Yesterday I led a workshop called Holy Polka Dots for some students at Columbia Theological Seminary. Our topic was an introduction to the practice known in Intentional Creativity land as praying in dots.
We began with this poem, from the book, Tea with the Midnight Muse from the very gifted artist and poet, Shiloh Sophia McCloud.
Just Dare
Dare to re-invent yourself
when you don’t know what that looks like yet.
Dare to dream bigger than
you feel comfortable dreaming.
Dare to love unreasonably,
even if you have been hurt.
Dare to practice radical self-love
even when you aren’t sure how.
Dare to practice big compassionate love
for others, even those you don’t know.
Dare to say yes to your own self
when family or friends don’t understand anymore.
Dare to not let fear get in your way,
and when it does, dare to keep moving.
Dare to be the most you that you can be
while accepting yourself right as you are.
Dare to discover what beautiful means,
to you and only you.
Dare to call yourself an artist, a poet,
a dreamer, a thinker, a revolutionary.
Dare to take passionate action
so that your fire will be lit within you.
Dare to take risks that make you feel hopeful
when you don’t know how it will all work.
Dare be a colorful being, and dance alone.
Dare to live. Dare to love. Dare to laugh.
Dare to not get it right. Dare to get back up.
Dare to live in amazing grace.
The group was so touched by the reading, and I with them, that I just had to share it with you, today.
I, literally, dared to get back up yesterday after a fall on the steps, re-loading the car after the workshop. I’m sore and bruised but, as far as I can tell, basically intact. (Nothing making creepy noises!)
The getting up was hard. And I’m grateful for two friends helping. The biggest thing I noticed, though, was that I had to figure out how to do it. And believe that I could, even though none of it made much sense. That felt like amazing grace. (Even though it hurt!) And something to share with our beloveds.
Here’s one more thing to share. shilohsophia.com
What will you dare???