April 11, 2023

The season of miracles


This past First Day, I was reminded in our pre-meeting discussion that Friends don't keep days or seasons because every day is holy. The discussion was loosely structured as a "brunch," with a metaphorical appetizer or beverage course involving sharing a poem or reading; a main course to allow us time for deeper reflections on spring, renewal, hope, and miracles; and a dessert course to top it off, sharing a favorite recipe for this time of year or what we are looking forward to.

Many of us were aware that the mainstream Christian holiday of Easter, the Jewish holiday of Passover, and the Muslim holiday of Ramadan all overlapped this year. It has nearly always been a sore point for me when a major Christian holiday comes around because I am often left out of those conversations, not having been raised in that tradition. So for us as a meeting to take a beat or two and acknowledge these other holidays and "seasons" warmed my heart.

As the sharing got underway, I was often moved or struck by what we heard from one another. I began taking short notes, jotting down a peculiar phrase that a Friend used, or referencing an image that someone spoke of. By the end of our pre-meeting time, a poem had organically risen from our blessed time together.

    IN TALKING ABOUT MIRACLES

    the song of the peepers
    the sighting of the purple violets and white
    among skunk cabbages on the forest floor

    planting peas and parsnips
    old marigold seeds from years ago awaken in zipper bags
    the season of making seeds turn into sprouts amid our miraculous observation

    the migration of gray juncos
    the thinning of ice on ponds
    slivers of open water
    welcoming the return of herons

    the rhizome alive within us
    under the right conditions
    with the right Love
    the people will bloom
    and we unfold and unfurl
    and become again

    joyous day
    wondrous season
    season of miracles


Blessings,
Liz

1 comment:

Hystery said...

I am reading this on May Day. All days are holy, but my Quaker Pagan self can't resist tying a bow on a few. This year, however, I've been so demoralized by my fears for the world that I've forgotten to spend much time loving it. That I should find this poem on this particular day is a happy coincidence- or maybe not. In any case, I thank you.