Invitation

Oh do you have time

to linger

for just a little while

out of your busy

and very important day

for the goldfinches

that have gathered

in a field of thistles

for a musical battle,

to see who can sing

the highest note,

or the lowest,

or the most expressive of mirth,

or the most tender?

Their strong, blunt beaks

drink the air

as they strive

melodiously

not for your sake

and not for mine

and not for the sake of winning

but for sheer delight and gratitude—

believe us, they say,

it is a serious thing

just to be alive

on this fresh morning

in the broken world.

I beg of you,

do not walk by

without pausing

to attend to this

rather ridiculous performance.

It could mean something.

It could mean everything.

It could be what Rilke meant, when he wrote:

You must change your life.

I have recently come back from a weekend Zen Buddhist retreat. We spent the weekend in silence, sitting on black mats, and had some spots of laughter. Mostly though it was serious business this wanting to change our lives. Then one morning a Barred Owl came to a tree outside our meditation rom. S/he began cackling, hooting, and doing that mocking squirrelly laugh that they do. I broke out in smiles, laughing with this bird who might have actually been laughing at us, and not just with us. We humans engage in such ridiculous acts. I wonder if were to look at what triggered us with joyful mirth, perhaps a bit on the loving mocking side, we might be able to keep our hearts open a little longer and a little larger before we become triggered into rushing on to somewhere we might deem safe. No safety, on life and love in a broken world, this perfect world.

Where in your life do you see or engage in ridiculous acts?