A beautiful persistence

Can you feel it? The country is beginning to move, slowly, haltingly, with an uneven gait. But there is movement, like the green tendrils of spring stirring under the melting blankets of snow. You can almost smell it like the awakening of the earth. I love this poem, which arrived in my inbox courtesy of the Writer's Almanac today (it is the poet's birthday--happy birthday, Jane Hirshfield!):

More and more I have come to admire resilience.
Not the simple resistance of a pillow, whose foam returns over and
over to the same shape, but the sinuous tenacity of a tree: finding the
light newly blocked on one side,
it turns in another.
A blind intelligence, true.
But out of such persistence arose turtles, rivers, mitochondria, figs—
all this resinous, unretractable earth.

"Optimism" by Jane Hirshfield, from Given Sugar, Given Salt. © Harper Collins, 2002.

God, may we each know the persistence of love and hope in our lives, standing firm on our stated ideal and loving vision, watching the horizon, and celebrating in the signs of a new season for our families, for this country, and for the world. Amen.

Thank you, gracias, obrigada, God! :)

Whether you are drawn to numbers or words, art or music, work with your hands, head, or heart (or all three), have a family or are single, are young or old, this morning you are awaking to a new day and you have something to celebrate. Obama's stimulus package passed yesterday and today he will sign the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, taking a bold step toward the beginning of healing of these challenging times. We can thank God for all the visionaries, the communicators, the speechmakers, and the challengers who have contributed their thought and best intentions to the making of a plan that serves people and meets needs in the best possible way. The rebuilding is only beginning--but it is beginning!

Visit the White House site to read President Obama's address on the passing of the recovery bill. As he says in his weekly address,

"This historic step won't be the end of what we do to turn our economy around, but the beginning," he says in his weekly address. To get us there, he invokes President Kennedy, who said, "Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks."

God, thank you for the vision in the hearts and minds of these our leaders. We hold in hope to the support of the blessed ideal of healing for all those struggling today, worried about their homes and futures, feeding and educating their children, keeping their businesses open. Bless each individual, each family, each public servant, each business. And enable us to receive and employ the power you give to each of us, more than equal to any task you ask us to do. Thank you, God, for your never-failing presence and leadership, and continue to make President Obama's way straight and clear, with angels attending today in joy and celebration! Amen.

Looking closer

Things are moving along, inching along, in the recovery process. We are keeping the faith, and President Obama is step by step using his gifts of insight, intelligence, vision, and faith to begin the long process of leading us to calmer waters. This morning I feel like one of the angels in the Talmud's story of growth (that over every blade of grass an angel bends, whispering "Grow! Grow! Grow!"), rejoicing in the tiny signs of progress, protectively guarding the vision that was born and is beginning to bear fruit in each of our hopeful hearts.

God, Friend, Creator and giver of all good, enable us to cherish the moments of light, peace, companionship, hope, and gentleness that grace our days today. May we receive the encouragement all around us, soaking in realized hope the way new growth reaches for the sun. Bless President Obama as he continues to step through this difficult and murkey time. Our nation and our world recognize the valley; we know you are with us; your presence and power comfort us. May President Obama have a clear sense of your leading in his life today; may his family be nourished and supported in joy and love; may we all rejoice in the sunshine and the opening hearts and minds that are the birthing place of a new, more harmonious world. Amen!

Truth of the ancients

This morning I did one of those just-open-the-bible-and-see-what-it-says kind of things, and my eyes caught this phrase immediately:

Thus says the Lord:
Stand at the crossroads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way lies; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
Jeremiah 6:16 (The Green Bible [NSRV] HarperOne, 2008)

We heard this idea recently in a moment of high celebration and hope, President Obama's inaugural speech, only 16 shorts days ago. The president said Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. In this time, as we continue our prayers for guidance, as we look to the world, to our government, to each other for signs of hope, let's remember to turn within first, listening for the truth that is, has, and always will be present.

Precious Lord, thank you for your constant, abiding, and never diminishing presence. Give us the courage, God, to stand tall in our places today, certain that this time of uncertainty is necessary for the growth spring will bring. Even now crocus is marshalling its life force, preparing to move quietly out through the blanket of snow. May we be marshalling our spirits, our hope, our faith, our belief in the undeniable victory of truth. May we look back to the ancients of our days--the ancient values, the ancient stories, the promise that framed our nation, the ancestors that brought us to this point, and know that you guided, protected, and supported each individual life and circumstance and will not withdraw your love and guidance now. Help us all to stay focused on what really matters most right now; and continue to bless President Obama with a quiet spirit, a listening ear, and the wisdom to hear your voice above all else. Amen.

In all things, give thanks

Yesterday was a tough day for President Obama, with the withdrawal of key appointees and challenges on seemingly every side. The President was quick to take responsibility (although personally I'm not certain the fault was his to take). Yet he upheld his stated ideal of clarity, transparency, and a single standard by which all are measured--not two sets of justices, one for regular folk like you and me and another for those in positions of power. We can see clearly he is continuing to stand on the foundation of truth and goodwill; he wants what he builds to be the natural outflow of the good center of the democratic ideal.

Precious, faithful, all-present God, even and perhaps especially in the midst of challenge and adversity, when the ground beneath us drops away and we find ourselves on a different path than we envisioned, we thank you that you are present, that the ideals of your light and love and equity for all are softly shining. We may not see the instant results we yearn for, O God, but we witness, protect, and celebrate the good that is blossoming in this very moment. For truth and agency and dedication and insight, we praise you. For the comfort of the still small voice stirring in our hearts and minds, we give thanks. For the attention and awareness, compassion and courage of the people of the world, we humbly share our gratitude. Bless President Obama and his family today, God, and grant them success--that the way may be open before them, that any obstacles dissolve in the path of Light, and that your good plan for harmony and balance find its expression through each and all of us. Amen.

Signs of spring

As the cold, snow, and ice grips much of the midsection of our country (30,000 people are still without power after several days just a few hundred miles from me as I write), as we collectively and individually dig out from piles upon piles of bad news, misguided decisions, and financial strategies that serve the few and exploit the many, robins arrive.

Yesterday and today, families of robins, some with big, bragging red breasts, have visited the trees along the edge of the forest behind my house. Some come to the birdfeeder, but mostly they seem to be flying and playing and chattering with each other, doing what robins happily do.

It seems early to me that they would arrive while there is still a foot of snow on the ground and much of our perspective and expectation is invested in the idea that we have a lot of "digging out" to do. But the robins offer a different message. Spring is coming! Flying, chattering, and being together still brings joy.

The world is turning and we are not alone in our efforts to bring progress--the earth is supporting us, God is leading, and the natural growth of good is occurring, perhaps unseen beneath the snow, but steadily and surely. We will soon see the miraculous new life that is even now making the change from seed to seedling.

Father/Mother God, sustainer of life, good and loving Friend, we are so thankful we can come to you in any moment, full of peace or full of worry, certain of our next steps or seeking guidance for a clouded way. We are grateful that you care for us even more tenderly than we care for our own children, and thank you for the many gifts of beauty and grace that we receive each and every day. May this Sabbath day be a day of poignant peace for President Obama and his family; may they feel, know, and sense the spring of good growth, the affirmation of good, the song of hope that is strengthening in our people and spreading throughout the land. May the outward signs of hardship begin to give way to the reality of spring--in our hearts, in our families, in our jobs, and in our government. We know spring is indeed coming because we know who You are and we know You love us. May we each and all rest in that knowing today in a special way. Amen.