Theme/Mantra: “You’ll know when it is time to go”
Reading:
A Joke by Aleksander Wat
Bunches of carnations in a tin pitcher.
Beyond the window, is that a faun playing a flute?
In a fusty room the semi-darkness of dawn.
The lovers sleep. On the sill
the cat purrs. In its dream a rabble of birds.
she wakens like a bird and, trembling,
opens her eye on the alabaster
shaded mournfully by her streaming hair.
She found in it her wreath fished up from a river
and searches for his hand, looking for protection.
Then plunges into sleep again—into a flow, a flow…
Suddenly the door creaked softly. Somebody enters. Surprised
Looks, hardly believes: My son—with a woman!
and retreats on tiptoe: O Hamlet! Hamlet!
Meditation:
Discernment Meditation
Sit comfortably with your eyes closed.
Bring your hands in prayer position in front of your heart.
Inhale through your nose for the count of 8.
Hold for the count of 5.
Exhale fully.
Repeat.
When you have the breathing down comfortably, ask yourself,
“Is it time to go?”
“From what to what?”
And listen deeply to your soul’s response.
Perhaps end with the thoughts- “I am vulnerable, I am strong. I can be vulnerable because I am strong.”
Physical Movement:
Bridge
Lie on your back, knees bent, feet near your bottom and hips width apart.
If you can, touch your heels with your hands.
Contract your butt, curling your pelvis toward the ceiling, pressing your back into the floor.
Slowly lift your hips to the ceiling in stages- lower, middle and finally upper back.
Your weight should be on your shoulders and your feet.
Hold
Release and lower your spine one vertebra at a time, as able.
Relax.
Repeat as you desire.
Reflection:
This is the first song by Taylor Swift that I listened to and came to love (not that she isn’t worth listening to- I just don’t know her other songs). A friend sent it to me when I was discerning about whether to leave a work position in a church. I loved the position, and the discernment process was challenging. What spoke to me most deeply were Swift’s words, “Sometimes giving up is the strong thing. Sometimes to run is the brave thing. Sometimes walking out is the one thing that will find you the right thing.” Wow! Yes!
I left, and have been sad about it, and grieved, but I also believe it was the best choice I could make at the time. And sometimes that is all we can do.
Too often we ask ourselves the wrong question. "What is the one thing I should do?" We expect to be guided to the ONE right choice. The more I contemplate (and longer I live)- I’ve come to think there are usually many possible right choices. Some choices are better choices. Some choices are more healthy choices. Depending on our state of mind, the damage to our psyche in a particular situation, others involved- At some point -It is Just. Time. To. Go.
As for the poem- I just loved the take on the idea of the time to go being about a parent walking in on their adult child in a romantic moment. Yes- that too, is a pretty clear time to go. (Gotta remember to smile and laugh in all of this deep thinking and meditating).
I am embracing the goings of life….
Song: It’s Time to Go by Taylor Swift
Lyrics:
When the dinner is cold and the chatter gets old
You ask for the tab
Or that moment again he's insisting that friends
Look at each other like that
When the words of a sister come back in whispers
That prove she was not
In fact what she seemed, not a twin from your dreams
She's a crook who was caught
That old familiar body ache
The snaps from the same little breaks in your soul
You know when it's time to go
Twenty years at your job
Then the son of the boss gets the spot that was yours
Or trying to stay for the kids
When keeping it how it is will only break their hearts worse
That old familiar body ache
The snaps from the same little breaks in your soul
You know when it's time to go
Sometimes giving up is the strong thing
Sometimes to run is the brave thing
Sometimes walking out is the one thing
That will find you the right thing
Sometimes giving up is the strong thing
Sometimes to run is the brave thing
Sometimes walking out is the one thing
That will find you the right thing
Fifteen years, fifteen million tears
Begging 'til my knees bled
I gave it my all, he gave me nothing at all
Then wondered why I left
Now he sits on his throne in his palace of bones
Praying to his greed
He's got my past frozen behind glass
But I've got me
That old familiar body ache
The snaps from the same little breaks in my soul
I know when it's time to go
Sometimes giving up is the strong thing
Sometimes to run is the brave thing
Sometimes walking out is the one thing
That will find you the right thing
Sometimes giving up is the strong thing
Sometimes to run is the brave thing
Sometimes walking out is the one thing
That will find you the right thing
That will find you the right thing
And you know in your soul
You know in your soul
When it's time to go
You know, you know, you know, you know
When it's time to go
So then you go
Then you go
You just go
Until Tomorrow- Peace
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