HOLDING TO THE DIFFICULT -- A poem by Jan Radtke

[Normale Faith Doyle <normale@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

HOLDING TO THE DIFFICULT

So spiritly, praising Apostle Paul challenges,
"Be always joyful;
Pray continually,"
and finally "Give thanks whatever happens;
for this is what God in Christ wills for you."

So easy to give thanks when energy's available, for nursing home trek,
When pen in hand responds to will to write,
When blessed with a few hours of blissful slumber,
When, upon waking, experiencing a few tremor-free moments,
When able to turn this frame over in bed,
When a delightful walk becomes a ten minutes expedition in the great
     outdoors,
When speaking audibly for "squeaky wheel" calls to Congress,
When muscles and neurology cooperate
to soothingly soak this bradykinestic body in the tub,
then my will is done.

Now then...
What of when not my, but thy, will be done?
Rilke advises "hold to the difficult"
And also "perhaps the dragons... are princesses
Who are only waiting to see us beautiful and brave."

So praise for what is hard to bear becomes ritual for this thirsty
      soul.
Praise for joys, delights and also for suffering dark days of
      difficulty.
Grateful for pain, problems, adversity
Becomes a paradigm shifting.

Giving thanks for whatever happens.
(most days)

                                        Jan Radtke
                                        8/22/96