Posted in Grace, Life as Prayer, Shifts, So Much Goodness, Uncategorized, tagged Adventure, Beginnings, John O'Donohue, Poetry, Spirit on November 16, 2014| 3 Comments »
Words to tuck in your heart…
“Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life’s desire.
Awake your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.”
John O’Donohue
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Fire, John O'Donohue, Restoration, Silence, Soul on January 21, 2013| 1 Comment »
Today here in the US we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day. And although many use it as a National Day of Service, with so much of my life being the director of a Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advocacy Center is about service I generally use this day to be more reflective and to fill myself to be able to continue to be of service.
By this point I am usually drained from the extroversion of the past few months… between the Holiday gatherings, the weekend of service being an advisor with 1,600 of my favorite young people at the YMCA Minnesota Youth In Government and all of the rest of life that continues to roll on I usually need a day or two of hunkering down and finding some restoration for my soul. It was negative 12 most of today, and with windchill (which those of you who don’t live in MN it essentially means what it really feels like) it was negative 35. Crazy cold is an understatement. Today my restoration was found in some poetry and time enjoying the warmth of the fire and the counting of the many blessings that have been unfolding in my life over the past year.
I want to share with you some words from one of my favorite poets and I hope that they bring your soul the peace that they did mine:
My wish for you…
That you create some time to allow your blessings to find you, that you feel the warmth of a fire, that you “become inclined to watch the way of rain”, that you allow yourself to be deeply nourished.
P.S. If you like the Blessed sign that I have, you can get your very own from my friend Amy at Little Fish Designs. Some great items on there! Be sure to check out all of her fantastic wares.
Posted in Beauty, Gifts, tagged Blessing, friend, inspiriation, John O'Donohue, refreshment on October 5, 2012| 6 Comments »
Autumn 2012
A Blessing
May the light of your soul guide you
May the light of your soul bless the work you do with the secret love and warmth of your heart.
May you see in what you do the beauty of your own soul.
May the sacredness of your work bring healing, light and renewal to those who work with you and to those who see and receive your work.
May your work never weary you.
May it release within you wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration and excitement.
May you be present in what you do.
May you never become lost in the bland absences.
May the day never burden.
May dawn find you awake and alert, approaching your new day with dreams, possibilities and promises.
May evening find you gracious and fulfilled.
May you go into the night blessed, sheltered and protected.
May your soul calm, console and renew you.John O’Donohue
Sent to me by a friend just when I needed it, perhaps you needed it today too.
Erica Staab 