So I can’t save the world—
can’t save even myself,
can’t wrap my arms around
every frightened child, can’t
foster peace among nations,
can’t bring love to all who
feel unlovable.
So I practice opening my heart
right here in this room and being gentle
with my insufficiency. I practice
walking down the street heart first.
And if it is insufficient to share love,
I will practice loving anyway.
I want to converse about truth,
about trust. I want to invite compassion
into every interaction.
One willing heart can’t stop a war.
One willing heart can’t feed all the hungry.
And sometimes, daunted by a task too big,
I tell myself what’s the use of trying?
But today, the invitation is clear:
to be ridiculously courageous in love.
To open the heart like a lilac in May,
knowing freeze is possible
and opening anyway.
To take love seriously.
To give love wildly.
To race up to the world
as if I were a puppy,
adoring and unjaded,
stumbling on my own exuberance.
To feel the shock of indifference,
of anger, of cruelty, of fear,
and stay open. To love as if it matters,
as if the world depends on it.
from The Unfolding (Wildhouse Publishing, 2024)
This is the “power of extravagant tenderness” as Fr. Greg Boyle writes.It may be subtle, but there is no power like it. It does matter, and our world does depend on it. Would that we could all be “ridiculously courageous”! Thank you, dear. This one’s going on the wall.
I was just hearing of Greg Boyle’s work last week … and love this “power of extravagant tenderness.” yes. there it is. I believe in it, too, have been the recipient of it and know its power
“…I want to say: all my life …I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms[, throwing myself head-on into the arms of the world].”
gracias to mother Mary! xoxo
Love for its own sake. “Why write love poetry in a burning world?
To train myself, in the midst of a burning world,
to offer poems of love to a burning world.” — Katie Farris
so beautiful said! Thank you for this quote–that’s exactly it.
‘to be ridiculously courageously in love’ – oh yes, the world depends on it! xoxo
Oh THIS one… when the words one needs to hear arrive with Diving Timing
Oh friend, thanks for this–it was a painful one to write, really–I got wrestled to the mat on it. As if I had to believe in it more than anything, which I do. but fear is so strong, really wants to shut us down–and love is stronger.
Yes ! Thank you.
Today another anchor comes from music.
I’m rehearsing for a concert in early December. It includes Hanukkah and Christmas songs and begins with poetry from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He wrote “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” after his experiences during the Civil War and several personal losses.
Your poetry reminds me that I have choice and agency to create the world with my own words.
Thank you for yours.
Thank you, Harriet! And yes, I love this carol, thank you for reminded me of its origin. And yes, I believe so much that poetry and language helps us to meet the world, helps us see our perspective and that it is possible to change that, even when we cannot change what is happening. wishing you deep peace ❤️
This is so beautiful! Thank you.
It is exactly the reminder I needed.
As a court interpreter, spending hours and days in court, being a witness of the horrendous suffering and the violence in communication of the court personnel towards the litigants and among themselves my soul aches as my nervous system is in a constant fight or flight mode as everyone is watching everyone, nobody is trusting anybody, cameras everywhere…
Your poem is a confirmation of the only thing that is true and powerful among hell and chaos, Love!
Love is the only way in this Life. Surrendering to what IS without resistance and remaining open to our circumstances with compassion and empathy without judgment is my practice in an adversarial place of work is very hard. Some days I struggle to feel compassion and stay open to the unlovable, to the perpetrators to the ones that impart “Justice”, nevertheless they are just like me, trying to do the best they can in this world according to their genes and up to date conditioning… So it’s all good, I hang on to Love and Compassion as a default mode despite my heart’s aches and blues…
Oh my goodness, Inge, thank you. Thank you for this comment and for sharing your perspective as a court interpreter. And yet, even knowing so deeply the distrust, the suffering, thank you for sharing about the turning to love. Oh this struggle to feel compassion and stay open. To notice how it is not easy. To notice how we are all “trying to do the best we can in this world.” I am so grateful for your response.
Thank you so much. I cannot save the world but I can open my heart 💓
Oh thank you, friend–here’s to hearts ever opening and doing what we can do
[…] Because […]
Diana Butler Bass shared this, and I read it–with attribution–in worship yesterday. I wish it weren’t so perfect for these days. Thank you.
Thank you, Lela … for sharing the poem and its message of love. Wishing you deep peace. ❤️
Thank you for this profound, inspiring work. Someone in my women’s chorus (Grand Rapids, MI) shared it this. I, in turn shared it as part of a reflection with my spiritual community (Grand Haven, MI) this morning.
“I practice walking down the street heart first.” Yes.
Thank you, Nelleke. Walking down the street heart first with you ❤️
[…] if you’d like to see these thoughts shared more eloquently in a poem, here’s one written by Rosemerry, shared with me by Ray […]
[…] Because from The Unfolding by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer butterfliescompassioncourageflowerheartinsectsLovepeacepoempracticeRosemerry Wahtola Trommerwillingnessworld By Monte Stevens No Comments […]
[…] original poet’s lines in “quote marks”(https://ahundredfallingveils.com/2022/05/30/because-4/) […]
[…] if you’d like to see these thoughts shared more eloquently in a poem, here’s one written by Rosemerry, shared with me by Ray […]