a song of mending

Hello Friends:

This is a last minute post, so please... please show some compassion!  

Welcome to this group of writers ... Spiritual Journey Thursday is our name.  Today is hosted by Kim Johnson, who provided the prompt of "compassion."

I'm thinking about relationships and how they change over time. A thoughtless word or irritation can make the whole house of cards come down, or feel that it is coming down. But a spirit of compassion by one member can stitch it back together again. And how precious that compassion is. How it is more precious than gold.

This past year I started a sewing project, but then lost impetus. Stitching is trickier these days. My hand is unsteady. My patience grows thin. But a conversation with an old friend has changed my outlook. Her words and laughter were healing balms to me. I feel renewed, patched together. In many ways she has shown me great compassion, and her friendship is a deep blessing. One thing we touched on is our sewing. We're both still sewing, still have fabric waiting for us.

Today I came upon this poem by Irene Latham, and stitches begin to fall into place. Perhaps, for today, my words will be stitches. Perhaps I can be the one whose words show compassion. Perhaps I can hum and stitch as I go.

Mending

And this is how

we shall remake

the world:

like a seamstress

with pins in her mouth,

steady fingers

coaxing thread,

a hum forever

in her throat

as stitch by stitch

the fabric is fitted, gathered -

until what was once tattered

now dances across the floor.

- Irene Latham

When I can't stitch or find the right words, I can pray. I can find no greater compassion just now. I can fit a prayer into a breath or two. I can remember a name, a face, a situation, and breathe a prayer as I go about the day. In the car or in the shower.  Prayer and compassion seem synonymous.

Today I am thankful for compassionate friends, kind words and laughter. I am thankful for this online community of writers. I am thankful for the challenge ahead. 

Thanks to Irene, whom I haven't thanked ahead of time, for her beautiful poem. And thanks again to Kim, who has need of our compassion after the loss of her father, for hosting. Many blessings to all.