Sally Weaver Glick
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Sparks of Light

Walking Mindfully

5/4/2014

1 Comment

 
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Thich Nhat Hanh: Miracle of Mindfulness

I like to walk alone on country paths,
rice plants and wild grasses on both sides,
putting each foot down on the earth
in mindfulness, knowing
that I walk on the wondrous earth.
In such moments, existence is a miraculous
and mysterious reality.

People usually consider walking on water
or in thin air a miracle.
But I think the real miracle
is not to walk either on water or in thin air,
but to walk on earth.
Every day we are engaged in a miracle
which we don't even recognize:
a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves,
the black, curious eyes of a child--
our own two eyes.
All is a miracle

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The Grace of Seeing

1/26/2013

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A few years ago a friend introduced me to J. Philip Newell's Celtic Benediction, and his morning and evening prayers continue to be a blessing. I've looked back through past photos for images that go with this Sunday morning prayer.

    I watch this morning
    for the light that the darkness has not overcome.
    I watch for the fire that was in the beginning
    and that burns still in the brilliance of the rising sun.
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    I watch for the glow of life that gleams in the growing earth
    and glistens in sea and sky.
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    I watch for your light, O God,
    in the eyes of every living creature
    and in the ever-living flame of my own soul.
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    If the grace of seeing were mine this day
    I would glimpse you in all that lives.
    Grant me the grace of seeing this day.
    Grant me the grace of seeing.
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Pretty and Perilous World

10/30/2012

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Delight was not the primary emotion I experienced when I encountered these garden spiders in the prairie plantings on campus earlier this month. Especially when I looked up from photographing a clump of seedheads and realized I was nearly surrounded by garden spiders and their webs. Despite fond memories of Charlotte's Web, and appreciation for the way Charlotte uses her writing/weaving skills to come to the aid of Wilbur the pig, my visceral images were more of Bilbo's encounter with giant spiders, and of the giant spiders in the forest at Hogwarts.

Thanks a lot, Tolkien and Rowling. And it is really not fair. Garden spiders are harmless -- to humans anyway. Their webs are works of art I can appreciate, especially when they catch early morning light in a dewy outline. I'm sure there is a plethora of fascinating things to be learned by those willing to look at the spider with a attentive, compassionate spirit.

Still, my first reaction is an "Ewww," especially with these large garden spiders. And why is that? They are no bigger than a monarch butterfly, and their color scheme -- yellow and black -- is not far from the orange and black of a monarch. Yet I'm drawn to the butterfly and flinch from the spider.

I set my spider photos aside, unable to see a spark of delight in them. And then I read this poem by Mary Oliver, from her book Swan: poems and prose poems. And I take delight in her attentive, compassionate perspective. Ah, yes. Spider, butterfly, human, all doing our best to create our homes and find food, making our way as best we can in this pretty, this perilous world.
    Torn 

I tore the web
  of a black and yellow spider

        in the brash of weeds

and down she came
   on her surplus of legs

     each of which

touched me and really
   the touch wasn't much

              but then the way

if a spider can
    she looked at me

         clearly somewhere between

outraged and heartbroken
    made me say "I'm sorry

        to have wrecked your home

your nest your larder"
    to which she said nothing

            only for an instant

pouched on my wrist
then swung herself off

                 on the thinnest of strings

back into the world.
The pretty, this perilous world.
                                            Mary Oliver
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And just in case you need a break from looking at spiders, here's another image from the same day.
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Among the Trees

7/19/2012

1 Comment

 
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Looking back through my photos of Colorado trees, I can't help but think of Mary Oliver's poem, When I Am Among the Trees:

        When I am among the trees,
        especially the willows and the honey locust,
        equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
        they give off such hints of gladness,
        I would almost say that they save me, and daily. 

         I am so distant from the hope of myself,
        in which I have goodness, and discernment,
        and never hurry through the world
            but walk slowly, and bow often.  

        Around me the trees stir in their leaves
        and call out, "Stay awhile."
        The light flows from their branches. 

