Small things in the morning

I only write
small things in the morning
when my Eye is open wide.

***

The right solution
is a blessing to everyone
and leaves no one out.

***

The place whereon I stand
is holy ground
and I gladly reach into all dimensions
for the power to thrive
right where I am
this day.

***

I thank you God
that there is heavenly work
for me to do
on earth.
Help me see it
and do it
everywhere I go.

***

There really is no need
to spend time on past mistakes.
Just acknowledge them,
aim again for the light,
and move on.

***

Well-being exists
and I will align
with that.

***

I have
and always will have
a perfectly wonderful
indestructible
spiritual body.

***

Dear God,
help me express
the beauty of you
at the core of me
today.

***

All I need are
true thoughts,
water,
and a little food.

***

Heart like a vine,
twining reaching
feeling for the sun:
in the morning quiet
it finds its way.

***

Let me enter a realm
of gratitude,
where pure direct love flows through,
the open fount where all may feel
entirely whole.

***

Get down to the feeling
of a trusting little child,
and then
offer your prayer.

***

A healing can occur
as easily as an assumption
can be changed.

***

Where do we go when we die?
We go into the everywhere
where anyone can find us.

***

The material world that I experience
is my allowed reflection
of the spiritual world
in which I live and move
and have my being.

***

I just have to be me,
choosing thoughts that give me joy,
that I may pass it on.

***

Writing a Life

It’s like I am a pencil,
and just the tip of me – the bare lead –
extends into this world
a visible life lived,
written on Planet Earth.

All the rest of me lives
above, beyond, outside of time
pure being, distinct,
my own soul, guiding,
intelligent, communicating
soft as breathing.

In prayer I feel for the words
and write them as my life.


gg murray 4/26/05

Winding Down

Our old dog Bo is winding down. Three nights now he has chosen to be outside in the cold spring air, and now rain. This morning I get up and find that our young dog Ebony, his protoge and lady love, is not here, and must be outside with him. This is highly unusual, since both dogs eagerly surround me while I make my morning coffee, awaiting the moment when I stoop down and give them a small bit of cream.

Luckily, there are two well-worn dog houses outside for them to use. And since it is spring, there are daffodils, bird songs, and the irresistible trill of the peepers, singing from the meadow pond across the road. It is a good way to go out.

I myself wouldn’t do it so differently, could one choose to die in such a natural way. Last year I wrote a poem about this:


A Good Death

I say farewell to family and friends,
my precious daughter and grandchildren
and the husband of my days;
and I go out and lie among the daffodils
and give myself
to the onward rush of spring.


The vet alerted us to the tumor under Bo’s left arm some months ago, inoperable because of its proximity to other organs. We agreed it was best to let him be, since he was not in any discomfort. He was still quite active, sparring with Ebony and play-mating her at every opportunity, even though both dogs were ‘fixed’.

He’s relished his daily walks with Dan, impatiently smiling and waiting at the door at the least sign of an impending walk. He’s an extremely good natured dog, a cross between a black lab and an Australian cattle dog, about 80 pounds of black muscle and good cheer. I spotted him at the Animal Rescue League when he was 5 years old, locked up for chasing bicycles – logical herding behavior for a working dog. After all, a dog can’t just be expected to lie around and do nothing.

He fit easily into our routine – big, affectionate, companionable – although our lady dog at the time found him a bit uncouth. I’m afraid their years together were something of a disappointment to both, though they managed to get along well enough. It was nothing like the joy we see between Bo and Ebony. Lucky boy to have had such a lady love for the last year.

When it is dawn I will go out and see how they are doing.

later... Not so fast, he seems to say as he eagerly emerges from his dog house on hearing my approach. I am so glad to see him. I signal both dogs to come in for breakfast, and they both come, rounding the back of the house and slapping open the dog door. They eat their chow, then settle in to familiar resting places on the floor, depending on which room we are in.

I think my assessment of Bo's health is probably correct, but I am so glad to see we will still have some good times together. For however long we have, I am thankful for all of it.

gg murray 4/24/05

Aborigine Time

To wake each morning
innocent of schemes:
feeling the dream-texture,
gently opening to the day.

To wander with intention
the inner and outer landscapes,
companioned by friends,
rocks trees sky.

To find water where needed,
insect guides, and food
that offers itself freely.

To share, in song and mystery
the long chant of a people
unafraid, trusting
our everlasting Source.


gg murray 4/18/05

What do I most want in this life?

To be of service.

To know and express the fullness of my being.

To actively feel my way to joy every day.

To delight in who I am because God made me – alive and curious and in the world.

To choose spiritual clarity, abundant life, and love – and teach others to do this too.

To practice healing by conscious alignment with the divine at the core of my being.


gg murray 4/22/05

On Being Pro-Life and Pro-Choice

I am a pro-life and pro-choice woman.

I have had an abortion and I have written a living will.

I think those people who really want to have a children, should. On the other hand, those who do not want children or are not sure, should wait.

I believe that life is eternal, that who we are, we are forever. We exist in the Divine before we are conceived, during this life, after this life, and through all lives we may experience. I believe we are here on Earth to love, to choose, to create, and to grow. I think we are guided all the time, even when we choose not to listen to that inner guidance.

I think we have a relationship of mystery, trust, and interdependence with all other life forms on the planet. We must choose wisely how we handle those relationships too.

To be in the position of considering abortion means there has been a mistake, a serious mistake that will affect the whole of a woman's life, and very likely her family and community as well. It means there has been a failure of responsibility and caring by the two people involved. Perhaps there is a marriage that is not strong enough to bear this child. Or perhaps there was ignorance, a casual relationship, or worse, a rape. In any case, there was a failure of respect for life, and now another life may compound the error.

There are those who will choose to go ahead with a pregnancy, trusting God to provide them with the courage and resources that are needed. I do not disagree with this choice, if it is honestly made. We are all different, and what would be a blessing for one person is a road not taken by another. That is why we have a mind and heart and inner guidance: to choose.

I believe that the fetus is a living being, even though physically undeveloped. It is like an idea in its early stages. And just as we do not accept every idea that is presented to us, and we do not allow every seed that sprouts in our garden to grow, in this case we find ourselves needing to exercise the deepest discernment - to know whether to go forward with this life or not.

I believe those who desire to come forth and be born into this world, will come forth, even if they are turned away many times. There are powerful spiritual lessons every time, no matter how brief or how long the human experience is. I believe the spirit continues unharmed, safe in its everlasting Source, just as my own life will continue, after I leave this body.

And the woman must find healing for the misjudgements or confusion or lack of self-respect that led to the circumstance of unwanted preganancy. This is not a trivial process, finding the emotional and spiritual healing that will enable her to grow, choose wisely, and have the courage to learn from this experience.

Choosing life in this context means choosing one's own life too. Making the best decision we can make given person we are, and the person we most aspire to be.


gg murray 4/21/05