I think Tamara was brilliant to turn to her daughter when capturing humility. In the photo above she asked Natasha what she would say to God and she said, ‘Thanks.” –which is pretty much the MOST perfect prayer anyone could say. Children also innately realize that being humble does not mean thinking any less of our self in the process. Thankfulness and exuberance can exist side by side in a dance that we sometimes forget as adults.
January comes to it in the silence within:
Silent Retreat -Householder’s plea
by January Handl
Give me sanctuary from
the waterfall of words
that constantly haunt,
flow over and through
my daily experience
Illuminate my pathway
into the everday
work-a-day world,
so I may carry
the fount of silence
within me at each moment
When I forget
that there is zen in the doing of dishes
and nirvana waits for the trip to the gas station –
buddah and christ
exist in this child’s runny nose
and in the cacophony of cascading
chores, schedules,
the dramas of the hour
or that I can find holiness
in the flood of
media images, taking
sacrament in the fast food
flung down my throat
that all of these
are mere floating
leaves upon the surface
of my mind
Please help me
remember to breathe in
the death-knowing
so I may be more
fully
alive
awake
aware
of both the ticking clock
and the beautiful dark
deep well
within
Where do you find humility?
This week I find it in the stark truth of my 49th birthday. Knowing that it is time to trade my live forever girl for a wiser make every moment count woman. We all come this way, those of us privileged to live long enough, and although there is a little gnashing of teeth for the innocence I leave behind I am humbled and grateful to be living what is next.
In a prayer, in the silence, in a birthday. Humility beckons. Will you accept its gifts?
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Tamara and January are here each Monday to help set the mood for the week!
Tamara Magnitsky
Tamara Magnitsky, a child of the wild blue yonder,
has been an ardent student and advocate for poetry, photography and excellence in general.
She is the mother of a 6 year old daughter and a beloved wife.
She can be found most days.
Bio written by Cary Brosius ~Tamara’s husband 🙂
January Handl
January Handl is first and always a mother, has been a preschool teacher and parent educator for 25 years, and currently is an early head start home visitor in her community. She resides with 2 dogs and a cat in Boulder Creek and and simply lives in awe of existence.
She calls her photo “hot tub bliss” 🙂
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Hi Tamara! Happy 49th Birthday. I love how you recognize that it’s time to : ‘”trade my live forever girl for a wiser make every moment count woman.” It’s all about the Now these days, isn’t it!?
January, I love love love this poem!
” the cacophony of cascading
chores, schedules,
the dramas of the hour”
Beautiful!
Kathy, this surely sets my week right! Thanks!
Lori
Lori, the 49th Birthday is mine.Tamara has a few years yet! (The photo is Tamara’s but the commentary is mine.) It really is about the now! One of the gifts of making it this far is to finally grok this. I’ve met younger folks who have done so but I needed the time! lol
Thank you for your warm comments! I’m glad the post spoke to you!
Kathy
The poem reminds me of the day my nephew BEGGED to do the dishes, age 5 “When I forget
that there is zen in the doing of dishes” and said ‘I’m learning, I’m learning, let me make mistakes”!
Happy Birthday Kathy when it comes. It’s only clock time 🙂
My five year old also begs to do the dishes! Yes let’s keep making mistakes!
Thank you for the birthday wishes! Only clock time indeed.
Love the commentary! Love the poem! Happy Birthday Kathy. xoxo
I just love how your photos combined with January’s poems always prompt the perfect start! I’m so glad you decided to be a part of Bliss Habits. I love it so much! XOXOXO
For this very reason, I have grown to love the non-ending prayers of our young children at dinnertime. Although the dinner grows cold as they thank God for everything from people to plates; I’ve learned a valuable lesson. The lesson is that I need to see everything around me as a blessing, not just the big, blatant things. We should be thankful for each person, each bite and each moment that we have been given!
Great post about humility!
Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments Alycia. Yes, here’s to cold dinners, each morsel to be savored. I am thankful to finally be learning this!
Thanks to all for the lovely feedback about the poem, and I agree with Kathy, Tamara, she has a terrific way of pairing our stuff. Its humbling at the same time as making me proud!
Finding the sacred in every common part of our days…we remember and forget and remember again…Thank you, Kathy, for holding up a light by which a blissful pathway is illuminated!
Love, love, love the poem January!