Blowing Kisses: Waking to Beauty
by Lynn D. Morrissey ©

“When it’s over, I want to say: all my life / I was a bride married to amazement.” —Mary Oliver

“I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, … He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, … as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” —Is. 61:10

“‘Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!’” Let anyone who hears, say, “‘Come!’” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.’” —Rev. 22:17

I wake to beauty—a day streaming yellow and indigo,
like a soft-shawling banner of hope.
Glory’s on parade,

so
how can God permit evil
run amuck like a wild, teeth-baring bear
stalking
prey?

I could deny this tension,
pretend He doesn’t exist,
sit home and avert my eyes,
pull up the covers and take a nap,
make tea,
write letters,
rifle through yesterday’s stale mail.
linger over old books and faded photographs,
resigned to the shock that the world is broken,
though that I was born, I will
die.

Or …

I could defy grizzly ugliness and fear,
refuse a living death.

I could dare to live while I’m living,
to see God’s beauty,
dare to burst from my covers and my cowering,
dare to don yellow and indigo snug to my skin
like an avant-garde wedding gown trailing a bridal veil of hope.

I could toss red rose petals to
herald His reign,
His kingdom,
His coming.
I could join God’s royal procession and
wed Him anew,
inviting the bystanders and wayfarers and passersby,
the blind,
the sick,
the lame,
the poor to the wedding feast.

I could lift my glass, toasting the Host,
imbibing His cordial of joy.
I could hug to my heart His nuptial gift of love.

I could close my eyes—not to sequester—but to savor
and inhale intimacy,
press rose petals to my lips,
then fling them with abandon,
blowing crimson kisses to the world!

I know – I can’t believe it’s already August! I’ve been thinking about my 2025 word already. 🙂 Have you?

This one was more of a challenge for me, too, Jennifer! I try to find ways to embody my word as I practice it. Some words are easier to do this with than others. Curiosity has been an easy word to work with because it can be so diverse.

Thanks, Trudy! I try to find different ways to engage with our One Words. Some are easy, then others like this month’s challenge are a bit harder, for me anyway. But they feel appropriate for my word Curiosity. 🙂