Blackberry Picking
I came across this beautiful poem, A Celtic Prayer of Approach, by way of the book, Untamed by Glennon Doyle.
The poem was sent to Glennon from her friend Liz Gilbert.
I honor your Gods,
I drink at your well,
I bring an undefended heart to our meeting place,
I have no cherished outcomes,
I will not negotiate by withholding, and
I am not subject to disappointment.
Glennon writes, “She offered a new friendship memo: that for us there would be no arbitrary rules, obligations, or expectations. We would not owe each other anything other than admiration, respect, love—and that was all done already. We became friends.”
I’ve been holding this poem in my heart all week, thankful for the friendships I have grown where this way of connection holds true. And wondering what I might do to bring this loving kindness into all of my relationships. I have known what it is like to be held to an expectation that I didn’t even know existed. I have felt the punishing pain of letting someone down only to have love withdrawn, coldness and quietness in its place. I have felt defensive and tried to breathe while questioning and digging deep into my own feelings. The pictures I hold dearest are always those where there was no cherished outcome. And who doesn’t know the sting of those words, I am disappointed in you. Do we not long to hear instead, I forgive you? I understand. This is really hard.