This week I’ve written a lot about a particular theme – control.
I actually didn’t intend or plan to write about it. However, it seemed to be something front and center in my heart and mind each morning. There have been things I’ve prayed for this week, outcomes I’ve begged God to make happen. And yet, as I beg, God keeps knocking on my heart with this word – “control”.
I’ve noticed something lately about clinging to control – it doesn’t leave much room for love or gratitude. In fact, it often takes all your time and attention until you have nothing left to simply admire and love the world God has created.
The following prayer by Mary Oliver is aspirational for me. I so want to be someone that considers my work simply loving the world. I want to say that I woke up today simply thinking about every person and creature I’ve met and sitting in awe of them. So as I share this prayer this morning, know I am “thinking of you” and thanking God for all creation.
“My work is loving the world.
Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird—
equal seekers of sweetness.
Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.
Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.
Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?
Am I no longer young, and still half-perfect? Let me keep my mind on what matters,
which is my work,
which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished.
The phoebe, the delphinium.
The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.
Which is mostly rejoicing, since all the ingredients are here,
which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart and these body-clothes,
a mouth with which to give shouts of joy
to the moth and the wren,
to the sleepy dug-up clam,
telling them all, over and over, how it is
that we live forever.”
May God bless you this day.
(Image created from a tutorial from EveryTuesday.com)
