untangling the web

Today I walked into the woods,

stopped, and for a

few seconds, there

was sheer quiet.

My senses sharpened, and I heard

the sweet birdsong,

saw young green ferns,

smelled fecund earth.

In an arch of overhanging

trees, last night’s rain

dropped gently on

the path and a

goose honked his way to some distant

place. A gentle

breeze rippled the

pond as I walked.

Luna startled a blue heron

who flew upward

in its beauty,

and my breath stopped.

All my worries flew away with

such splendor, and

I remembered

to let in joy .

Purple ajuga framed by spring-green grass,

White dogwood framed by a clear blue sky,

Yellow daffodils framed by rich brown soil,

Tiny buds framed by the bark of trees,

White viburnum framed by dark green leaves

Yellow jasmine framed by a light brown pergola.

Small joys pop out in a challenging time.

One woman’s vision

to bring meaning to lives

is how it all began.

Supported by husband and friends,

her dream became a reality,

and Chrysalis was born.

New leaders brought

fresh blood and energy,

added color and texture,

enlarged the vision,

enriched the programs,

and hired new talent.

25 years later, thanks to you,

the threads of one woman’s dream

have been woven into

a vibrant community

with a new home, new name,

and an expanded mission.

Because of you,

people thirsting

for meaning and purpose,

are given tools for the journey,

participate in programs that

inspire curiosity and awaken the spirit.

Because of you,

mindfulness and compassion

are spreading across a hungry city,

and seeds of hope and healing

are sprouting and spreading,

slowly but steadily changing an anxious world.

Tonight we lift these candles

to celebrate the past,

appreciate the present,

and make wishes for the future,

on this, our Rebirth Day.

Written in 2019 in honor of the 25^th anniversary of Chrysalis, now the Innerwork Center. It was created and founded by Nancy Bost Millner.

I sit on a wooden bench

at water’s edge, face lifting,

sun warming, Luna exploring,

pond shrinking, drought continuing.

Noticing new growth now exposed

to the light, sounds coming and

fading, the humming of a machine,

loud roaring of an unmuffled car,

Luna panting, twigs snapping,

dragon fly buzzing.

I sit in stillness and

feel a rush of gratitude

for this place, this moment,

this body, this bench, this dog.

Waves go in, waves go out,

Sea gulls fly over,

Clouds heap up like meringue,

Children laugh and adults smile.

Luna sniffs her way along water’s edge,

Timid at first, then a bit braver.

So many new sights and smells,

So much gratitude for what this world offers.

And yet somewhere, someone

Is thinking about shooting innocents

to satisfy a growing loneliness,

a burning hatred of all who differ.

Leaders across the globe heap blame,

never taking accountability for what

their ugly words might awaken

in the dark depth of their followers.

And yet, a woman sees a flyer in Starbucks

That inspires her to give

A kidney to a stranger.

Waves go in, waves go out.

Waves go in, waves go out.

This is not the world I wanted

for my offspring,

my grandchildren.

A world where mass

shootings have become the norm and

hatred is spewed

by tweets on a

daily basis.

Where are the leaders whose choices

are not ruled by

money, hubris?

Please step forward.