Linda Mitchell is gathering Spiritual Journey First Thursday posts. Her topic suggestion is Respect. I wasn’t going to write. In fact, I emailed Linda and apologized, “I’ve got nothing.” However, in the spirit of respect for this community of writers and because I’m awake on the last day of my summer break, I am writing.
Respect is born out of Love. The two are intertwined like the threads on the knitting needles. God calls us to Love.
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
1 John 4:16
This morning I read a beautiful poem by David Whyte, The True Love.
so that when
we finally step out of the boat
toward them, we find
everything holds
us, and everything confirms
our courage, and if you wanted
to drown you could,
but you don’t
because finally
after all this struggle
and all these years
you simply don’t want to
any more
you’ve simply had enough
of drowning
and you want to live and you
want to love and you will
walk across any territory
and any darkness
however fluid and however
dangerous to take the
one hand you know
belongs in yours.
David Whyte, Brain Pickings
Step out of the boat and give your hand to God. Find true love with God. Trust the safety you feel. Hold your hand out to others in respectful response.
Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret, I am so glad that the muse touched your shoulder and brought inspiration for this beautiful post. Your thought, “Respect is born out of Love.” starts a prose poem for us to ponder. Along with the poem by Whyte, I am reflecting on the promise of God’s love. I find the fullness of creation in the gorgeous photo you sent. “God calls us to love.” This is what I want to take away from your post so that I can savor each loving moment of today (even though I started my morning off with a jolt-2 mice on sticky pads in the attic.-Startling but I must remember life has ups and downs. There is love in all.)
Beautiful post this morning. I’ve stepped out of my boat and just keep tryin to relax into the waves, learning not to fight them, letting them take me along as they swell and diminish, trusting (hoping) that God will hold me up and take me where I need to go. Jenny
Sent from my iPhone
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Thank you for writing anyway, Margaret – for your post is lovely, needed, and full of truth. Love and respect ARE intertwined. Your words are a ray of light this morning! Leaves me thinking, again, how God reaches for us and how he holds us in his hand. Along the lines of true confessions – you may have written at the last but at least you wrote on the right topic; I somehow thought “virtue” was the theme but that’s in September. I considered holding my post ’til then but let it go anyway. Little leaps of faith…
Lovely, Margaret. Thank you! The poem you shared is perfect, speaks to me in my current state of questioning. I’m so glad you were moved to write.
Look at that! A post. How about that. I’m so glad you had a moment to pull thoughts together today. Thank you. What a beautiful poem. How fortunate I am to know true love.
Your words are a gift. “Step out of the boat and give your hand to God. Find true love with God. Trust the safety you feel. Hold your hand out to others in respectful response.” Thanks for writing, Margaret.
Oh, I love the image of stepping out of the boat. I’ve had that story of Peter walking on the water in mind lately. I had never seen David Whyte’s poem. I really like it. I’m so glad the muse spoke and you chose to share this beautiful post, Margaret.
Yes! I want to live and I want to love. Thanks for this. Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com