900th post...the first of December

Earth’s crammed with heaven
and every common bush afire with God
but only he who sees
takes off his shoes
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries
     – Elizabeth Barrett Browning

three times this week these words have appeared before my eyes

at church
in a blog
on amazon...the new home shopping network!?!?

December the month of cramming the most you possibly can 
into a few just trying to be regular days
already I have had to say no to one thing that I want to do
would love to do
to do another thing 
that is even more necessary for me to do

I don't like that process 
of discerning 
of having to choose

I want it all
I want to see it all
I want to do it all

a bucket full of blackberries

yet sometimes 
I must just stand 
still
stay 
where I am
take off my shoes
and accept I'm not going anywhere today
for this is the sacred place that God has called me to 
here 
and 
now

There are two realities to which you must cling.
First, God has promised that you will receive 
   the love you have been searching for.
and second, God is faithful to that promise.
So stop wandering around.
Instead, come home and trust that God will bring you what you need. 
Your whole life you have been running about, 
seeking the love you desire. 
Now it is time to end that search. 
Trust that God will give you that all-fulfilling love 
   and will give it in a human way. 
Before you die, God will offer you 
    the deepest satisfaction you can desire. 
Just stop running and start trusting and receiving.
Home is where you are truly safe. 
It is where you can receive what you desire. 
You need human hands to hold you there 
   so you don't run away again. 
But when you come home and stay home, 
   you will find the love that will bring rest to  your heart. 

Lord help me to learn from my boredom. 
Help me realize as St. Augustine did 
   that I will be restless until my heart rests in You.

        Henri J.M. Nouwen
        The Inner Voice of Love