Tomorrow

This blog was originally written on Sally's personal blog, Feathers and Whirlwinds which can be found on her website www.sallycranham.com. She wrote this blog as the end of Fall was upon us last year. Although the seasons are not the same the sentiment and message of the moment remains. The imagery, poem and call to personal creative action is still speaking to this moment and holds an aspect of the season of the soul that feels a little out of the ordinary. Here are the words she wrote back then, for now. ​

Tomorrow

For a number of days I have been saying in my head, "tomorrow, tomorrow, I will write again tomorrow." There have been no "the sun will come out tomorrow" moments or even that great line from that fantastic movie Bugsy Malone "Come back tomorrow" moments. It's just been all the reasons, all the time for not just sitting down and writing.

I am under no illusion that the world requires my words, but I am finding myself challenged by the use of words, in time, to bless and guard the friend, the sister, the brother, the stranger and even myself. So, here we go, after a number of months, I am writing. I am starting from exactly where I am, and I feel quite emotional about the depth to which my soul is both drawing near and yearning towards.

One of the things I love to do is take pictures. I get captured by road signs and catch a moment of laughter from a free and full face, and I love nature and the seasons. I almost hear something deep inside me when the picture has a story to tell, a psalm even to it's moment. Sometimes the picture speaks for itself.

The other day a friend took me to the arboretum close to the city of Minneapolis, USA. The leaves were nearly all gone but were still vivid where they had fallen with autumnal colours. It was cold but the joy of taking the photos was breathtaking and life-giving. There were two images that later I looked at and the words were just there. One of the images was of a tree whose leaves were now all on the ground and only a next remained on view. I had no idea what would come out of my soul as I wrote a short poem to go with the image (see below) but one person's response really vibrated through my soul. She said,

"Thank you for giving my circumstances, my body…..a voice."

What? WOW? Creator. Your Spirit and Word and creation collide in our souls and we get to bless each other in this way. Who am I? What a privilege to get to experience those words so deeply. I don't know the detail of what is going on in this woman's life but as I actualise my creative essence and fully rely and experience Word and Spirit inside of who I am, I get to reflect truth and the creator's love, and others get a breath of freedom to engage that can run deep. Only God can meet my friend where she is; only I can bring forth my creative essence.

Do we even know the power of being present to our own creativity in the world? What would it look like to be today what the next moment, the next hour, the next tomorrow could breathe in? What is in you to create? What part of your body, your family, your community needs a voice?

Oh tomorrow. May we choose to acknowledge you are now today. May we choose not to run towards or away. May we choose to have an open heart and open hands ready to pray. May we see and respond and tell the story of.

The tree poem

And just like that, she was leafless and would remain that way for quite some time.

Her frame exquisite and striking against grey skies.

This is the season of becoming all over again she thought, but first.

Stillness.

Stopping.

Vulnerability.

And look, see, a nest, a home, high in her branches.

She is a safe place but exposed.

She is brave and not alone.