No introduction today. Sometimes the soul can only speak in poetry.
Be With
“I just want to be with you.”
my child’s plea
so sweet,
so simple.
a stutter trying to interrupt the fast-revolving wheel
my spinning presence
in no moment standing still.
It feels unnatural to stop
with no objective
no self-validating task.
to only be
be with.
And later, open journal in my lap,
I grope for prayer,
for words to wake a passion in my soul,
to feel connection to a God I’ve walked with for so long
but feels tonight so far away.
Then, as my pen spills ink across a page
of spinning words, I feel an urge
a child’s longing
simple words that spell themselves
into my prayer.
I just want to be with you for a while
be with.
An image that my daughter loves
presents itself to eyes closed more in weariness than prayer.
The sister who sat at her master’s feet*
eschewing spinning,
whirling,
soul-consuming tasks
to sit and learn.
“She chose the better part.”
Rebuke refused, and welcome given her instead,
the disciple who knew how to be
be with.
I want to be that eager girl
whose eagerness leads not to movement, but to peace
to patient sitting,
waiting,
listening,
knowing I will
find all that I seek
and even more
if I can simply learn to be
be with.
* The sisters referenced are Mary and Martha, whose story is told in Luke 10:38-42.