WHEN I AWOKE

When I awoke

to the dark clouds covering

my life’s light,

I thought they were like

a summer storm

moving through.

 

So I watched

and

waited

for the light to shine again.

 

The clouds remained,

not simply obscuring,

but covering up

joy,

peace,

presence,

purpose,

passion.

 

They didn’t budge.

 

I began to despair.

I believed I had no control over them,

just like I have no control over the weather.

 

This is my life now, I thought.

Looking at the darkness.

Wishing to see life’s light again.

 

But then I awoke

to a different thought,

What if my inner landscape is not like the weather?

What if I’ve created the clouds by

staring at them?

What if my attention is what holds them in place?

 

And so, I looked away,

calling to mind all

the gifts of beauty and grace

present in every moment.

 

I sensed the clouds movement.

I felt life’s light again

and embraced this awakening.