Here’s to Life! To the beauty, joy, miracle and splendor of it all! This is the day we now choose to live as best we can – open-eyed, open armed, open-minded; regarding each other highly, embracing others, changing our minds and considering each an integral part of our community and well-being. Our beauty and uniqueness joins the amazing kaleidoscope of colors, forms and possibility found all around the world. Indeed we are one with planets and platypuses, all cells and sounds, with water and all that makes us wonder. May these moments, this NOW, be paradoxed with enviable emptiness and freeing fulfillment. Amen.

We pause to empty our minds so that we can be filled with all that is inspiring and life-giving. We release our excessive attachments to our identities; we do not permit our egos to roam and attach recklessly to that which keeps us separate or superior. What a challenge this is.

We stride through days inspired to enhance this world and a desire to enjoy it. May we do both in ways that reflect an abandonment and a sacred responsibility to all life. Narrow is this way. Downward is the pull of self; it tugs at me…”.for me, for me, for me.” Heavy the gravity of the urge: “I want, I want, I want.” May we be holy and brave, honest and true to negotiate the pathways of harnessing the ego…and embracing our humanity in all its fragility and insecurities.

We think now of our fellow journey-mates and the seasons they and we feel. Times of dancing, times of sorrow; times for silence, times for music, times for speaking. A season for everything under the sun. Here’s to family! Here’s to Isaiah and baptism, to Matt and Pennapa. Here’s to friends! Here’s to all who are recovering; those facing life bravely in their dignity, hopes, fears and tears. The burdened and blessed; the virtuous and viced. We are connected; we are distinct; we are lovely; we are one.

The way is narrow and high. And it is also good. We take it one small step at a time, perhaps hesitantly…but with venture and dare in our gait. Might we be intoxicated by the risk, aware of awakening to a bit more NOW each day, filled with emptiness and open-mindedness; may we be delight-filled in this new earth and in creating new life purpose. Amen. Let it be.

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