Live Like You Mean It

My Marielle, Yellowstone National Park

I want to ask you this -
What do you think matters?

Do you still think it will come
tomorrow? Do you worry
it may never come
because you messed up yesterday
do you think you'll get there
by walking faster -
holding tighter?

Do you sit on your front porch longing
for more sunshine, less grey - waiting
for someone to tell you
you matter?

Do you still walk by Beauty
with eyes pinched shut
turn away when a smile
finds you?

Do you still shelter yourself from Grace?

Do you hurry past singing birds, on the hunt -
on the hunt for what?
Do you listen to lies -
the ones that insist your song doesn't matter
the ones that promise the money, the guy
the applause
will fill
the empty?

Imagine if the Nightingale held back her song

See that leaf there, all filled up with light?  Do you think it worries or tries
do you think it apologizes for not blossoming
sooner
or longs to be applauded
for being
what it is?

Please - don't give me your credentials

I want to know your reason
I want to know if you can dig heels into the soil
of your you-ness
no matter who they 
want you to be. I want to know if you're willing to fall toward
the pulsing wild
of all
that is calling

I'm wondering
can you stay still with the page you're on
sip each word until you are quenched
breathe in and out
until you can't help but
spill you
all over the place

are you willing to toss old stories
throw away reasons and can'ts
are you willing to fall
head over heels for this
now?

My prayer for you is this:

That you know
you don't need to do anything 
to matter.  That love
becomes your only reason.

You see, you can't turn off the sun
you can't hide light or hold back wind
Grace cannot be chased
or swallowed

I want to ask you
how long will you continue to blame yesterdays
grab for tomorrows
how long will you continue to deny us the
the miracle gift
of you?

When might you be ready to Live like you mean it?