Hope sings the wind…..

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I’m loving the wind in the last of the leaves,
how it whispers “let go” to limiting things I’ve believed,
and come awake to fresh mercy rolling in with each day.
to the way healing can fill  cracks in broken things
and nothing ever stays the same
but hope remains,  they drift and sing,
yeah hope,  like an anchor,
it stays.

And in the swirl and changing tide,
there comes flooding in a generous sweep of life,
something like a breeze that sends leaves flying,
and what drifts down from the updraft is unseen
but keenly felt,  like snow on bare skin,
and suddenly it’s snowing down a miracle
and nothing has changed exactly,
except for everything
and it’s always surprise,
always,
no matter how often it happens.

confetti marigolds

I love how it comes,
the shift that sets the fracture so that you’re moving again
in the sweet buoyancy of that thing that I think is named “grace,”
scooped up and carried,
all for the price of a simple,  surrendered yes.
No heavy lifting required.
This is wealth.

I often wonder,  when I come back around to reclaim
what I go numb to when fear storms up a fog
and I can’t remember what I forgot to know,
that the heaviest thing we’re asked to do
is to trust and then let go.

It's a generous wind blowing,  stirring long-discarded dreams:)
 Put out your hands and drop down in your belly to that place
 where you open and give your yes
 or close up hard and grit your no.
 Love waits for you there
 with a wealth of grace
 waiting to be
 the breeze you ride
 out beyond the breakers
 and into the song of your deep:)

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These are yes and go moments.
Don’t think them away.

“Wild sings the bird of the heart in the forest of our lives.”
-Mary Oliver

I want to give away a copy of my November zine;  leave a comment and I’ll plunk your name into the hat this week:)
I love it when you share……thanks for joining the conversation.

34 Comments

  1. Elephant's Child on November 7, 2015 at 2:12 pm

    Cage not the bird which sings of freedom. Let it go free – and exult with it.

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 11, 2015 at 8:43 pm

      exult. I like that word:) exult.
      thanks for using it:)
      and for coming by and taking the time
      and sharing your heart. lovely one, that:)
      much happy exulting to you,
      Jennifer

  2. Barbara on November 8, 2015 at 1:00 am

    Jennifer, your words are so energizing and healing. Thank you!

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 12, 2015 at 9:11 pm

      Music to my heart, Barbara…..thanks for taking the time
      to encourage:) I so appreciate.
      big grace,
      Jennifer

  3. Jane on November 8, 2015 at 7:25 am

    Your writing is a peaceful, reassuring resting place for my soul. Thank you for sharing your gift of wisdom and grace with me! Love you!

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 12, 2015 at 9:12 pm

      So glad for your presence in my life, Jane;
      thanks for sharing your kind heart,
      Jennifer

  4. LISA MORELAND on November 8, 2015 at 8:31 am

    Ever the brilliance of Mary Oliver’s verse paired with your own and my heart just bursts. Love it all.

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 12, 2015 at 9:12 pm

      I love those kinds of bursts:)
      Thanks for painting that picture for my imagination
      and for the gift of your kind words:)
      -Jennifer

  5. Kimber Britner on November 8, 2015 at 9:32 am

    More ripe gorgeousness to rekindle and awaken forgotten colors on this wet, grey Sunday. Thank you!

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 12, 2015 at 9:13 pm

      Thanks for being sunshine on a cloudy day
      so many times before:)
      I appreciate your kind words,
      Jennifer

  6. Julia on November 8, 2015 at 10:35 am

    Your post is very fitting today. The sun is shining bright and the wind is playing with the leaves and lifting them way up in the air in vortex just to let them fall in twirls and myriads of colors and land where they may and play in continuous games that entertain my soul. Each one on a happy journey until totally worn and transformed until they give way to Winter.
    Thanks for your warm comment on my blog. Hugs,
    JB

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 13, 2015 at 8:27 pm

      a happy journey to you, today, as well, Julia.
      Hope you’re finding beauty and bounty
      on the farm:)
      -Jennifer

  7. susan troccolo on November 8, 2015 at 8:39 pm

    I want to “plunk” my name to enter! Two lines swept me away: “in the sweet buoyancy of that thing I think is called “grace”, and “no heavy lifting required. This is called Wealth.” Why can’t I remember that? Why, why, why. I laugh and say: “I am Russian (Ukrainian actually), I suffer.” An old famous line. But not really funny. I do suffer. Unnecessarily so. No heavy lifting required. I’m going to tape it to my forehead! Ha! (as our dear Ginnie says….)

