Double-dog-dare-you . . .
or What Rocked Me Most, on our getaway
at The River Cove B&B
Poised
This glassy cove
reflects a perilous
slab of rock, upended;
the yellow dog barks,
paces the rim,
pauses,
all crouch and hunker;
tail flag,
scrabble of paws . . .
Watch everything
swell, then distill
and gather—sinew,
breath, time: one
fizzing, defiant vault!
≈≈≈
Friends, I laughed out loud over that leap. Sheer canine ecstasy. The headlong ker-splash ricocheted between rocky shores, ripples fanning outward. Then inward.
Can I do that?
Next day: same river, black Lab, sodden tennis ball.
Check it out: Double-dog-dare-youIMG-9336
Seems I’ve lost touch with springs, hardwired into my limbs and spirit.
Teetering, on edge, I typically freeze. Or flail. Misgauging danger, I’m all toes, gripping the brink, and leaning, leaning back as fear overbalances flesh.
Hello, bum-plant.
Faltering in full view, confidence flat-lined, I scramble for footing, often forget to laugh.
Friends, wherever you’re currently poised, what is the invitation today: caution, or risk? Either choice can be sacred; both take courage.
What helps you heed that whispered “Now” or “Wait”?
PS. My big project — mentioned in a recent post — seems to be underway. Thanks for your prayers! More about this in a future post . . .
Double-dog-dare-you video: Bill Klein
The River Cove Bed & Breakfast: “Sublime setting, sensational cuisine, superior service.” —yours truly, in their guestbook.
Small Dog, Big Attitude Photo by Mitchell Orr on Unsplash
Thank you so much for this poem, cheery image of the doggy going for it, and relatable position of waiting on the edge.
And the Rilke quote you’ve shared here in the comments is just gorgeous, inspiring, and nourishing too. I’m going to write it on our kitchen white board.
Laurie, I am thrilled for you (and us) about your project. You did it. And you hit Send! Enormous congratulations to you, my friend! I am looking forward to soaking up your words. I have so many questions, but I’m going to be patient.
Mostly.
Dear Bethany, happy weekend!
Reading your words of good cheer this morning feels akin to sipping champagne — just the sparkle a tired mind needed. Thank you! I am so grateful for our friendship as well as your ongoing encouragement.
Here’s to Rilke in the kitchen. : )
Oh, that photo offers wonderful imagery for eagerly jumping in the waters of God’s will! Being the cautious type, I’m much more likely to WAIT for reassurance than forge ahead. On those occasions I sense God leading me forward NOW, I most often pray, “Stop me, Lord, if this isn’t from you!” I have to step out in faith sometimes, before I see the unfolding of his plan–a bit like Naaman dipping in the Jordan seven times before he saw God’s miracle!
Nancy, I’m cautious by nature, too. Leery Laurie.
Yet isn’t it almost irresistible, even contagious, watching a person (or creature) launch forth?! I’m also chuckling at your prayer — one I’ve uttered many a time. : )
And thank you! You’ve given me a new image for obeying-as-waiting . . .
My daughter says that what we need is clarity. Clarity induces courage. It makes the choice, the courage to make a choice to risk or not to risk, easier. The opposite of clarity is fear. Fear is full of the smoke and fog of “what if…“ With a hard decision, I pray for clarity. Not a bad idea to wait until you get it…
The dogs had clarity HAH.
Wow, I like the direct way she has expressed this, especially because she includes words and actions I’m not used to seeing side by side. What a calm, clean way of looking at the in-between spaces we encounter. Thank her for me?
And thank you for sharing this. I also LOVE that take on the two dogs!
You ask – What helps you heed that whispered “Now” or “Wait”?
Thank you for asking, it causes me to sit and consider in formulating an answer.
It wasn’t as easy an answer as I expected.
The NOW usually requires a NO.
The NO in NOw.
To a thought.
Habit.
Fear.
I’m tempted to find a word for the W of NOW.
Won’t do that.
Interesting, there’s a handful of significant verses of scripture thru apostle Paul that start with , NOW.
You’ve promted me to recall some of these.
WAIT?
We recently discussed this.
Staying in LOVE with the Lord… WAITing.
Need that reminder too.
A contiual “balancing” act between the life of faith and fear.
Bless you, and yours.
Oh, congratulations!
Ooh, that’s good. I will never look at “now” quite the same way again. Now I want to read those verses . . .
Staying in LOVE with the Lord. It’s been a long day and as I type your wise words,
my jaw slacks
shoulders drop
beautiful exhale
selah-h-h-h
Blessings on you and your dear ones, too!
And . . . thank you!
Not sure if I’ve ever shared the with you.
As a read, responded to your post – found myself humming this song.
https://youtu.be/xABxqLfHA-I
This brought tears to my eyes. Partly the words (well, all of them, but these especially):
“Now rise up my dear child / Take courage wherever you go / When you doubt that you are beloved / Make a way every day to come back home / Do not be afraid”
and partly because as soon as I saw that boy in the video, the very first glimpse, I was hearing those words sung words over my first grandson, in a tender time of life.
And . . . also taking to heart, at the start of this day, these words, for my own fears longings: “Make a way every day to come back home.”
Thank you, Rick. Thank you.
My image is curling my toes around the edge of the diving board. Do I dive or turn around and walk the walk of shame down the steps to safety.
Oh, PERFECT!
Butterfly Champ, I’d never imagine your toes curled ’round the board. Bet you dived anyway. Or jumped?
Flashback: my first (and last) time on the high dive: bouncing . . . but slightly, praying a lot, then turning tail . . . making everyone descend the ladder for me. Is the screen turning red as I type?
If I had a guestbook, I would want a poet to sign it. Just for giggles. “They” work so darned hard to say it in a way that won’t soon be forgotten- just sayin’.
Next time I visit your shop, lay out the scrap paper!
P.S. I do like the thought of “memorable”! : )
Laurie, you ask the best questions–risk and daring or sit and wait? I like your take on them both as sacred practices.
Looking forward to hearing more about your project!
Jody, I often think of Rilke telling the young writer to learn to love the questions. ““Be patient towards all that is unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms, like books written in a foreign tongue. … Live the questions for now. Perhaps then you will gradually, without noticing it, live your way into the answer, one distant day in the future.”
Although sometimes the answers come sooner!