Alone in the alien, snow-blown woods,
moving hard to stay warm in zero weather,
I stop on a rise to catch my breath as the
setting sun—streaming through bare-boned
trees—falls upon my face, fierce and full of life.
Breathing easier now, in and out with the earth,
I suddenly feel accepted—feel myself stand
easy, strong, deep-rooted as the trees,
while time and all these troubles disappear.
And when (who knows how long?) I trudge
on down the trail and find my ancient burdens
returning, I stop once more to say No to them—
not here, not now, not ever again—reclaiming
the welcome home the woods have given me.
von Parker J. Palmer
Erfasst am 06.10.2018
“Welcome” is one of the best words we can say to each other. If a person is feeling lost — as so many are — what could be better than to hear someone or something say, “Welcome home!”
I spent much of last fall and the first part of this winter feeling a bit lost — lost in the whirlwind of my work, lost on the terrain called aging, lost in the sadness and madness of the world.
I came nowhere near the pits of despair, but I know that feeling lost tamps me down. When I can’t find my way, I can’t say “Welcome home!” to others.
So I spent last week in solitude and silence, hoping to be found. In the midst of Wisconsin’s winter woods, I rented a cabin with a wood-burning stove that was my best friend all week. Most days the temps were zero or below, and the windchill was flat-out scary!
I wrote this poem a few years ago after a similar week-long retreat. Last week, the experience it describes came to me again, and I’m grateful. I know I’ll get lost again, but I’m glad to know at least one way home.
Whether the words come from a person, from nature, from within us, or from the great mystery, few if any are better than “Welcome home.”
https://onbeing.org/blog/parker-palmer-the-gift-of-welcome-home/