Friday, August 17 \u00a0\u201cYou are not leaving.<\/p>\n
Even as the light fades quickly now,
\nyou are arriving.\u201d<\/p>\n
This week, it seems, is packed with one-off start-of-the-year events: \u00a0a gathering of c. 1000 teachers from the Detroit Catholic school system, \u00a0Betsy, a soul friend of 30 years heads back to Philly to start her work year as I start mine here; how many friends return from hiking in mountains or in the high and deep places of their souls, bringing stories? \u00a0The President\u2019s Convocation for the new \u00a0academic year; \u00a0a \u00a06 hour\u00a0conference call to consider two finalists to be the next President of the national Jesuit Volunteer Corps. \u00a0 And this morning, about 18 new faculty from 5 colleges gather for our now-traditional half-day mission and identity retreat. \u00a0 Next week begins with Colleagues Days and, for us\u00a0Jesuits, concludes with two days at the Manresa Retreat Center for our begin-the-year retreat. \u00a0 These are hardly routine times.<\/p>\n
I ruminated about which of the list\u2019s \u201cgo-to\u201d poets might offer a voice from the surprises waiting this week to be noticed. \u00a0 David Whyte came to mind. \u00a0Best to read him out loud, with pauses. \u00a0You can listen to him read the poem with a link and picture at the end.<\/p>\n
Have a blest weekend.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
john sj<\/p>\n
ps. John Law, a dear\u00a0friend who lives too far away in the UK for my comfort, wrote over night after reading Debra Spencer\u2019s\u00a0\u201cThe Discovery of Sex\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe piece by Debra Spencer made me laugh, and reminded me of a friend of mine who said to one of his daughters: \u2018Gee, if I\u2019d known grandchildren were such fun I wouldn\u2019t have bothered with children!\u2019 (Her response: \u2018Oh Dad!\u2019)\u201d<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s Post – David Whyte\u00a0\u201cThe Journey\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Above the mountains<\/p>\n the geese turn into Painting their Sometimes everything so you can find Sometimes it takes first, bright Sometimes with someone has written You are not leaving. from\u00a0House of Belonging<\/a>\u00a0by David Whyte<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Friday, August 17 \u00a0\u201cYou are not leaving. Even as the light fades quickly now, you are arriving.\u201d This week, it seems, is packed with one-off start-of-the-year events: \u00a0a gathering of c. 1000 teachers from the Detroit Catholic school system, \u00a0Betsy, … Continue reading
\nthe light again<\/p>\n
\nblack silhouettes
\non an open sky.<\/p>\n
\nhas to be
\ninscribed across
\nthe heavens<\/p>\n
\nthe one line
\nalready written
\ninside you.<\/p>\n
\na great sky
\nto find that<\/p>\n
\nand indescribable
\nwedge of freedom
\nin your own heart.<\/p>\n
\nthe bones of the black
\nsticks left when the fire
\nhas gone out<\/p>\n
\nsomething new
\nin the ashes of your life.<\/p>\n
\nEven as the light fades quickly now,
\nyou are arriving.<\/p>\n