Across the country
people gathered last night,
not in anger, but in joy.
Black and white and brown,
young and old,
they celebrated
an end to division,
to hatred, to crassness.
Young girls saw possibilities
and older women cried.
Last night a weight
was lifted off the world.
A crowd quietly gathers at the
steps of the Supreme Court Building
to mourn the life of a giant, recognized
by President Obama as a “warrior for gender equality.”
With her small frame and exceptional legal
mind, she courageously, quietly, and steadily
paved the way for women for decades to come,
made well-thought-out decisions, and refrained from ugly talk.
She was part of the “odd couple” with Justice Scalia,
in a friendship based on mutual respect and shared passions.
Recognizing the importance of diverse views, they challenged
each other with their differing opinions on cases before the Court
Ruth Bader Ginsburg gave America everything she could.
She showed that America can be great.
How do we honor such a woman?
Make her last wish come true.
Three dogs met in Deep Run Park. They
wagged their tails, sniffed,
and kissed. One was
brown and white, one
black, and one brown. One was big and
one medium,
one was small. No
exclusion here.
What if, like those dogs, humans saw
other humans,
not color, race,
only humans?
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.
Each new green shoot,
each new burst of color,
each new sweet smell,
fills me with gratitude
that, during this time
of quarantine, spring
marches on, putting
on her magnificent show.
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 25th anniversary of Chrysalis, now the Innerwork Center. It was created and founded by Nancy Bost Millner.
The silence. The stillness.
The solidness
of ancient boulders.
The cold raw air.
Mountain after mountain
like gentle waves
rolling in.
A mind cleared
and a soul stirred.
Oh! The breathtaking
beauty of it all.
May we here today
save it for the
generations to come.
Before a curve in the path
this morning, I turned
and looked
and saw only beauty.
A good way to
start the day.
Sun shining on golden leaves,
Frost on the ground,
Four geese flying over,
A frosty bite in the air.
In this moment, in this space,
All is well with the world.
untangling the web 