Whether our imaginations lead us to playing in water with hippos or laughing with Jesus, let us be reminded of how beautiful it is to be human and to have such experiences, holy gifts from God.

Christ weeps with those that mourn the loss of a loved one. He gently speaks: “Beloved, in the night when you cannot sleep, I will wait with you for the morning. When you cannot eat, I will fast with you. We suffer together. I am the first love that holds you within my heart. I will never leave you. I am Hope. I am the Resurrection.”

Few poets have written more beautifully about our place in the natural world than Mary Oliver. Her poetry quietly whispers: “observe, pay attention, be connected.” And, if we follow these instructions, whether we are harvesting berries, sitting under a tree with loved ones, or hiking in the woods – we begin to realize our connection to all living things.

I hope you will join me in continuing to slow down as I share six poems and brief reflections on them for the next three months. … We are all children of God and we belong to one another. Let us break down the many walls that divide us and enter into the beautiful together.