Gonna Lay Down My Burdens…

The temperatures fluctuate wildly and erratically.
The finally-frozen lake cracks and slowly opens her arms
Into moving, living water.

Living
Liquid, stretching and groaning awake.

The frozen earth becomes softer, muddier,
Muck emerges,
Challenging the belly of one particular
Low-riding doggie I adore.

Now it freezes again,
Wind beyond wind
Howling.

It’s all true.
It’s all sacred.
It’s all inevitable.

Courage and willingness.
Courage and willingness.

Give us courage and willingness
To be right here.
Right now.
No matter
The 
Temperature,

No matter
The muddiness,
The externals.

Right here.
Right now.
~~~
Although it’s not a particular favorite, I’ve been listening to this song (below) all week.  
I’ve been kind of shuffling/boogying around the house, humming and pondering.
Driving in my car, a little swaying/rocking out, too.

What would it look like to truly lay down my burdens?
Burden
A responsibility, a difficult and heavy load

Here is what I know about burdens:
They are INEVITABLE.
They are PART OF THE HUMAN CONDITION.
We
Got 
Them.

We got them.
We get them.
And we will
Continue
To get them.

I thought for so many exhausting years, growing up meant
Making sure burdens didn’t happen.
And/or dismantling wildly 
The ones that did.

It was my life work.
And it was—
Ineffective.
Unsuccessful.
Life-sucking.

It was
The problem,
Not the solution.

The solution?
To relax with them.
To soften into them.

To know that the burdens
Are the way.

Within them 
Live lessons,
Doorways home,
Deepening 
Sense of self.

What’s in the way is the way,
Somebody said.

Relaxing into.
Softening around.
Honoring.
Respecting.

Oh!  I know—
Just like on the yoga mat.
When the sensations build—
To relax around.
~~~
What is a current burden you are carrying?

Resources,
Protection
And
Care
Are
Available.

And will be
Available.

We are equipped.
We are able
To access
That which 
Is greater
Than ourselves.

What might that look like
In your life?
~~~
The Song!

Here is Grandpa Eliot and Playing for Change, with folks from around the world.
I love that!  
I want to continue to believe that we can make music together, no matter where we are from,
That we can solve problems together, no matter where we are from, 
That we can find alliances and safety together, no matter where we are from:

Study War No More