it's my 5th day here in themiddleonowhereland, west virginia. each morning i've sat in amazement watching sun rise in my back yard over wide stretches of farmland, the cows and horses grazing in complete solace. not a sound for miles except the icy wind and the occasional bark from the neighbor's dog. i feel like i'm living on a different planet... it's slowly settling in that this is my life now.
view from my backyard... my little tree, my little swing, my little shed
...the horses grazing in the afternoon
...the white cow always looks up first, alerts the others that i'm there
...and last but not least, the unassuming humble abode. its not much, but then again, i don't really need much.
i always dreamed of a living in Mary Oliver's poem "a dream of trees"...
There is a thing in me that dreamed of trees,
A quiet house, some green and modest acres
A little way from every troubling town,
A little way from factories, schools, laments.
I would have time, I thought, and time to spare,
With only streams and birds for company.
To build out of my life a few wild stanzas.
...so here i am. in this new life i always dreamed of. following my heart, running on pure and simple faith. it's not going to be easy, i know. my job is going to be difficult, i'll be in the process of intense training. i'm isolated from the rest of the world. it will take awhile to build solid relationships.
my challenge is to learn to keep my heart open to the world. to let it change me, to let it strip me naked. to let it make me unplugged, raw, humbled and real. to not let failure make me shriveled and closed, but to let it make me perceptive and empathic to others. to sit with my pain without being able to fix it. to see and to receive god's earthly handiwork. to have without holding. to love wide open.
6 comments:
I am at awe over your raw courage, your uncompromising vision of following your heart without any known destination, your resolve, strength, which are being coupled with tenderness and a certain calmness of the mind at the same time. You are living the dream I'll also be living as soon as initial steps towards finding the right home base to operate from are being taken.
I'd love to be a respectful observing bystander, if you let me. And above all: All the best of luck and enjoy!
Hi honey
Love what you wrote. You are now YOU and in charge of your destiny. Take the good and bad together and make the most of it. You can do it.
Love Dad
gorgeous post...wow! what a wild and beautiful gift to be living in the quiet spaciousness of "themiddleonowhereland!" the images radiate simplicity and stillness.
i too have dreamt of living inside of that poem. my high rise apartment surrounded by flashing neon signs way over here in korea is a far cry on the outside, but what has happened on the inside is exactly what i wished for in that poem. may your journey continue to open you...to bring you deeper into the center of stillness....to make you more and more real.
i'm so happy that you have entered the blogosphere! i will visit you often.
You have found a lovely town. I hope you will find much happiness through your work in helping the girls at the academy.
I wish you peace and love.
God Bless you! Love, Mom
Post a Comment