Taller than the Tallest Tree

Why me Lord, what have I ever done?

I love when Kris Kristofferson sings that song. And I love when that question arises in me because it usually means that my cup runneth over. I have been wanting to plant a garden and landscape my house and behold the floodgates opened to me in the form of “donated” plants, trees, and bottles and bricks for borders.

I asked for a dog – a canine companion – because I missed my animals so much and one in particular and Stella – the replica of her – comes into my life.

I said to the world that I want to do meaningful work that pays me back in kind and it has begun to flow in.

Recently, I lost a scarf with elephants on it that had kept me warm all winter and last night, a friend walked up to me and said, here, I have this and thought of you and want you to have it. A scarf with elephants on it.

Pinch me – okay – because my real life is greater than my dream life.

Friends of mine gathered to celebrate a young one’s photo entry into a Teen Competition at the Contemporary Arts Center – it was a photograph of Tin and me at a Kwanzaa celebration in Congo Square last year. My friend was the talent, but I was the belle of the ball when I walked in. The muse, someone called me. A muse it is.

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Why me Lord? What have I ever done?
That was worth even one of the pleasures I’ve known.
Try me Lord, if you think there’s a way, I can try to repay, all I’ve taken from you.

And at the end of the night when we were at my friend’s studio for an art exhibit – Christin Bradford got up and sang acapella because the five member band she had assembled had within days of the gig all bowed out for various reasons and so she brought it all on – all herself. I wish I would have videoed her but I was too enthralled – we all were – to do anything but listen. Later, trying to remember the lyrics – my friend taped me and then Christin joined in so we caught a snippet of her. For this, for everything, I am grateful.

And so in answer to the question – why me Lord? – I offer Marianne Williamson’s response:

Our Greatest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other

people won’t feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.

It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

—Marianne Williamson

2 Responses to “Taller than the Tallest Tree”

  1. Alice Says:

    You are positively glowing! 🙂 Well done.

  2. Rachel Says:

    Thanks Alice!

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