One more hour to go! Sitting here at the Vancouver airport, beside gate 64. Arran helped me close and lock my backpack, "Bonnie Bag" or bag of clothes and games for children in Kathman and my handluggage. Newness and adventures await me. I would like to share with you too a lovely poem by Irish writer and poet John O'Donoghue:
A BLESSING FOR THE TRAVELLER
Every time you leave home, another road takes you into a world you
were never in, New strangers on other paths await.
New places that have never seen you, will startle a little at your entry.
Old places that knew you well will pretend nothing changed since your last visit.
When you travel you find yourself alone in a different way,
more attentive now to the self you bring along.
Your more subtle eye watching you abroad; and how what meets you
Touches that part of the heart that lies low at home:
How you unexpectedly attune to the timbre in some voice,
Opening a conversation you want to take in to where your longing
Has pressed hard enough inward, on some unsaid dark, to create a crystal insight,
You could not have known you needed to illuminate your way.
When you travel, new silence goes with you,
And if you listen you will hear what your heart would love to say:
A journey can become a sacred thing.
Make sure before you go, to take the time to bless your going forth.
To free your heart of ballast so that the compass of your soul may direct you
Towards the territories of spirit where you will discover more of your
hidden life;
May you travel in an awakened way, gathered wisely into your inner ground;
That you may not waste the invitations which wait along the way to transform you.
May you travel safely, arrive refreshed And live your time away to its fullest;
Return home more enriched and free to balance the gift of days which call
you.
By John O'Donohue
Light
3 years ago
hear from you in Seoul I am sure you have quite a wait there. Awesome
ReplyDeleteIt is so great to see how John’s work continues to weave “words of love . . . an invisible cloak, to mind your life.” I want to support you in sharing that inspiration and love; and I am also responsible for minding the technicalities connected with the preservation of John’s estate and literary legacy.
ReplyDeleteJohn’s family would be very grateful if you would add to your quote a note that gives the title of the book from which the poem is quoted (To Bless the Space Between Us), as well as the copyright attribution ( © John O’Donohue. All rights reserved). It would also be great if you could provide a link to the web site: www.johnodonohue.com — so that those who want to know more about John can come to us!
warmly and with gratitude,
Lindaa
Love that poem! Lesley
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