        And they call again, "It's simple," they say,
        "and you too have come
        into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
        with light, and to shine."  
                                      (Thirst, 2006)
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1 Comment

Becoming

3/8/2012

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Sunset on icy branches
For the past couple years I've had a picture/poem posted on my bulletin board, one John wrote and gave me for Epiphany 2009. It's a little hard to read there, with white print on a picture of evening sun on icy branches (the one above). For some reason I took it down the other day and re-read it.

He pulled together a number of threads from our experiences in 2008 -- if you check my 11-19 post, you can read my poem on the episode with the seagulls. We were both surprised to discover threads that had no source in 2008, but that resonate with strands of our lives today, including this blog (see section 4).

Becoming    -- by John Glick
1.
A band of sun-fire
Pierces dark December clouds
Illuminating.

One by one seagulls
Enter the light, winging southward,
Each bearing a prayer.

On and on they come
Transfixed I stand; thank God for
Serendipity.

2.
Flame's way focuses the mind;
A candle,
A campfire,
A raging California hillside.

On this day of the longest night,
When a father wonders if he'll have a job next month,
When a mother's doctor tells her she has cancer,
When a family huddles in the cold because
        they could not pay the utility bill,
We yearn for the light.
We yearn for God's light,
Like watchmen ache for the dawn.

Flame of love also
Focuses the mind, on
A child,
A friend,
A community.

3.
When deep comes darkness,
Your love, O Lord, is a fire,
Turning, transforming.

You who walk with us
Our hearts burn within; we Know
When You break the bread.

Ah, the flame within;
First it kindles, then ignites
Mind, body, soul.

4.
Shadows are the evidence of light,
Both the giver and the receiver,
A shadow speaks the language of
Shape, intensity and movement.

Evening settles;
Sipping tea my heart drinks in
Trees a-fire with sun.

They stretch their fingers
Towards heaven, inviting
"You too can be fire!"

Used with permission. All rights reserved.
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A Glory of Gulls

11/19/2011

1 Comment

 
November pulled up a gray cloud blanket last night, making today a good one for writing about a memory of light.

Three years ago, almost to the day (11-21-2008), I came out of the main seminary building at AMBS, heading towards my car, and had the great good fortune to witness an incredible combination of birds and sunset. I've tried finding words for the experience several times. Mary Oliver's Snow Geese almost fits, but also inspired me to try my own poem version.

Glory of Gulls  -- Sally Weaver Glick
“Oh, to love what is lovely and will not last!” 
                                    from Snow Geese, by Mary Oliver

 Mine were not geese,
            but gulls
                half-glimpsed,
                a white-winged swirl,
                        sunset lit,
                against dark clouds.

A few?
    A flock?
            I turned to look
            but found
                no end, no bound, no
                    one last bird

only more and more
        a migration,
                a jubilation,
                        a glory of gulls.

A river,
        ever flowing from the south,
                dim grey ghosts
                        in a grey sky, till
                caught by the light
                        they blaze
                            into bright life

and fly on
    northwards,
            a flurry now of golden notes
                    floating
                drifting
                    dancing a silent song,

a thousand flickering flames,
        tongues of fire,
                fiery sparks
                    scattered by the setting sun. I

catch my breath,

and drink delight.

The gulls have gone
and I've gone on, yet
still

I stand
and gaze,
gaze again
and breathe out
                     glory

                     glory

                      glory.

1 Comment
    My approach to contemplative photography --
    "Pay attention.
    Be astonished.
    Tell about it."

    Mary Oliver in "Sometimes"

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  • Home
  • Spiritual Guidance
    • What is spiritual guidance?
    • When should I seek it?
    • Individual or group?
  • Groups
    • Inklings
    • 2020 - 2021 Schedule
  • Individuals
    • Spiritual guidance for individuals >
      • Locally
      • At a distance
  • Sparks of Light blog
  • Martha Mary Mosaic
  • Writing
    • In Tune with God: the art of congregational discernment
    • Resources
  • About me
  • Contact