What the river says, that is what I say...

Today I picked up a book that I purchase some time ago. Ya know when you get a book and start reading it and it just doesn't "speak" to you? You put in on the shelf or night stand, it sits there for the time it takes to blend in and go unnoticed day after day. Then, one day you pick it up instead of dusting around it, and wonder, "Did I read this? I don't think I did..." The book gets another chance to speak into your life, and this time it shouts loud enough for you to hear. Do you know those books? I have many.

Today it was a book called Let Your Life Speak by Parker J. Palmer. First of all, I like the name Parker. (My favorite of the Hardy Boys was Frank, played by Parker Stevenson.) Second, Parker Palmer, I believe, lives in Madison so we're practically neighbors. Third and best of all, I learned today that Parker Palmer was mentored by one my mentors, Henri Nouwen. Henri is one of my "historic mentors" of course.



ANYWAY, the book opens with a poem that I would have read at Poetry Night if I had known of it sooner. Instead, I was a reflective listener at the Gompers Elementary Poetry Night, participating only to take a few photos as Sam recited his poem about being a guppy...and just diving right in. I was inspired by Sam's poem (which upon request, I could share with you), so, I am diving in...

Ask Me

Some time when the river is ice ask me
mistakes I have made. Ask me whether
what I have done is my life. Others
have come in their slow way into
my thought, and some have tried to help
or to hurt: ask me what difference
their strongest love or hate has made.

I will listen to what you say.
You and I can turn and look
at the silent river and wait. We know
the current is there, hidden; and there
are comings and goings from miles away
that hold the stillness exactly before us.
What the river says, that is what I say.

William Stafford