I lean my head against Love’s chest,
match the rhythm of Her breath,
and enter the darkness.

The light hurts my eyes.

I see 
what others have done that
I haven’t.
I notice habits I have that
they don’t.
I watch myself 
lose myself
disappear
and want a world with no mirrors.

I close my eyes
but I can’t unsee what I’ve seen.

Love puts Her hand on mine
and waits
until my breath slips back into Hers.

“Just keep watching,” She says
as if we’re at the movies.

She knows what’s coming
and doesn’t want me to miss a thing.

Watch and pray…
–Matthew 26:41

∗ ∗ ∗

Love Mischief for the World

Resmaa Menakem is helping me see and feel how trauma acts in my body. With God’s help, I am learning to be present and allow a new story of freedom and kindness to unfold.

“In this groundbreaking book, therapist Resmaa Menakem examines the damage caused by racism in America from the perspective of trauma and body-centered psychology.

“The body is where our instincts reside and where we fight, flee, or freeze, and it endures the trauma inflicted by the ills that plague society. . .

“My Grandmother’s Hands is a call to action for all of us to recognize that racism is not only about the head, but about the body, and introduces an alternative view of what we can do to grow beyond our entrenched racialized divide.” (Amazon)

You can listen to Krista Tippett interview Menakem on On Being

What love mischief are you and God doing for the world?
Let me know and I will include it in an upcoming post.

Credits and References:
Moonbeams by Jessie Wilcox Smith (September 6, 1863 – May 3, 1935)
Blackberries by Ed Dahl. Used with permission. 

© Esther Hizsa, An Everyday Pilgrim, 2022.
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without permission from Esther Hizsa is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used provided there is a link to the original content and credit is given as follows: © Esther Hizsa, An Everyday Pilgrim 2013-2022.  http://www.estherhizsa.com