(It’s going on ten years since I wrote this. I
was on retreat at the Sophia Center of Atchison, Kansas, Sister Terese leading
a wonderful workshop on Celtic spirituality. She allowed ample time in our
weekend for reflection, personal journaling and creative writing, and the
following is what bubbled up during an afternoon recess. And by the way, I’ve
shared before something written at that same retreat. Check the index above
under Celtic Christianity, or find that piece here.)
Walking
Softly
Do I walk
so gently upon the earth
That the
grass springs back quickly from underfoot?
Do I tread
lightly as I pass, knowing that what I leave behind
Must be
able to also support the weight and lives of those who follow?
From whence comes my impulse to
leave an imprint, to mark territory,
to insert a sign of my presence, a
blaze or initial on a tree,
a rock cairn, a footprint?
Do I
inflict myself upon my environment,
As if my
passing that way is intended to leave permanent impact?
Similarly,
do I walk humbly among the sons and daughters of God,
Imparting
the presence of Christ, or imparting the presence of me?
From whence comes my impulse to over-perform,
or to outperform,
To exert uncalled influence, influence
that is sometimes
Neither necessary nor truly helpful?
Gentle and
Holy Lord, lead me to walk softly upon your earth and among your people,
Leaving everywhere
the fragrance of You. Amen.
~~ RGM, September 27, 2017,
from an earlier entry in
my nature journal
The best extracted poem from My nature journal.I literally loved it which reading it.It feels like I myself is walking in these soft green grasses.
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