William Stafford: The Way It Is

I have long loved this poem by William Stafford. So beautiful, wise, and deep. And this poem speaks powerfully to my own journey and that of countless others who are awakening from delusion, denial, depression, distractions, anxiety and addictions of all kinds, and the trauma of belief systems which have never served us and only led us further from the truth of our beauty, our wholeness, our sacred connection with all of life. It is difficult to pin this thread down in the confines of words... other than perhaps to say that it is one of truth, grace, mystery, and the God of our understanding. It is the thread that leads us into and through the great shedding of the obstacles that we have built against compassion, belonging, truth, wholeness, wisdom, and love. And, yes, what a profound blessing it is to seek and discover and not let go of this sacred thread. 🙏 Molly

 

The Way It Is

There’s a thread you follow. 

It goes among things that change. 

But it doesn’t change.

People wonder about what you 

are pursuing. You have to explain about 

the thread. But it is hard for others to see.

While you hold it you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
You don’t ever let go of the thread.

— William Stafford