Even in the busiest of seasons, even in the unknowns, even in the switchbacks and s-curves of aliveness, even in the milestones and moving boxes, even in the looking ahead and twinkle of anticipation, even in the release, the resilience, and the miracle of rising, even in the sticky wickets and all the things outside of our control, there is a path.

We only need to take one step at a time.

*

First, close your eyes.

Picture a path
surrounded by leafy trees.
The trees lean in,
creating a shelter
of shade.

Sunlight filters through,
all sparkle and flicker,
and the scent of jasmine
fills your nostrils
with every inhale.

Up ahead, two people
walking hand in hand,
right in the middle
of the path.

They don't see you,
as you are all strolling
in the same direction.
All around you, life,
movement, song.

You notice the light
changing, growing
deeper, a warm hue
casting over the path.

Soon, the sun will dip
beneath the horizon.
Soon, the animals will return
to their dens for the night,
while others will emerge
to forage and feed
their young
under cover of darkness.

You walk slowly.
You call to mind the ones
you hold dearest,
a hand instinctively reaching
for your heart.

Your heart carries
birdsong and jasmine blossoms.
You take none of this for granted.

Every blessing
on this path knows your name.
Every angel would recognize you
anywhere by your gait, your face.

May you be safe.
May you be protected.
May you be known and loved
exactly because of who you are
even as you keep becoming.
May the path unfold before you
and may you look around and ahead
with wonder and gratitude.

Up ahead, elders hand in hand.
I'm coming, you whisper.
Be there soon.

*

Shabbat shalom and love,

Jena

p.s. The Solstice Edition the Sound of Real Life Happening group has 5 spots left! We’ll write 11 things for 11 days, June 11-21. Register here.

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