WILD GEESE

 

"Wild Geese" by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile, the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile, the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting-

over and over announcing your place in the family of things.

Those who know me well, know how much I love Mary Oliver's poetry. I read and copied this poem quite a few years ago, and ran across it this morning. As I read, I was thinking of the message of the poem and wishing everyone could read it, and get it. Following are words of inspiration that were felt in me as I contemplated the meaning of Wild Geese.

No matter who you are, your life matters.

You are important. You are here for a reason, you have a purpose, and what you do with your life makes a difference to everyone on the planet.

No one is here by accident. How we live and move and have our being affects us all. When we choose to live life with love, kindness, compassion and forgiveness, we bless our Self and that blessing flows out to all. We are powerful, creative beings, and when we walk in our truth, and innate power, we affect change in others. When I offer kindness to all of life, life responds in kindness. Whatever I offer, what I give the most of, is what I create in the world.

Like the wild geese, we are all heading home to our true Self, our divinity, our source. I pray our journey is one of consciousness and that we spend our time in love and peace.

You matter, so please treat yourself with honor and respect today. Take care of yourself and walk through the world in love. Smile, offer a helping hand, be forgiving, open a door, make eye contact, pet an animal and hug a tree. Spread peace wherever you are. What you give to one, you give to all, and what you give to others you give to yourself.

Make a difference in the world today and be the change you want to see.