Bonus week for me! It is both Spiritual Journey week and Poetry Friday. My post will serve both.
Jone Rush MacCulloch offers our May prompt: Growth. You can read Jone’s post here along with links to our cohort’s reflections.
And, Buffy at Buffy Silverman is rounding up our poetry links here.
For National Poetry Month, I wrote daily poems using the work of Camille T. Dungy for inspiration. Each morning I would pull a line or the title of one of her poems. The last prompt (April 30th) was the title of a poem from her collection SMITH BLUE, “Out of the Darkness.”
Then Jone’s theme on growth arrived which got me thinking…
Nothing grows in darkness.
We have to move out of the darkness, into light.
Whether to grow bigger, deeper, more mature.
Whether to expand or improve our life.
Whether physically, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually –growth asks that we open ourselves.
The flower must be warmed by sunlight.
The student must absorb new information.
The lover must enter into a shared relationship.
The wonderer must ask big questions.
Nothing grows in darkness.
And yet, how often do we remain in places of darkness. Harboring fear, doubt, anger.
I think about how we might feel safer in these closed-in places. Something akin to “the enemy you know” versus what is unknown?
I think about how we convince ourselves that if we wait, maybe light will come to us and we might feel better.
But intermittent light, happenstance light, doesn’t last. Doesn’t create growth. We become used to and accept the darkness that returns.
Growth asks us to take a step. Move. Growth requires courage. Takes baby steps.
Growth also is its own reward. Light brings lightness. Light is spirit-lifting.
So that when dawn breaks like a slit through curtains, we can rise.
Step into a new day. Let light in. Grow.
And when we pause to look back, we can see change.
Growth reminds me: I am a work in progress.
growth
sunlight won’t give up
mama’s undeterred goodness
for flowers, for me
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
Poem ©2024 Patricia J. Franz
Patricia Franz is a kidlit writer and published poet. She believes children, dogs, and sourdough have a lot to teach us about life, joy, and wonder. She has raised two boys, four dogs, and holds a master’s degree in Theology with a focus on children’s spirituality. Patricia, her husband, her Bernese Mountain dog, Bonny, and her sourdough starter split their time between the Arizona desert and the Sierra Nevada mountains. 
Well said, all true.
I love this entry and poem ! Says so much in many levels for life! This is a keeper for me❤️
Patricia, “Growth requires courage”. This really hits home. I think of the baby bird taking its first flight. Without courage it would never leave the nest. The baby taking a first step. Without courage it would go nowhere. The college grad taking a first job. Without courage that student would not know what s/he is capable. It is scary, but with courage move ahead.
Thanks for the wisdom and inspiration! Darkness reminds me of staying in one’s comfort zone. But as you say, it takes courage to break out of old habits and consciously seek opportunities for growth.
Such wonderful thoughts, Patricia. “I am a work in progress” is always something worth remembering.
“Let light in. Grow.” Wonderful words. Thanks for your reflection on growth and your haiku.
This is so profound and personally touching, Patricia. We had a friend experience a crisis this week, and it felt like you were writing specifically for him.
I have one of Camille Dungy’s anthologies, and now I want to check out SMITH BLUE. Yep, we are all works in progress. Thanks for the reminder to let light in.
Trying again, Patricia. Thank you for this post, so clear about our situation, that we are works in progress, and hopeful that the light will filter through, that we can take that step forward, even when the darkness seems so profound.
Love your reflection on finding the light to grow!
This poem, this post is my devotion for today. Thank you, Patricia.
I love your first line, such determination in the sun and mothers. Thanks for lifting me out of an early morning funk with this light!
Patricia, what a beautiful reading you have given us. It’s like a devotional for my morning. “Growth asks us to take a step. ” and “Growth also is its own reward.” Yes, indeed. Thank you for so many truth reminders in this post. That sweet “growth” haiku is perfect too; “for flowers, for me” makes me smile.
Truth!
Yes to “Sunlight won’t give up.” That’s a great reminder to seek out the light.
So much inspiration here, and yes, we are all a work in progress!
I am certainly a work in progress! I’ve learned that no matter how old you are you can grow and have to. Great poem and post, Patricia.
Love “sunlight won’t give up!”