Ruth Ayers is hosting our September Spirituall Journey. You can find links to her post and others here.
Ruth asked us to reflect with her on her 2024 OLW, wholehearted.
What does it mean to live wholeheartedly?
I scribbled a lot of words: a full YES, approval; see the good; honest; deeply; unhesitant. all in.
I thought about other forms of -hearted: half-hearted, broken-hearted, open-hearted, light-hearted.
I thought about what it is not: questioning, doubtful, hesitant.
Perhaps to live wholeheartedly is to trust. To commit, even without fully knowing the outcome. I suppose, to live wholeheartedly, we must lean heavily on faith. I know that I am attracted to people who live their days without dread, without fear, finding the good. I know that I would like to be more like them.
doing my best
unflinching fan of sitting
on the deck each morning, stalwart
supporter of black coffee
without reservation,
a hike in the woods
with my dog
committed to breakfast –unapologetically
a pancake eater! devoted
goal-setter, dedicated
cyclist, enthusiastic
word-game addict (eye roll)
categorical defender
of quiet-time
beyond this, I aspire to be
a dedicated composter, loyal
political activist, unshakeable
gardener, better listener,
compromiser, optimist
I wholeheartedly believe
in unreserved gratitude
unlimited laughter
amen.
©2024 Patricia J. Franz
Patricia Franz writes picture books and poetry. 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. 
Yet again, your beautiful poetry speaks to me. “I wholeheartedly believe
in unreserved gratitude” is a way I aspire to live as well.
Patricia, as you end your post, I feel your prayer poem and love how you brought your feelings to the forefront in such a natural way. It felt like I was sitting right next to you while you read aloud. Now, I will add another thought of yours that made me say Amen: we must lean heavily on faith!
Love these thoughts also:
categorical defender
of quiet-time
believe… in unlimited laughter
What a gift you’ve given us in your poem “doing my best.”
Like Carol, I felt myself sitting beside you for a bit of quiet-time and pancakes, a stretch of aspirations, followed by unreserved gratitude and unlimited laughter. I second your Amen!
Patricia, these words, “Perhaps to live wholeheartedly is to trust. To commit…” really speak to me. I feel that because of the world in which we live, so many of us find it difficult to trust one another. We feel that there is some ulterior motive behind what someone is asking us to do. We half-heartedly commit to doing something because we are not fully into what we agreed to. These are two areas I know I need to work on for myself. Thank you for the inspiration and to push to think about how I need to change.
Patricia: Thank you! I wholeheartedly love your poem. As much as I try to be wholehearted, I know that I doubt, I hold back, I fail. I believe God challenges me. Maybe wholehearted means to accept some of the mess. To try to make order out of the chaos. I hope wholehearted doesn’t mean perfect.