Back in Brooklyn – The Prayer Path, 10 July 2016, by Lisa Zuercher
So, I am back from retreat. Three weeks now. My reentry into the every-day life was a bit bumpier than I had anticipated. You see, I had grand plans as to how I’d schedule each moment of each day upon my return. I’d get out of bed at 5am and write for an hour. I’d work on my book, daily thoughts, and my letters to God. Then I’d tend to the dogs, iron my clothes for work, shower, dress for work, and head out about 7:30am or so. I’d write and read on the train. After working anywhere from 8-10 hours, I’d travel back home and think and unwind on the train. Upon returning home, I’d tend to the dogs, do some training and playtime, then I’d meditate, write, write, and write more. I’d cut out all television watching and keep my mind occupied by the creative working of the every-day, of nature, of my dogs, of anything at all.
So, three week go by and what can I say but I didn’t do most of what I listed in the previous paragraph. Oh my, such lofty goals and I underestimated the power and pull of just flopping in front of the television after work and doing nothing. I underestimated the power of putting everything in front of my writing and quiet time, my solace into self and silence. I am addicted to television watching and to procrastinating on what makes my soul sing. “Oh, just set aside an hour or two on a particular day to watch television,” someone pleasantly suggests. Yeah, I tried that and all that does is lead me to watching television for hours. And that brings me to now.
Vegetable Garden, Photo Credit, 2016 Lisa Zuercher
So here I sit, on a pleasant Sunday afternoon after weeding the vegetable garden, talking to a neighbor, watering my plants and playing with the dogs. I am in my backyard staring, watching the potted ornamental grasses sway in the gentle breeze. The once sun laden sky is now a silver-gray, the sky spitting upon me every now and again. The miniature sunflowers are about to burst and I wonder if I’ll find myself in each new bloom as I did in previous years of sunflower growing. The morning glories are still open. Maybe they are amazed that I am actually sitting in the yard enjoying the delicious nectar of creation. The Rose of Sharon bush is in bloom and the white and magenta flowers are brilliant. I wonder where the magenta bush sprouted up from. When I moved into the house there was only a white bush in the garden. Oh, the sweet mysteries of life. The wind chimes are dancing freely as the breeze kicks up its power causing the deep pitched chimes to sing in harmony with the higher pitched chimes.
Small Wind Chime, Photo Credit, 2016 Lisa Zuercher
The sun, as if answering my call, just peeped her head out to say hello. I smile in return.
Prayer Path, Photo Credit, 2016 Lisa Zuercher
One morning when I was negative self-talking I decided to pray for answers and the determination to keep my dreams alive. I walked into the backyard with the dogs and it dawned on me that I can turn my yard into a prayer garden. I glanced at the slate path and stepping stones and realized I could walk along the path in the same way I’d walk along a labyrinth. I placed both feet on the first stepping stone, placed my hands in prayer position, took some deep belly breaths, said a prayer, placed an intention and began to walk the paths. The yard is small. The path is small. My dreams are big.
I found the slate path to be smooth and mimicked the easy parts of my life. The round, rougher surfaced stones resembled the parts of me that I put on the back burner or the negative self-talk. In the center is a circle made from Belgian blocks. The blocks are uneven. Some are set steady in the dirt and some are loose. As I stepped upon each of those blocks I thought about the challenges in my life, past and current, and as I kept steady, placing one foot tenderly before the other, I found the deeper me, the me that really matters. This circle reminded me of the circle of life, joy and pain, laughter and sorrow, birth and death, Creation and Love.
You see, in this small yard of mine in Brooklyn I learned to move according to the gentle wind. I walked as the squirrels and butterflies encouraged me to step forward and I bowed at the joyful bravo from the leaves clapping delightfully for me. For within this creation I find myself right where I am and this is the answer to my prayer. Inspiration is all around me. Inspiration is within me. Inspiration is creation itself. Inspiration is my seeing a prayer path in my own yard and finding my Self with each step.
Brooklyn welcomed my return from retreat. I had a harder time welcoming myself home. It took some time, many walks along my prayer path, yanking many weeds from the rich soil, and now my bud begins to bloom. Peace. Amen.
Liam (left), Shane (right). Happy after walking the Prayer Path. Photo Credit, 2016 Lisa Zuercher