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 13, 2015 at 8:26 pm

      “plunk!”
      Thanks so much for being swept away
      with the things that sweep me up and away,
      too:)
      Big joy to you, friend,
      Jennifer

  8. jeanie on November 9, 2015 at 8:16 am

    I am dazzled by the glorious color, your sweet, filled-with-life spirit and energy! Isn’t the word “grace” one of the most beautiful words in the world. And yes, I, too, am going to remember “no heavy lifting required.” I need continual reminders of that one! Savor these glorious moments1

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 13, 2015 at 8:25 pm

      No heavy lifting required.
      Seems like I need to be reminded
      every minute of every day:)
      Thanks for being such a joy to my heart, Jeanie,
      Jennifer

  9. janet on November 9, 2015 at 3:19 pm

    Too good to be true? wow, it’s true!
    Love

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 13, 2015 at 8:25 pm

      Thanks for coming around and hearing my heart, you:)
      love and hugs,
      me

  10. gotham girl on November 9, 2015 at 5:07 pm

    love, love, love…”…and nothing has changed exactly, except for everything…”

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 13, 2015 at 8:24 pm

      thanks for letting my words be safe in your saying them,
      and for being such a bright sunlit day
      to me:)
      -Jennifer

  11. Kathy on November 15, 2015 at 6:59 am

    I know that place in the belly well. Needed this sweet reminder.
    And a favorite MARY Oliver quote is always food for the soul.
    Thank you sweet friend.
    Kathy

    • jennifer on November 22, 2015 at 2:25 pm

      So glad you dropped by; always lifted:)
      love and thanks,
      Jennifer

  12. Cathy on November 15, 2015 at 7:54 am

    I haven’t been around in a while since time just keeps rushing by and have missed your beautiful words! Everything changes so it is a fact of life that you have to go with the flow or you will be stuck back in time! Moving words always from a beautiful lady who i am proud to have as my cousin!!! Love to you

    • jennifer on November 22, 2015 at 2:25 pm

      I understand the rushing of time, believe me!
      Thanks for coming by.
      Forever love,
      Jennifer

  13. Susan on November 15, 2015 at 7:56 pm

    I promise not to think them away …. thanks for sharing your beautiful days and true grit words.

    • jennifer on November 22, 2015 at 2:24 pm

      thanks for the true grit friendship;)
      Jennifer

  14. Lee Ann Garrett on November 15, 2015 at 8:41 pm

    To trust and then let go! Letting go is not always so easy but like you Jennifer, the autumn season teaches me so much about how the old must be let go so the newer can be born in our lives. The fullness of the new waiting for us cannot come unless we let the wind of trust take it away. Your writing is always so beautiful Jennifer along with your beautiful photos. 💛

    • jennifer on November 22, 2015 at 2:24 pm

      thanks for your encouraging kindness, you:)
      I appreciate. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours,
      Jennifer

  15. Donna on November 17, 2015 at 7:19 pm

    Oh I love how the leaves whisper let go….for me the trees stand tall and bare now to their true selves holding me up and helping to root me in place on days I need it….thanks for this special gift my friend.

    • jennifer on November 22, 2015 at 2:23 pm

      I love their whisper, too. It’s always a relief when I let myself listen:)
      thanks for coming by and sharing,
      Jennifer

  16. Wanda on November 17, 2015 at 7:33 pm

    Trusting and letting go is heavy work indeed Jennifer. Somehow I have the tendency to cling on forgetting that what lies ahead although unknown, it is secure because He is there.

    • jennifer on November 22, 2015 at 2:23 pm

      Me too, friend. Me too.
      Love and happy thanksgiving,
      Jennifer

  17. Kathryn Hansen on November 19, 2015 at 1:57 pm

    Hi Jennifer!! I’ve been pretty absent lately but just wanted to let you know how beautiful your photographs and words are!!!! Thanks!!

    • jennifer on November 22, 2015 at 2:22 pm

      I’m so glad to see your name, friend:)
      Love and hugs across the miles,
      Jennifer

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