It was 38 degrees outside 
when I entered the cool of the seniors’ residence
with a potted cyclamen for my mom. 
Yvonne, my favourite resident, asks 
“Do you ever stop?”

I could have said, “Yes.”
and told her about my quiet times and retreats.
I could have told her that I’m a contemplative
and teach the importance of rest.
I could have told her about the talk I just heard
by Thích Nhất Hạnh called Stop Running.
But I said, “No.”
because I wanted to keep moving.

I dreamt again that I was running,
striving,
never getting where I needed to go.
Then I woke up and realized
it was a dream.
I felt such relief.

In my life, I’m running,
striving,
never arriving.
But, sometimes,
I pause and wake up,
and realize
I have arrived
I am home
always in You.

What a relief!

Then, if only for  a long, slow breath,
I say to my body and my mind,
I have arrived.
I am home.

For in God, we live and move and have our being.
–Acts 17:28 (NIV)

Credits and References:
“Stop?” by faungg’s photos. Used with permission.
I Have Arrived by Esther Hizsa, 2024
Muurbloem by Sylvia Sassen. Used with permission.

© Esther Hizsa, An Everyday Pilgrim, 2024.
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without permission from Esther Hizsa is 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 2013-2024.  http://www.estherhizsa.com