Good morning…
“I will not die an unlived life,” begins the Dawna Markova quote our friend read aloud to us in class. “I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible; to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise. I choose to risk my significance, to live so that which came to me as seed goes to the next as blossom, and that which came to me as blossom, goes on as fruit.”
We sat circled in our living room, stunned at the zest, the beauty, the wholehearted prayer. Then our friend said, “I copied this quote on a strip of paper years ago and always have it hanging on my refrigerator. I thought you might want to do the same, so I brought you each a copy.” Deeply grateful we shared our thanks.
After the final woman left our home, I took my strip of wise words and hung it beneath three refrigerator magnets another friend gave me for Christmas, magnets bearing these lively words: “Listen.” “Be still.” “Sing.” The magnets and quote became best friends.
The following week our generous friend missed class, home with the flu, so we lifted her to God in our opening prayer and, before saying “Amen,” I slowly read the quote again to bless the ears of our bowed, closed eyes.
“I will not die an unlived life. I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible; to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise. I choose to risk my significance, to live so that which came to me as a seed goes to the next as blossom, and that which came to me as blossom, goes on as fruit.”
Now I return to my frig to tuck the vibrant quote back into her home, nestled beneath: “Listen.” “Be still.” “Sing.”
I call Heaven and Earth to witness against you today: I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse. Choose life so that you and your children will live. And love God, your God, listening obediently to him, firmly embracing him. Oh yes, he is life itself, a long life settled on the soil that God, your God, promised to give… (Deuteronomy 30:19-20, MSG).
…Sue…
