The Magpie's Call To The State Of Grace

The magpie called to me just now You can't imagine the amount of time I spend in the past before I realise, and present myself, once again to the present. It doesn't matter how many years of practice one spends in meditation, it still happens, you just make your way back quicker as time goes by. I think I have turned it into an art form :)

The truth with loss is, you are so connected at the time to giving comfort, to tending to their needs that you are totally unaware of yourself as witness to the suffering.

The witness speaks her words to me today and I am rendered speechless, for in that moment I realise his quiet suffering... Oh My Lord it's so hard to remember that.

The past takes me back because I miss him, even the suffering was something we shared.

I close my eyes and become aware of my inner world as I listen to the outer, to the birds, to the cars and I feel overwhelmed by sadness still, until the magpie calls me.

Above my seat the magpie sits high on a branch and sings so gently, so quietly and quite unlike the usual.

I have travelled to many countries that have these birds, but none sing like the Australian magpie. And I have never heard a magpie sing as gently as this one just now.

It is a call to Grace, a call of remembrance. Not of the suffering I witnessed but of who I Am and where I Am.

The family of magpies and I didn't get along a couple of years back, they used to swoop my head whenever I went out, and one day while I was on the back porch it knocked my sun hat right off my head, they are fearsome birds. It bewildered me because I was one that felt birds talked to me; if a bird swoops near my car as I drive, I take notice of the road ahead and this once saved my life when I saw just in time, a ladder on the road.

We are all friends now because of a magic moment. The female magpie kept flying at me one afternoon until I realised she wasn't swooping, she was alerting me to something. I took a look around and her baby was caught up in fencing cloth, a little like shadecloth and it's leg was injured.

I was really scared but knew I had to help so I covered it's head and cut the cloth - off it flew. Even though the birds weren't happy sharing this property, they knew I would help them in their hour of need. I always felt the sacredness of that moment.

Today, I know the family are returning the favour; they are helping me with their song - A Call To Grace.

It is 11am on the 20th July 2014, the sun is shining, I sit on my rocker facing north east, I see red geraniums, I hear the roar of the motor bikes on their Sunday ride and I smile.

Today I Am with you magpies, out into the garden I go and thank you for your gentle reminder of the moment - It is so not 4 years ago, it is NOW!

I hope you find today is a beautiful Sunday wherever you are.

Much love

xxx WendyJoy xxx

Patience is Action

Today I've been patient - patiently waiting for news. Sometimes patience is a waiting game; sit, stand or run we must wait, patiently. At other times patience is breathless, anxious and hard to cope with. So hard then as we really don't have much patience to give.

Patience has been called a virtue. I am not sure if one can find truth in that under all circumstances though. The virtue thing started a couple of thousand years ago by the martyrs who really did need to find something of value in their very real suffering. Well I however, have no suffering, it's just that time is marching on today so slowly and the rhythm is to the tune of another's beat. Not so virtuous. I can wait, I become in tune with her rhythm and patience is mine. Patience is action. A silent mindful motion and it comes with anticipation, conscious dreaming and a feeling of joy. I Am waiting happily, patiently for a gift! Do you know such patience? Till we chat again dear friends, WendyJoy xx