This morning my daughter asked if we would do different activities once all our kids were vaccinated. I replied back, “sure,” and then asked her the first new thing she wanted to do. She quickly replied back, “Go to the movies!” One of my sons immediately chimed in, “Yes, let’s go to the movies!” I haven’t even thought of a movie theater in about 18 months….and so I appreciated their perspective.
Speaking of perspective, last night I sat looking out the front window of our house at John McLaren Park. This park has been one of our family’s pandemic finds, as we’ve enjoyed hiking there, riding bikes and playing at a completely renovated playground. The view of this water tower depicted in this picture reminded me of the sacred nature of water. Here in California, and amidst record breaking heat in the Pacific Northwest, I pray for water and the safety of all who protect us against wildfires.
A friend sent me this poem last week- enjoy!
Continue by Maya Angelou (2016)
Into a world which needed you
My wish for you
Is that you continue
Continue
To be who and how you are
To astonish a mean world
With your acts of kindness
Continue
To allow humor to lighten the burden
of your tender heart
Continue
In a society dark with cruelty
To let the people hear the grandeur
Of God in the peals of your laughter
Continue
To let your eloquence
Elevate the people to heights
They had only imagined
Continue
To remind the people that
Each is as good as the other
And that no one is beneath
Nor above you
Continue
To remember your own young years
And look with favor upon the lost
And the least and the lonely
Continue
To put the mantel of your protection
Around the bodies of
The young and defenseless
Continue
To take the hand of the despised
And diseased and walk proudly with them
In the high street
Some might see you and
Be encouraged to do likewise
Continue
To plant a public kiss of concern
On the cheek of the sick
And the aged and infirm
And count that as a
Natural action to be expected
Continue
To let gratitude be the pillow
Upon which you kneel to
Say your nightly prayer
And let faith be the bridge
You build to overcome evil
And welcome good
Continue
To ignore no vision
Which comes to enlarge your range
And increase your spirit
Continue
To dare to love deeply
And risk everything
For the good thing
Continue
To float
Happily in the sea of infinite substance
Which set aside riches for you
Before you had a name
Continue
And by doing so
You and your work
Will be able to continue
Eternally
Keeping the Faith 