Witnessing Our Presence

Lilac buds are announcing their presence to New Hampshire, where we have been waiting many months for their arrival.

 

If you look closely at the top right branch you might notice that two buds, side by side form a heart shape. Even though each is (will blossom into) a flower of its own, in this photo they are interdependent upon one another to create the unified heart we see in the image.

I am thinking about this today, considering our presence in the world (my presence in the world) and how we claim our right to be here with the wholeness of our hearts. I am thinking about how I have changed and grown and blossomed through the years. I am thinking about loss and love and freedom. I am thinking about how the earth and sky and God, a friend, a lover, a child and our own self-awareness are witnesses to this declaration, to this claiming of our right to be here, the necessity of our presence in the world at this exact moment, just the way we are, flawed and beautiful. I am thinking about how each and every day we must do the same for others; bear witness to their existence to their right to be here, perfectly imperfect, whole in their brokenness. With each inhalation we experience life entering us…oxygen fills our lungs, but also the breath of every other being who has lived and breathed becomes one with us. With each exhalation we say hineni, here I am, and give a trace of our essence to all of life through our own breath in return, interdependent, individuals becoming one through the simple rhythm of breathing in and out.

I have missed visiting you on your blogs this past week, witnessing your growth, your stories, your beauty. I will be stopping by slowly, sipping the sweetness of your posts with deep appreciation and awareness, being as present to you as I can be, one blog, one email message, one breath at a time.

PS. Today is the last day to make a donation to For Japan With Love,  a disaster relief blogging fundraiser through Shelter Box. The generosity of many bloggers joining together as one has raised enough to shelter 62 families in Japan so far. The original goal, was to be able to help 5 families. Thank you so much to everyone who participated, you still have time if you haven't yet. Just click the purple link above to go directly to the donation page, or the button on my sidebar.