Saturday, December 26, 2009

Reflecting


Colored Pencils, originally uploaded by Jennifer Belthoff.

I have been quiet here lately. Turning into myself. Looking find answers to some questions within my heart. As it turns out though there is no need for me to answer any questions. Someone has answered them for me. So I would like to share with you a poem from the great David Whyte.

The House of Belonging

I awoke
this morning
in the gold light
turning this way
and that

thinking for
a moment
it was one
day
like any other.

But
the veil had gone
from my
darkened heart
and
I thought

it must have been the quiet
candlelight
that filled my room,

it must have been
the first
easy rythm
with which I breathed
myself to sleep,

it must have been
the prayer I said
speaking to the otherness
of the night.

And
I thought
this is the good day
you could
meet your love,

this is the black day
someone close
to you could die.

This is the day
you realize
how easily the thread
is broken
between this world
and the next

and I found myself
sitting up
in the quiet pathway
of light,

the tawny
close grained cedar
burning round
me like fire
and all the angels of this housely
heaven ascending
through the first
roof of light
the sun has made.

This is the bright home
in which I live,
this is where
I ask
my friends
to come,
this is where I want
to love all the things
it has taken me so long
to learn to love.

This is the temple
of my adult aloneness
and I belong
to that aloneness
as I belong to my life.

There is no house
like the house of belonging.

7 comments:

patty said...

Just beautiful! This is why we need to keep reading and writing and questioning and sharing - because sometimes we can't answer our own questions, but every question has been asked before and there are always a wealth of wonderful, meaningful answers out there if we just keep on seeking!!!

in the swim said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
beth said...

jennifer....you've been missed !

but I love the fact that your heart is finding you !

chrissy said...

dearest jennifer...
i have missed you. the texts that have sailed from you to me the past days have put a smile on my face and warmed my heart. i love you. i think of you often. i love this poem you shared. love it. it makes me wonder what you love about it and why it is special to you. please know how much your outreach means to me dear scarf sister.
peace to you this day.
chrissy

www.chrissygardner.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Halt said...

You are wise to turn inwards for the answers. I often forget - and turn outward.

Happy 2010! I wish you a year full of blessings and love and belonging.

Unknown said...

Visiting from Beth...
oh this poem is incredible and so timely.
I can't wait to look around here.... the pictures , the words.
I don't "know" your story yet, but there is such beauty .

Jen Lee said...

love this.