January 05-A, 2023

**The White Blaze 06/17/2012 Oi Paint Rendered — Roan Mountain Highlands, Carver’s Gap, Tennessee**

Today is the first day of my 79th year.
I hope to be more settled into who I am
this year,
more still,
more empty,
more silent,
with less at stake
in what is going on.

More balanced and harmonious,
less anxious and uncertain.

More stable and flexible,
less stressed and fearful.

More content with nothing,
less worried about something.

More at peace with whatever is,
less insistent on how things need to be.

More available to see and hear,
know and do,
and less available to noise,
complexity and drama.

More resilient and confident,
less weary and heavy-laden.

More humorous,
less serious.

More savvy,
less confused and unclear.

More awake and mindful.
Less certain and asleep at the wheel.

More contradictory
and less fearful of being so.

And always glad to be a part
of your path
as companions on the way.

Published by jimwdollar

I'm retired, and still finding my way--but now, I don't have to pretend that I know what I'm doing. I retired after 40.5 years as a minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, serving churches in Louisiana, Mississippi and North Carolina. I graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, in Austin, Texas, and Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. My wife, Judy, and I have three daughters and five granddaughters within about twenty minutes from where we live--and are enjoying our retirement as much as we have ever enjoyed anything. View more posts