ripple

when i was a kid, i spent a lot of time by the tennessee river. i would visit my grandparents who lived on waterfront property, and i would spend summer days fishing and skipping stones.

one of my favorite things to do was, and still is, to watch ripples on the water...

there are ripples that come from above - insects, fallen leaves, a fishing line, a small smooth stone dancing on the surface...

there are ripples that come from below - fish coming to the surface to respond to the ripples above...

i often wonder if i am going to change the world one day.

i wonder if these writings matter, if the songs i write matter, if the conversations i have with people who are different than me matter.

i wonder if the love i give is noticed, if the love i give is felt by those i love, if the love i give has any effect at all.

yesterday i realized that what i write here really does matter, the songs i write matter, the conversations i have - all the conversations i have - matter.

i saw that the love i give is truly noticed, my friends really can feel the love i pour out for them, and the love i am loving and living is having an effect.

and i realized a sobering humbling profound truth: i am already changing the world.

like a ripple...

sometimes i make ripples that send out sonar messages in which the vibrations cause pain, and i wish i could stop them... but once the water has been disturbed, it takes time and patience for the calm and steadiness to return.

i have seen that no matter what i intend, i am going to make ripples, and i am recommitting to make sure that those ripples communicate my true heart - love.

when people see and feel the ripples i send, i hope that they might say "love is here"

as if the love they experience and receive is my signature, my very scent and essence, and the signature of the Love that named me love.

being so full of love, i must pour it out. make ripples of love that call out to others to do the same.

my prayer is echoed in the song i am listening to...

"let there be peace. let there be peace. let there be peace."

"let there be love. let there be love. let there be love."



i long to live up to my name more everyday. and my name is love. and i am filled with love from Love herself.

and i am seeing how blessed i am to be accompanied and filled by such a Spirit of love,
joy,
peace,
patience,
kindness,
goodness,
gentleness,
faithfulness,
self-control...

and may i ever strive to cultivate it.
in waves,
in trickles,
in ripples.