August 24, 2008

6 years of saying "Yes"


The Truelove

There is a faith in loving fiercely
the one who is rightfully yours,
especially if you have
waited years and especially
if part of you never believed
you could deserve this
loved and beckoning hand
held out to you this way.

I am thinking of faith now
and the testaments of loneliness
and what we feel we are
worthy of in this world.

Years ago in the Hebrides
I remember an old man
who walked every morning
on the grey stones
to the shore of the baying seals,

who would press his hat
to his chest in the blustering
salt wind and say his prayer
to the turbulent Jesus
hidden in the water,
and I think of the story
of the storm and everyone
waking and seeing
the distant
yet familiar figure
far across the water
calling to them,

and how we are all
preparing for that
abrupt waking,
and that calling,
and that moment
we have to say yes,
except it will
not come so grandly,
so Biblically,
but more subtly
and intimately in the face
of the one you know
you have to love,

so that when we finally step out of the boat
toward them, we find
everything holds
us, and confirms
our courage, and if you wanted
to drown you could,
but you don’t
because finally
after all the struggle
and all the years,
you don’t want to any more,
you’ve simply had enough
of drowning
and you want to live and you
want to love and you will
walk across any territory
and any darkness,
however fluid and however
dangerous, to take the
one hand you know
belongs in yours.

~ David Whyte ~
(House of Belonging)



Six years ago today I said yes to the one I knew I had to love.

This has meant that we both have been required to walk across expansive territories of fierce independence and self-protection, to face darkness in the most dangerous depths of our souls, and to surrender to joy and peace in the most surprising places - all in the effort to continually "take the one hand you know belongs in yours".

By far this is the bravest, wildest, most sacred, and most rewarding journey I have ever chosen.

I feel so proud of us, so grateful that we continue to choose this path every day.

There is no one. no one. I would rather dance with.

Happy Anniversary Mr. Spicy!




6 comments:

Denise said...

Happy anniversary to the both of you!

Lori Lavender Luz said...

Great photo.

Happy anniversary to the Spicies!

Jen said...

Happy Anniversary!

And you were a blonde???

Unknown said...

This is the wildest journey of trust and intimacy I've taken. Yours is definitely the face, the hand I must and do choose to love. Dancing with you is one of my greatest joys...

Shall we dance into the years ahead?

I love you Spicy woman.

Meg said...

Hey you blond bombshell! Happy anniversary to you and C. We need to double date soon.

annacyclopedia said...

Oh, Spicy, that is so beautiful I have tears on my cheeks and a lump in my throat. Congratulations to both of you - long may your adventures continue.