that piece of God

There is a really deep well inside me. And in it dwells God. 
Sometimes I am there too. And this is all we can manage these days
and also all that really matters. To safeguard that little piece of you, God, in ourselves.

Etty Hillesum (1914-1943)

 Keep on doing the things you have learned... Philippians 4:9

Say please and thank you 
get up in the morning
listen instead of interrupt
bite my tongue more often than bite another with my words
breathe when I have the opportunity to sit at a traffic light
notice the changing of the season
            the position of the sun
            the first crimson leaf
            monarchs coasting south
call a friend in need
call a friend with my need
give bear hugs
have a tea party
cry freely
listen to poetry
laugh easily
be aware divisive thoughts and don’t give into them
notice the work of my hands
love even when I am angry
smile before I answer the phone
be outdoors
be still to begin the day
make space for what is important
believe in someone who needs to be believed in –
            choose to believe in the good of humanity
listen to the cardinal’s chirp
pet a dog
sit in the glow of candlelight
write something every day
say I. Love. You.
listen to something nurturing
taste food rather than just eat it
be fascinated at the way dish soap bubbles cling together
            how drops of water cling to a lilting leaf
watch the ladybug crawl across my arm
love nature
like the broken and incomplete things – they are like me
like the simple and beautiful things – they are like me
say please and thank you.

May we keep on doing these things that we have learned to safeguard that little piece of you, God in ourselves. And the peace of God will be with us.

in this together…