Gratitude

 Sunbeams crowd my computer screen,

bird song woke me this morning

this afternoon we will pick up two beloved

grandsons to share the week with us.

I finished reading “a Small Country” last night

a story of genocide, of war, of life,

yesterday I walked in a meadow, 

cycled on roads and  trails.

The labyrinth, last week filled with solstice celebrants,

invites me into its colourful bounty, I walk, I weed,

I breath,  I sit and eat

the colours of the rainbow surround me.

The Chai tea blend brought back from Nepal

by a neighbour, sister, friend warms me body and soul,

 hearing a cat call, as a dog lays close by,

my beloveds awake, asleep.

Soon I will walk to the Bay, listen to the waves,

feel the cool breeze,   knowing that 

“ I do not have to be good,

I only have to let the soft animal of my body love

what it loves.” 

So blessed am I!

gloria kropf nafziger June 26, 2018

quote adapted from Mary Oliver  in Wild Geese

For Resa

Another story of a child or children separated from parents, of tears streaming

no comfort,  ever the optimist  my friend on facebook offers hope.

I am reading Forgiveness selected for Canada reads. 

I talk to friends, celebrate anniversaries, birthdays,  picnic by the Bay.

Listen to small voices across phone lines telling me about dinosaur bones and maman’s graduation,  wrap my arms through  the lines until I can feel their hearts beating against mine. 

I cycle to the Bay,  jump in feeling the cool waters washing over sorrow. 

I sit on the porch and discuss letters to write to Prime Ministers,  donations to be made to law societies.

Sitting in the labyrinth pulling grasses out by the roots,  careful not to disturb the tiny seedling, remember planting his placenta there,  such tiny little people, so innocent, so loved, so hurting.

I read poetry written by a friend, by a stranger,  known and unknown by another,

soul soothing,  grateful for a friend ever the optimist who inspires me.

gloria kropf nafziger June 2018

Movement

When I swim waves lap,

over shoulders

love blossoms heart opens.

When I dance energy flows,

through body

 love blossoms hearts open.

When I jump earth shakes,

excitements felt

love blossoms heart opens.

When I twirl stars move,

focus calls

love blossoms hearts open.

When I skip play enters,

laughters greeting

love blossoms heart opens.

When I walk birds sing,

leg lifts

love blossoms  hearts open.

When I breathe

love blossoms heart opens

gloria kropf nafziger June 2018

Awake

Today I awoke

to the babbling delighted sounds of my granddaughter’s voice and her smile, to my daughter’s admonition to stop reading the news, to her advising me that there were two good news events,  Linda Mae Lindo won in her riding and Mike Schreiner won in Guelph, she said that’s all I needed to know.  

We think the same in the political arena, my daughter and I.      I told my son-in-law that I did not look at facebook, as my friends were a very biased lot,  so biased he asked that I did not see this coming?    No, not quite I acknowledged. 

Then I was greeted by my grandson, eyes sparkling,  he woke up before I left.  We were both delighted.  

I went for breakfast with my dear sister, cousin, friend,  we had a wonderful visit and did not discuss the election.   There were many conversations that we wanted to have, many joys to share. 

It was time to drive home to Collingwood,  but first a stop at the bookstore to buy a birthday present for another grandson, and texts with his mama to make sure he did not have the book, I chose. 

On the drive home,  I listened as I often do to CBC, they had a two hour phone in show about the election, titled is this what you wanted.    I heard voice after voice ,  from people who voted green, who voted liberal, who voted conservative, who voted ndp say, it was not what they wanted.  I heard one voice say he was delighted and he danced with  joy. 

Then I heard an interview that stayed with me, as I arrived home, as I mowed the lawn, as I delighted in the blooms in the labyrinth, in the shade bed, in the rose bed, as I moaned as I saw the kale was completely gone, eaten from the vegetable bed. 

I heard an interview with someone who won a seat.   This politician said.   I do not want to pull people down,  I have no interest in negating another.  I want to work together to build Ontario up.   I want us to build Ontario up together.   This person had positive hopeful things to say about politicians and parties. 

I was inspired.

I know about working together to build each other up across difference.    My family members know how to do that.  Many of my friends and neighbours know how to do that. 

I experienced that over and over again on the Camino as people gave me helpful suggestions to make my walk easier or to support me when they saw I was wearing down.   We did not know our differences at that moment we only knew our need for a helping hand. 

I believe if we can build one another up individually we can do it communally.    

I was inspired by that phone interview, and I commit myself with you as my witness to work to build a better world  in ways that I am able and called to,  and I am soooo very grateful it is not in politics …

Will you join me??

And I  give thanks and send blessings to  politicians many,  who care deeply and sacrifice  to make the world a better place.

Gkn June 8, 2018